Evening star., 1902-02-18
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
A Connecticut Judge Finally
Agreed Upon.
SON OF SENATOR PLATT
INVESTIGATING THE CHARGES
AGAINST MR.. BRIsToW.
Opinion in the Schley Case to Be Made
Public Thursday Morn
ing.
SON OF SENATOR PLATT

At the conclusion of the cabinet meet
ing today Attorney General Knox an
nounced that the President had decided to
nominate James P. Platt of Meriden.
Conn.,. as federal judge Of that state to
fill the vacancy caused by the promotion Of
Judge Townsend from the district to the
circuit bench. Judge Shipman resigned
from the circuit bench on account of
health and advanced age.
Mr.. Platt's nomination was recommend
ed to the President by Attorney General
Knox, who has been going over the papers
in the case for some time. Mr.. Platt is a
son of Senator Orville II. Platt of Con-
necticut and is city Judge of Meriden. He
has brilliant record as a lawyer and jur-
ist and his nomination was recommended
by a number of distinguished lawyers.
There was never exactly fight over the
judgeship although the two senators could
not reach an agreement. Senator Platt, be-
cause of his relation to the new juGge, de-
clined to make any recommendation, while
Senator HaWley recommended f. l.. Hun
gerford. Senator Hawley did not, however,
press his case hard. and made no objection
to Mr.. Platt's nomination. The Connecticut
lawyers held some meetings and adopted
some resolutions, but beyond this practically
nothing was done by either of the senator's
here. The four representatives took no part
in the matter and made no recommended
tions.
Most Of the cabinet meeting was taken up
in discussing nominations in various places,
and after the other cabinet officers had left
the White House Postmaster General Payne
remained to talk over post offices and post
masters.
Is Mr.. Bristow in TroubleP
Postmaster General Payne does not di
vulge what is being done in the case of
Mr.. Bristow, assistant postmaster general,
against whom Senator Scott of West Nir-
ginia made some charges The President
is known to have the papers. and he and
the Postmaster General have talked the
case over Senator Scott made an investi-
cation of charge that the Post Office De-
partment had sent post office inspector to
Wheeling to investigate the private char
acter of prospective applicant for post
master in that city. He found, it is said,
that Mr. Brstow was the man who had
ordered the inspector to do the work. Mr..
Bristow did not give q satisfactory an
swer to the request for an explanation. and
Senator Scott, fully backed by the West
Virginia delegation, is understood to have
laid the whole case before the President
for whatever action was considered best
The intimation has been made, although
not authoritative, that Mr.. Bristow may
find that the affair will cost him dearly. 1t
is said that he admitted sending an in
spector to Wheeling, admitted that a mis-
take had been made, and simply says that
he had no official ground for the action.
Senator Scott has been out after Mr.. Brs-
tow's scalp, and. he is fighter some
thing has been expected. Whether Senator
Scott Is pressing as vigorously now as some
time ago is not known. He condemns the
action one Of the worst cases Of usur-
patton of authority he has ever knwn.
The Schley Decision.
1t was stated at the cabinet meeting to-
day that the Presidents decision In the
appeal of Admiral Schley will be made
public on Thursday morning. The Presi-
dents decision has been printed, and cop
les of the document were taken to the
White House today by an official Of the
government printing office. The decision
was handed to representatives of press as
sociations this afternoon, with the under
standing that 1t should not be made public
until Thursday morning. Cabinet officers
continue to aver that the decision will meet
with the approval Of the country.
Two Fat Places in Georgia.
The sudden death Of Major w. II. Smyth,
postmaster at Atlanta, opens for scramble
one of the best federal places in Georgia
and gives the President two important po-
sitions in that state to fill. The other place
is the collectorship of customs at Savan-
nah. The chances now point to the renomi
nation Of J. H. Devaux, colored, as collec-
tor. The only fight against Devaux comes
from the lilly white" republicans headed
by Major Hanson Of Macon. The white re-
publicans would like this place for one Of
their number, but a peculiar and interest
ing fact is that the white democrats are
not opposed to Devaux, and indirectly are
supporting him by saying nice things about
him. The Georgia legislature recently paid
Devaux the Unprecedented compliment of
electing him a colonel for life of the GeOr-
gia National Guard. This honor was never
before conferred on eolored man. Up to
the time Of this action Devaux was major
Of militia and had encouraged the colored
soldiers Of the National Guard to do their
full duty on every occasion. DevauX was
the principal power in suppressing several
riots With this record the President will
be lOath to turn down Devaux on the de-
mands Of white republicans. 1t is stated
that Devaux has conducted his office with
out the slightest objection from the patrons
the solid backing of the business men OF
that city.
Going to Charleston.
Senator Scott called on the President
this morning with Governor A. B. White
of West Virginia. 1t was Governor Whites
first call on the President The chief ex-
ecutive Of West Virginia will leave here
tonight over the Southern railway with
twenty-five or thirty members Of his staff
for the Charleston exposition, to be pres
ent on West Virginia day. II have coll
onels and majors to spare" said Governor
White, commenting on the large number
Of military men with him.
Representatives Wachter and Schirm of
Maryland saw the President today to urge
the pardon OF man named Holmes, who
Is dying Of consumption in the Maryland
penitentiary. Holmes was convicted some
time ago Of robbing the mails in the city
of Baltimore and was sentenced to three
years In prison.
Baron dEstournelles de Constant, a
member Of the French chamber Of depu-
ties. was presented to President Roose-
welt this morning by Ambassador Cam
bon. and the three men had long talk
In the red parlor.