The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-17
Consul General to London
May Not Be Removed.
PLACE Is MUCH SOUGHT AFTER
David :. Barry, I'm the Providence
Journal, Discusses Political Ext
gencies which Placed the Former
Postmaster General ia Well Pay
ing Offiee-NO Longer a 1.Snnp.,

great many patriots who have long
had desire 10 serve their country in
what is generally regarded as the most
attractive and lucrative place in the con-
sular list. are doomed to disappointment
This impending shock Is not due alto
gether to the possibility that the present
consul general 10 London, ex-POstmaster
General Robert J. Wynne. may retain
the position under the new administra-
ton The cause lies deeper and IS more
specific. Mr.. Wynne, who returned 10
London two weeks ago. after having
been home on a two months leave OF alb
sence. curing which. undoubtedly, he
looked after his fences as q shrewd Of
hceholder should, may not be disturbed
by President-elect Taft. with whom he is
personally very well acqusinted-at least
not for the present.
He has a great deal OF strong political
backing from influential public men. with
whom he became personally well ae-
Quainted while serving for many years
as a newspaper correspondent and as
First Assistant Postmaster General, and
as Postmaster General in the Cabinet OF
President Roosevelt Mr.. Wynne has.
moreover il IS understood. the active in
fiuence IN his behalf Of Cardinal Gibbons.
and through him OF the Catholic Church
as BODY Mr.. and Mrs. Wynne are de-
vout Catholics and Mr.. ,.ynne's political
prominence IS due, in some measure, 20
thar fact
The disappointment that is IN store for
alHeA nh. a-ef-. % cAer fs.so hfe ehnae
viii come IN the knowledge that they
will receive when they file their spplics-
tons and look into the question that the
Office Of consul general at London is not
by any means the snap" that It used 70
be There was q time not so very long
ago when Il was the best-paying govern
ment Office existing not excepting that
Of the President OF the United STATES.
the salary Of which up 10 the time OF
Grants second term was only Sz5.oo9 2
year
office Pays Well.
Il is a fact that when the Office OF con
sui general al London was held in the
Cleveland administration BY the late Pat
rick A. Collins. Of Boston. and later when
the incumbent Of il was William MeKin-
ley Osborn, cousin Of the late Presi-
dent Mckinley. the combined salaries
and fees belonging TO the consul general
amounted % something Ike S4o.009 a year
Later some reduction was made in the
amount OF the fees that could be retained
by the consul general in their division
into two classes. Official and -unOfi-
ciai" When Cousin" Osborn. as he was
popularity known. died. the Office went 70
Henry Clay Evans, Of Tennessee. He was
Commissioner q Pensions. and q place
Vas desired for him by President Roose-
Welt. who was being besieged by the
professional old soldiers throughout the
country 10 remove Mr.. Evans. who. by
the way. was as good a friend as the
veterans ever had in the Pension Once,
II they had but known IT,
But through the exigencies OF politics
Mr.. Evans went out OF the Pension Office
and into the London consulate The
largest amount drawn By him IN one
I year as combined salary and unofficial
fees was slightly in excess Of S25050. and
the emoluments Of the Office remained Al
about that figure until shortly after Mr.
Wynne was appointed as Mr.. Evans Sue
cessOr.
y few years ago Congress ruthlessly
cut of all unofficial fees. requiring the
consul general TO turn IN fees Of al
kinds AT the same time the salary OF
consul general was fixed at the arbitrary
sum Of S1z00o. and there it stands to-day.
According 70 Mr. Wynne. there are ab-
sOlutely no unofficial fees now and no
/ perquisites. Living in London is high.
the obligations upon any one holding
such conspicuous office are many. and.
having a large family, he would not be
able 70 live IN London as he has 20 live
and provide for other expenditures en-
tailed by his incumbency OF this sup
I pcsedly high-saIaried Office did he not
possess some independent means II is
the belief and. presumably. the hope OF
the government officials that when the
facts as 10 the eTnoluments Of this much
s0ught-for Office are generally understood
tEe- number Of applicants for il viii fall
of. and perhaps they viii be so few that
Mr.. Wynne viii retain the Office by gen.
eraI consent
Held Many Positions.
Mr. wynne's career as a prominent pub
lie official is unique and forms one Of the
interesting Incidents Of American poll
tics. He was personally known TO Pres
ident Roosevelt and TO great many pub
lie men as an active newspaper man. and
had served for q short time as private
secretary TO the Secretary Of the Treas
ury in President McKinley's Cabinet. the
late Charles Foster, Of Ohio. when some
of his co-workers started out to have him
appointed to a government Office under
the Roosevelt administration.
There being a vacancy in the Office OF
First Assistant Postmaster General Mr..
Wynne. through the influence largely OF
the late Senator Piatt Of Connecticut
and the late Senator Hanna OF Ohio.
then chairman of the Republican Ma
tiOnal Committee was appointed
Shortly after he took up his new duties