The semi-weekly miner., 1885-04-11


The Republican party had been 80
long In power that the officials under
its administration came to think that
they had q If. Lease upon the offices
to which they had re n appointed
In fact the willy leaders of the party
more latterJy, centing defeat, soon
er or )a.er, d d.siguedly st about tu
Lerpetuate themselves In power al
far as it was pos .ible by joining the
Democrats In the enactment of the
civil service law. BY thus aiding
and encouraging the bill At the
time, the Democrats felt that they
had nothing to lose. inasmuch as the
Federal offices were ali ia the hands
of the Republicans, and no opportu-
nifty could Offer by which they could
get share of the public patronage.
But the tables now are tut ned, and
the Republicans are chuckling In
their sleeves over the appars ntly
awkward position in which the
Democratic President finds himself
In the matter OF changing the person.
mel OF tho government officials.
They boldly olsim that the Chi +
Executive mas NO power to disturb
their positions, and are even insolent
when the President suggests change
for cause. In the matter cf ,hs re-
movsl Of the postmaster at Rome,
New York, affords . fair iliustra-
tion Of the tactics sought to be car
ried out by these presumptuous off,
oials. During Mr.. Arthur's admin
lstration grave complaints were
made against the postmaster above
referred to. An Inspector was dis
patched to the Office. who upon In
vestigation found that the postmas-
ter was q deiaulter t, q considerable
amount aud SO reported. But no
further action was taken in the mat
ter. Upon Mr.. Cleveland's acoe.s,o
to power, among other nominations
be sent to the Senate was a successor
of the defaulting postn aster. With
this nomination be took the precau-
tion to send the OH lcial report of the
Postofflce Inspector that ths Sen
ate might readily understand
that. the removal was for
cause. and not through any party
considerations. The Senate, how
ever, failed 70 confirm the new a.
pointee, thus leaving the Rome posi-
office in The hands of the man whose
disgrac' fal and corrupt management
of the Office had been clearly proven
This arbitrary acticn on the part #
the Senate, in the estimation of the
Pre- sldent. Was carrying the Civil
Service proposition trifls too far.
and he at once issued an ed CT sus-
pending the p 'stmaster aid placiug
in his stead a gentleman against
whom the treath If suspicion did
not attach. In bis lette r to the Post
n aster-General touching the matter,
which was published IN the MINER
II yesterday, the President very |
clearly ana pointedly SIT firth his
reasons for making the change in
his instance. He concludes his |
etter by saying, that If he has not
he right to remove, he surely has
he power to suspend; and the latter |
course he adopted. Upon the heels |
If this suspension proclamation.
,arne an answer from the irate post
ma ter which was a shade less than a
public insult to the President. The
Of the matter Will be
'nxiously looked for, as this Is the
lrst peremtory order issued by Mr..
Cleveland which in any way could
70 construed as tlow aimed at the
Civil Service Law. That the Pre,i-
lent Is strictly right in the premises,
here is little room to doubt, even
from the postmaster's own
statement. II the Civil
service Law, however, has no better
Mission to fill than preventing the
President from Kidding the public
ervice of thieves and scoundrels, it
hould be repealed at the earliest
opportunity. But as stated In the
utset Of this article, 1t was cunning
? incubated during Republican rule
Or the very purpose of thwarting
be ends of Justice in tho event of
success. Mr.. Cleveland
entirely In accord with the spirit
I the Civil Service law, and has
lainly SO stated on more than one
ccasion. But the Republicans may
'rce him to that point in the matter
Its operation where forbearance
ill cease to be virtue"
A New Orleana n servar c.lla ~