Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-09-07

INTERVIEWS WITH CoNGREssMEN uENDEE AND
JOYCE.

From the Boston Globe
cit is understood through Vermont" said
| Hon. George W. lendee, THAT support
| President Hayes-civil service reform.
Southern policy and all. When it was
broached it looked like bitter pill, but af-
ter had thought the matter over and ex-
amined the reasons given by the President
| became fully convinced he was right, and
| ought to be sustained
"What effect will the Presidents South
ern policy have on the country p
at is very hard to judge at this distance
and with the limited knowledge we have of
the situation of society and business in the
South, but my impression is that if strictly
adhered to and honestly and faithfully car
ried ont. rs believe it will be, 1t will prove
a material advantage to the entire country,
and especially to its commercial interests
1t will have strong tendency to break
down all sectional feelings and leave bust
ness men from the two sections. North and
South, to freely and more earnestly coop
crate with each other in bringing about
more healthy condition in business affairs.
What effect will it have upon the Re-
publican party ?''
''lf the policy proves successful, it will
give the party additional strength in the
Northern States, while 1t will weaken us in
the Southern ; while. il the policy proves
unsuccessful, it will be a most disastrous
blow to the party"
"YAl say if successful it will give the
party strength in the North. Will the ad-
ditional strength compensate for what you
expect will be lost in the South?''
II think 50, fully
"What dc You think the attitude of the
Republican party will be toward the Presi-
dent when Congress assemblies"
when Congress meets there will, no
doubt. he some opposition to the Presi-
dents Southern policy on the part of the
Republican members, but before Spring the
opposition will hardly have name or be
known"
what do you understand by the Presi-
dents order to Office holders in regard to
taking part in political organizations ?''
81 understand it to be simply to prevent
office holders from holding positions in par
ty organizations. thereby making it impos
sible for them to Iun the party maehiney.
don't suppose it il intended to prevent
them from being delegates to a convention.
acting on a committee or taking part in 4
primary or caucus"
'What effect will it have upon the party
in Vermont"
g don't think it will be bent fetal, but.
on the contrary have tendency to decrease
our usual Republican majority. from the
fact that the ufhce-holders in Vermont are
frst-cass men, and have always been
vigorous and active in the interests of the
party, and especially in getting voters to
the polls.
"The people of this State, said Mr.. Hen
dee, - at least the Republicans. are nearly
unanimous for reform in the civil service,
but don t think it can be carried out to such
an extent as its warmest friends claim.
don't think, for instance, that the Postmas-
terGeneral can Judge 80 well Of the fitness
OF candidates for Postmaster a. a person
well acquainted with the candidate, the
locality. and the people to be accommodated.
As to the appointment OF clerks In the sew
ersl departments OF special service agents, If
tho rules adopted were faithfully carried out
it would prove great benefit to the civil
service of the country. But To carry out
the rules in the local appointments would be
very difficult"
Mr.. Iendee has given much thought to
the postmasters' salary question and he ar
riyes at the conclusion that the system on
which they are adjusted and the amounts
given to the second class offices are grossly
unfair to the thlrd-c class pOstmasters and
swindle on the country ut large. At many
OF the snail offices the postmaster, on
salary of from $500 to $500, is compelled to
work from early morn till late at night, and
do more work than the heads of Offices W here
the salary is from three to ten times as
much The fact that II mum Der OF clerks
are allowed and paid by the department at
these larger offices seems to have been lost
sight OF III the adjustment of salaries, W here
as their extra assistance fully cOmponsates
for the increased duties OF the large office
without increasing IN such a large ratio the
salary. With very few exceptions the post
masters of the secOnd-clgss Offices, such as
the larger offices in this State, do not attend
personally to the duties of their Offices, car
rying on the business pursuit at which they
were engaged when appointed and leaving
the chiei clerk Of the postOthce NJ de iacto
postmaster to attend to the duties which the |
law cOntemplatcs should he performed by |
tho pOstmasters. 1t is this perniciOus prdc-
tice which has crept into the pOstuihte sys-
ten that causes nine tcnths OF the scramble |
for office. Pay postmaster according to |
the actual duties performed and forbid him |
to engage in any other enterprise or bust
ness. and the cause is removed.
VIEWS or CONGRESSMAN JOYCE
Il don't see how the President could /
possibly have taken any other course, in
view OF the circumstances, OF what right |
any one has to find fault, in view of the |
platform, President llaycs's letter of arcep-
tance, and his inaugural address. shall |
say publicly in few days that, while re
gret the necessity OF the adoption of any
such policy on the part of the executive, 1t /
IL impossible for me to see what other course
Il L ~