The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-09-03
Postmasterships as Spoils.

/ O. So 49, a., s.., 49,, ~
81 i"i as the loui 'h-claas Iostlilasters' VINO
constitute about one-half of the total number of
! Federal otfice-boIders are concerned the soft.
| &c., :., t: :,
lehsNe par'isahship oeVlce Is now wholly dis
| pensed with. Gen Stevenson. the First Assist
I ant Pos master General, with whom rests the
filling of these offices, frankly declares that it is
/ impossible 10 make an investigation of each
case, and says: 1T is necessary to have some
one directly responsible, and that person should
/ naturally be the Representative of the district
! in Congress. We have not vet risen to that
| point Of political ethics where the non-parti>an
| principle is ecognized; therefore as rule. the
| recommendations are confined to Democratic
Representatives" This is simply somewhat
clrcuitous way of saying that as regards these
offices. the party claims are to be fully rec
ognized. and every Democratic Congressman is
| to control the patronage, and direct the distri-
button Of appointments in his district. As a
rule, says Gen. Stevenson, the Representatives
recommendation is final. "A Representative of
district, 4 ~ yoit,c1t tei0tto,S tcM tie 4dhtlh-
St,"tlo", sends in his list of names and places
and the appointments are made from that. If
| there are any objectionable names we are very
| likely to hear OF them. and before issuing the
commission we can investigate" In answer to
the inquiry whether this method receives the
approval OF the President and the Postmaster
General, Gen. Stevenson said Il have heard
nothing to the contrary" The Washington
correspondent of the Philadelphia Times, who
telegraphs these statements, adds significantly:
Gen. Stevenson. having served in Congress,
las Il knowledge of the importance of these
small Postmastershps in working up the de-
tails of party operations in a county. He also
claims that these Offices should be held bv their
patty friends. During the short time that he
has filled this arduous post he has not only dis
played extraordinary executive ability, but has
managed his affairs in a manner TO win friends
on all sides. He is already one of the most eff
cient and popular officers unuer the new Adj
| ,.,....
1t is not surprising that an official who com
placcntly turns over all the amendments in his
control to the Democratic congressman shouId
be "popular," and it is clear that the eulogums
bestowed upon Gen. Stevenson by the Ohio
Democratic county convention were deserved.
Tine kind of popularity which he is winning
may he understood from the following dispatch
in the Cincinnati Enquirer Dem):
Congressman Berah wilkins arrived here
this morning at s O'Clock. Immediately after
breakfastng he called at the Post Office De-
partment and secured action or quite number
of applications for fourth class Postmasters in
his district. He first saw Mr.. Stevenson, who
told him to go look over the papers filed from
his district, and those already briefed and in
dorsed should be appointed to-day. Mr.. Will
kins found "a cases ready for Mr.. otevenson's
signature, which he at once carried to him, and
tie appointments srete mdde rit0ut any erDlunatton
being mute ollie, MaM he (Wukias) Desired the a.
potatmenk. Mr.. Wilkins says tie appointments
%ett Pa'tc"to'ty gJdtyytng to Inn because from the
outset he had declined to bring chayes aqainst am
Of tie IncnaebeAs other Mae that they are RepuJE-
cas- Mr.. Stevenson told Mr.. wilkins to look
over the remainder of his cases, and, just as
soon as they are ready he would make the APP
polntments. Asked what he thought of the
First Assistant Postmaster Generals office Mr..
wilkins said: Il am sorry did not come here
weeks ago discover that Mr. Stevenson does not
only rant to appojnt Democratic Postmasters, but
he IS doing so ~tthoM hesttatton or NONSENSE"
This seems to be good time to recur to Mr..
Cleveland's sonorous reform declarations in his
letter to Mr.. Curtis:
There is class of Government positions
which are not within the letter of the Civil Ser