The Republican journal., 1881-08-04
The Governor ana Council.

paragraphs IN the Democratic neWSpa-
pers If these organs are to be relied on
one branch of the Executive department
of the State has suddenly been Topped off
by the fiat Governor. Feeling that there
was no occasion for serious alarm and
that the interests of the State and of the
Republican party had been entrusted to
q Council composed of gentlemen of long
experience who were amply able to main
tain their rights the Press has not felt it
necessary to work itself into a towering
passion over the matter. So much con-
tnues to be said on the subject, however,
by the opposition press, a few words of
explanation may not be amiSS. What
ever of purely personal grievance there
may be between the Governor and the
members of the Council will be left en-
trely to the parties to it. The public is
concerned with the official acts of the
Executive department alone.
When Gen. Plaisted was declared Gov
ernor the Legislature saw tit to surround
him with Il Council Of different politics 10y
re-electing us his constitutional advisers
the gentlemen who composed the Council
Of his predecessor, Coy. Davis. With the
two branches of the executive depart
ment representing hostile parties una
nimity Of opinion could not be expected
on questions largely political, such as
nominations to and removals from office.
Such difference of opinion was, however,
not Incompatible with courteous ami
honorable behavior, and the Council has
found it 50.
The first question which aroused any
controversy was the selection of a mes
sengcr. The Council, in accordance with
the custom which had prevailed during
preceding administrations, selected as its
messenger Major Charles j. House, Of
Milo, who had served the board during
the previous year and had shown himself
capable and efficient officer He had
been soldier in the war of the Rebellion
and was in feeble health in consequence
Of wounds received therein. Gov. Plais-
tel, for sufficient reasons, as he argued,
objected to this selection and appointed
his own son, Harold NJ. Plaisted, Us his
messenger ana private secretary. This
last appointment was asSonted to 10y the
Council and ut the close of the session of
the Legislature, by agreement between
the Governor and Council, each OF the
above officers was paid the usual amount
Of Sl25. AS the meetings of the Council
thereafter would he held only ut intervals
and be of short duration The Council
voted to dispense with its messenger I'M
til such time as his services should be
come necessary. The messenger of the
Governor, however, was still kept in SER
vice and regularly paid. Surely in this
matter there was no lack of courtesy on
the part Of the Council.
But it has been alleged that the Coun-
ell has acted improperly IN regard to the
nominations of the Governor, and here
again the facts in the case have either
been distorted or crattily concealed. All
the minor appointments made 10y the
Governor have been promptly confirmed
regardless of politics. Appointments of
this class number over three hundred, and
the Governor has had his own way in re
gard to them without the taintest 0pp0-
sition. And what is true Of these appoint
mcnts is also true in large measure Of ap-
pOintments Of Il higher grade which hay c
usually been considered rs belonging to
the political party in power. \ number
Of vacancies have occurred in this cate
CORY, and in every instance but three the
nominations Of the Governor have been
confirmed, notwithstanding the fact that
not 4 single one Of them was made from
the Republican party. Hon. Henry Tail
man was nominated and confirmed Judge
of the police court at Bath John Il. Red
man Judge Of the police court ut Ellis
worth Henry Harrington Judge of the
police court at Gardiner Daniel II.
Thing trustee of the College Of AgriruI-
turc; Hon. X. :. Morrison trustee OF the
Insane Hospital Frank B. Iorrey trustee
of the Orphan Asylum at Bath ; James b.
Lindsay county commissioner for ARGOS
took county; Capt. Charles Merrill harbor
master at Portland. Not one Of them is
a Republican, but each and every one
was confirmed by Republican Council,
These are all the vacancies which have
occurred except three, and to neither of
them nor to the remaining three has the
Governor condescended tonominate amy
body but il Democrat on Grcenbacker.
Three nominations only 10 fill vacancies
have been made which have not been
IoiLl lllt'i. y Lplltt jJi' iSNN4liP At iN'' =
land is still open for Il better nominations
\ vacancy has occurred In the board of
fish commissioners which the Council
believed should he filled by the reuppOint-
ment of Mr. Elias NJ. StiIIWeIl, OF Bangor,
partly because the game amt fishing i'll
terests Of the eastern part OF the state
were strongly in favor of his retention,
but more especially on account of Mr..
>tiIWells thorough knowledge Of his du-
ties and his eminent services i'll the past.
The Council also disagreed with the Gov
ernor in regard to the proper person to
ill the vacancy existing in the board OF
trustees of the Reform School. II believed
it for the interests OF the State that the
efficient services of Mr.. Little he retained.
and as that gentleman was unwilling to
accept position on the board made by
the removal of one Of his associates, but
would consent to till his own vacancy, the
Council very properly thought it its duty
to advise the Governor accordingly and
leave the Office open for the exercise Ut Il
second sober thought on the part of the
appointing power. Thus it will be seen
that the Council has decided adversely to
the Governor in but three eases, where
vacancies actually existed once to pre-
vent a bad appointment and twice to re
tain in the service of the State men who
had proved themselves very valuable
public servants. out OF eleven nomlna-
tions, all from the opposition, the Council
confirmed eight and rejected three. Ger
tainly it would seem that the Council was
not wanting in magnanimity,
But the Governor did not content linn
self with filling vacancies. He undertook
to remove faithful public officers in the
midst of their terms simply for the pur-
pose of making places for his political
friends. The Council very properly de
termined to resist all such attempts. Not
only loyalty to the party, but public pol
icy us well, demanded such a course. To
confirm appointments when no vacancies
existed was to consent to the removal Of
public officers against whom no charge
existed except that they We're Republi-
cans Therefore the Council rejected all