New-York tribune., 1877-03-14
pFFORM APPOINTMENTS.

rvo ny THE PRESIDENT WHICH PLEASE REPUBLi-
cAys-A SATISFACTORY CASE AT AUBURN, N Y.
The PRESIDENTS IDEA.
IRY TEIEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
U.surSGTOS March 13.-The Senate afforded no
entertainment to-day to the large throng of specta-
60 which filled the galleries. After sitting half
hou, IN silence a recess was taken for hour and
,ho, on reassemblng. the private secretary<Of the
President appeared with a batch of appointments.
This was what the Senators were waiting for, and
motion 10 90 into Executive session was voted at
o,ce The appointments were those of ex-Secretary
Morr TO be Collector of Customs at Portland, Me.
NJ Disric-Attorney for South Carolina TO succeed
senator-elect COrbin of the old Southern Claims
Commission, whose term of office has expired and
of a number of pOstmasters i'll Indiana, among
the latter being w. X. Holloway, Senator Mortons
brother-in-law whose term postmaster at Indian
spos ran out few days ago.
Mr. Morrilps appointment gives universal salts
faction. 1t was requested this morning by Senator
Blaine Representative Hale, and the new member
from the Portland district, Thomas b. Reed, who
waited upon the President together. The President
directed the nomination to be made out at once He
had intended to offer the ex-Secretary some position
commensurate with his ability and important pub
lie services, and was glad to learn what his wishes
were.
The appointInent of Mr. Stone as United States
Attorney for the District Of South Carolina delights
the Republicans from that State, who feared that
the new Southern policy would lead TO placing
native Conservative in the office 1t appears that
the appointment was not designed TO have any po-
hical significance, but was made upon civil service
reform principles. Mr.. Stone is COrblns law part
ner. and has been Assistant District-Attorney for
seven years. His familiarity with the duties OF the
office was the recommendation which prevailed
with the President
Postmaster-General Key gets the hang of the bust
ness of his office with wonderful facility. To-day he
took up the subject of the stamp contracts and Will
dispose Of il at These are among the most I'M
portant contracts which the Post Office Department
has to award. Those with the Continental Bank
Note Company of New York, under which stamps
are now printed, expire the 1st OF May Proposals
were advertised for some time ago. and the Standard
Printing Company of Syracuse was the lowest
bidder. the present contractor standing next on
the list The Continental Note Company has
attempted to show that in spite of the fact that its
bid is higher than the one put in 10y the Syracuse
company it is still for the interest OF the Govern
ment 10 award TO il the contract Ill order to aV0ld
the cost of the removal of material, &c.. to Syra-
cuse and for other reasons. The POStmasterGeneral
heard the case to-day
The promotion of Noah p Clark to the position of
Postmaster at Auburn, n. Y, has been made in
strict accordance with the principles of civil service
reform Col Richardson, the present postmaster,
has held the Office eight years. and secured 1t under
peculiar circumstances. When Gen. Grant accom-
panied Andrew Johnson as he swung around the
circle a Young son of Col. Richardson was injured
III his struggle to catch a glimpse of the dlstln-
guished party. He climbed up on the Presidents
carriage, and lost leg in Consequence. After Gen.
ID..l,, 70
him telling the story. In this way he
aroused the sympathy of the President,
who, without consulting the Representative from
that district or with the citizens of Auburn,
made him postmaster there Mr.. Clark, the deputy.
had already been in the office eight years, and
during the whole of Gen. Grants administration
has performed most of the duties of the office, while
Col Richardson has had the salary and the honor
Now that the Office is about TO become vacant by
the expiration of Richardson's commission great
number of the citizens of Auburn have requested
that Mr.. Clark, whose 16 years service makes hlm
better fitted for the place than any one ese may be
promoted and it is understood that Postmaster
General Key has concluded to grant their request.
Senator Howe is still working for the vacant seat
OIL the Supreme bench. He is recommended by Sec
retary Sherman, Senator Morton, and the most of
his Republican colleagues in the Senate. Ihe Presi-
dent has been strongly urged to fill this vacancy by
the appointment of a Southern man. Many North
errfRepubhcans object TO this on the ground that
the new policy of the Administration is still an eX-
pertinent, and that nothing ought TO be done which
cannot be changed if necessary.
President Hayes takes frequent occasion to inform
the Senators and members of Congress of his views
to the relations which ought TO exist between them
and the Executive III the matter of appointments to
Office He saws that he shall be glad to receive their
recommendations, and shall no doubt In many cases
appoint the candidates they commend but if he sees
proper TO select somebody else be does not want
them TO think that their rights have been invaded
and that they have consequently cause to take
ohense. Under the old system, he says, Congress
man selected from among the applicants 1Or an
Office IN his district whatever man he preferred and
after he had commended him his appointment FOL
n"ed as a matter of course, the. EAecu-
i've performing the mere formal function
Oh signing the papers. This system the President
means to break mp. He believes that ii is gross
peyerson Of the Constitution to have the appoint
ING power virtually exercised by Senators and Rep
fsehtatyeS. lie feels that he is responsible Tor the
Character Of all Presidential appointees, and that
his duty to hIs best efforts 10 secure the ser
'cte iof the Government of tine most competent ana
honest uen. This is duty which ne feels he has no
hgat to delegate to Others. Nor is he willing that
under the plea of custom others should take 1t out OF
bis hands
These ideas, although usually received in the pres
ehee OF the President with acquiescence, cannot DC
said TO meet with general favor among members oil
NongresS. Ihereare few who warmly approve them,
ana Who would really be glad to be relieved OF the
iness nO'iness Of getting offices for their constituents
ineSe however, are men of such influence that they
"'k upon the distribution of patronage as of no adj
' vantage. The majority of the members of both