Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-03-30
FRIDIT .Uarch ran, 1883.


There has been little news Of lat
about the squabblc over the Intcrna
Revenue Collectors Office ia tie the 81,
Nlnrylan District now held by Mr.
Dluy The letters Of the Washington
correspondents Of the baltimore paper
we're filled with information on this sub
jet not long ago, and the rural press il
various pare of the State has had thinl
or TWO to say by way Of comment or ex
tract This is matter of some import
aucc to Southern Maryland Republican,
because il Dity shou 90 it is NOR,
than probable bis successor vii com,
form the Congressional District in whIcl
Mr. Duty residcs-thc Gr,h Ii Mr.
Ditty is competent to ill the office b,
now holds, aud if his health will permit
him to exercise that active, intclIt
gent aud personal control and direction Of
the affairs Of his Office which is particu-
la.rly needed in an Internal Revenue
Collector office, then under the pFin
pies aud rules Of a reformed civil service
system Of appointment to and tenure Of
Office, he should not be disturbed. There
has been au examination into the admin
istration Of his Office by special Agents
Of the Treasury Department who Lave
made a report TO the Secretary. but what
the report contains aud exactly what
disposition has been made Of it, whether
the secretary has examined it or not or
referred it to the President or not, the
Washington correspondents are not
able to tell us But for Judge Folger's
illness it would look as though this were
the end Of the fight and that Ditty would
hot be removed
But aside from the question of Mr.
Ditty's competency and physical ability
10 attend to his Office the politicians lave
a quarrel with him on the ground of his
action il the Congressional campaign #
last fall Mr. Dirty wanted Mr.. Albert
nominated for congress by the Annapo-
lis Convention. but when he and his
henchmen could not accomplish this Mr.
Duty got mad with Mr. IIolton, the
successful candidate, merely because he
was successful or had beaten his man,
and remained So very mad that he
did not even vote for him in November.
This may be all very wei but it is bad
policy for politician to pursue Mr.
Dirty might have kept out Of the fight
altogether and not voted at all, as some
people claim Office holders shou do,
but after the fearful row he made,
from the politicians standpoint his course
was indcfensible and we are not surpris-
cd that Mr.. Ilolton and his friends
should declare that "Dtty must go, :"
nor that they should use every effort to
make him 60 The average politician
aud congressman have not yet become ac-
customed to Civil Service Reform and
we rather suspect Ditty's physical indis-
position will be found a convenient lever
with which to hoist him out Appre-
bending this the aspirants Tor the colIec-
tors Office are reported 10 be numerous
but. as we have said, the winning man
will most likely come from the fifth
congressional district, and a. far rs we
have learned the contest here is narrow
ed down to fight between Sellman Of
Anne Arundel and Allston Of St r.
Mary's
Mr.. Allston seems to have been quite
active of late and lis claims have been
set forth and published in some newspa-
pers with much parade and journalistic
varnish. That he is young, genial
and good fellow altogether seems to
he generally conceded and also that he
is Republican his friends cow readily
admit although he himself hardly admit
ted it in the Senate chamber at Aunapo-
lis winter before last That he is the
choice of the leading Republicans in
Southern MARYLAND we have not been
able to learn although this claim has
been rashy set up, nor do VIC believe
that his influence is as great in this sec
ton as has been represented Judging
rom the management OF his own affairs
there seems to he some doubt too as to
his fitness for the very arduous AMI try
ing duties Of Collector of Internal Rev
enue.
We believe no objection has been urg-
ed against Mr.. Sellman on the score Of
fitness aud capacity for the office, and
the facts that he has always been a Re-
publican, that he was an original Uni N
man, that he is strong administration
man and a friend of Mr. Holton, that
he halls from Anne Arundel county-a
Republican county since the last regis
tration and without representative in
lucrative government Office, are greatly
in his. favor for political appointment,
and we predict that if Ditty should 60
Sellman will take his place.
The Mississippi, it is now reported, is
falling rapidly, and no further danger
IL