Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-26

Thomas II. Watkins, Of Scranton, Pa.
was appointed to the commission because
of his knowledge Of the coal business.
He was formerly an independent opera
tor, working under the name of Simpson
& Watkins. The firm fought the trust for
years, but was finally compelled to sell
out its coal holdings to the Temple Iron
Company This is the corporation in
which all the big operators are direc-
tors. It is said that part of the price he
received for his mine was in stock OF the
Coal Trust, and that he still holds large
quantities Of it.
Since then Mr.. Watkins has not been
actively connected with the anthracite
coal business, although still retaining
his partnership with C. D. Simpson. He
is largely interested in the Mexican Cen
trail and Alamagordo and Northern Rail-
road Companies. and is reputed to be
millionaire He has extensive lum er in
terests in the South, and is also interested
in the development OF many Western
mines.
Mr. Watkins was born in West Pitts
ton, Pa, and is IS years old. He has
lived in Scranton for the past twenty
wears. Labor men believe he Is repre-
sentative Of the operators.
George Gray, United States circuit
Judge for the Third District Of Pennsyl-
vania, has been on three of the most
important commissions appointed in re-
cent years having to do with questions Of
arbitration. His appointment. although
holding court in the eastern end of Penn
syIvania win not be objected to by the
miners.
With profound knowledge Of constitu-
tional law, Judge Gray, while in the
United States Senate, was constantly
appealed to by other Senator's for in
terpretatIons of law on pending ques-
tons. He served fourteen years as a
member Of tho Senate from the State Of
Delaware.
During his service in the Senate hs was
member of the Committee on Foreign
Relations and the Judiciary. Because Of
his knowledge Of international law Presi-
dent Mckinley appointed him a member
of the commission which negotiated the
treaty Of peace between Spain and the
United States at Paris. To Judge Gray
was due much of the legal preparation of
the treaty.
So well pleased was President Mckinley
with Judge Gray's wrok in Paris that he
appointed him member of the Joint
High Commission which met at Quebec
to settle disputes betw cen the Canadian
government and the United States. The
commission was also expected to arrange
a reciprocal treaty and closer relations
between the United States and Canada.
Nothing resulted from his commissions
work because Of the death OF two OF it's
members.
The next commission OF importance
upon which Judge Gray served was that
sent by President Mckinley to The Hague
to arrange an international arbitration
tribunal. Judge Gray was one OF the
leading members of the commission Upon
the completion of this work Mr.. Gray re-
turned to the United States, and be-
cause of his services and great legal
attachments President Mckinley appoint.
ed him United States circuit judge
The position is for life.
Judge Gray Is 62 years old. and was
born in Newcastle, Del. He was gradual
ed from Princeton in 1859, and studied
law at Harvard. He is a gold Democrat
in politics.
Brisadier-GeneraI John NJ. Wilson.
United States army. retired. was, until
his retirement, chief Of engineers, having
charge OF all river and harbor and forth
hcation work OF the United States govern
ment.
| General Wilson was known throughout
| the army as stern disclplinarian. al
though a very kind-hearted man. He
served CALAMITY throughout the civil war
and reached the brevet rank Of colonel O:
volunteers before he had attained the age
Of Is years.
i Because Of his remarkable engineering
/ ability, General Wilson. at the close o.
1 the war. was chosen to complete the
washington monument. then considered
most 1dimcult engineering feat. The