St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-18
TILE TEyU8E or 0FFToE lot.

| IHJt Ten Il ftlS Or OFF4CE HUI.
To a delegation of West Virginia politi-
clans who called upon the president in rela-
ton to the appointment of a postmaster at
Wheeling Mr.. CLEVELAND responded by say
ing that he had made up his mind to make
no removals of officials holding commission
under the tenure of office act, unless for
cause which would be satisfactory to the SEN
ate in case he was called upon to give his
reasons for desiring such a change. AS the
| president has declared his policy in this re-
spect it may be of some interest to look at
the provision of the tenure of Office act. The
law provides that civil officers appointed with
the consent of the senate shall hold during
the term for which they were appointed I'M
less sooner removed with the consent of the
senate or by the appointment, with like con
sent, of successor in his place. This in
cludes the great mass of the valuable and
influential positions under the govern ment
and takes in all postmasters whose salaries
are 81, 900 or over.
The Presidents power now respecting
offices appointed by and with advice and
consent of the senate, is conceded to be
about as follows: During the session of the
senate the president may nominate sue
cessor to any office, and if the senate con-
firm such nominee the former incumbent is
removed. If the senate refuse to confirm
such nominee the president may make
another and successive nominations, but no
nomina alton will affect removal unless the
senate confirm it. He cannot, during the
session OF the senate, create a vacancy or
remove any officer without the consent of the
senate. In vacation of the senate, however,
ne can suspend any officer at his discretion,
and is not required to assign then or after
any cause for his act, and may appoint a
person to perform the duties of his office,
who will hold in that capacity until confirmed
by the senate or till the END of the next ses-
sion, whether confirmed or not. If the next
succeeding session of the senate should adj
1ourn without confirming such person, or
| some other named by the president in place
of the suspended officer, the duties
OF the Office would devolve on the
officer designated by law to perform them,
the Office itself remaining in allegiance with
out any salary until the consent of the SEN
ate is had to an appointment
The effect of the law will be best under
stood by an illustration which is not in
tended to be invioous. DR.. DAY, the post
master at st. Paul, has say two years of ten
ure. The president, however, may conclude
to appoint JOHN SMITH, who qualities and as
sumes the office, enjoying its emoluments
until The close of the next session of the
senate. The president sends SMITHS name
to that body next December. The senate
may refuse its assent on the ground that no
reasons exist why Postmaster DAY should
not have been secure in his tenure. 1t re-
fuses to confirm all subsequent nominations
to DR.. Days place during that term. The
result is that at the expiration of the session of
the senate there is no postmaster at st. Paul,
the duties of the postoffice are then per-
formed by the deputy, or whoever is desig-
mated by law to succeed, without other pay
than such as pertains to his place as deputy
or other subordinate