St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-05-21
The Minor Post Offices.
Confidential Letter from MI. Villas.

General Villas has sent a
circular letter dated April %, to the
democratic members of Congress from
Ohio. Indiana, Virginia and New York
regarding the substitution of demo-
Gratis for republicans in the fourth class
post offices and marked confidential. ~
1t has, however, been made public,
and from it the policy of the head of
the post Office department may be
easily gathered.
There has been some question about
the authority of the postmaster gener-
al in this matter, but it seems clear
that his officers of this grade are sub
ject to removal by him. The consti-
tuition says that Congress may by law
vest the appointment of such inferior
officers as they think proper in the
president alone, in the courts of law,
or in the heads of departments. Sec
ton 1880 of the revised statutes pro-
vides that "postmasters of the fourth
and fifth class shall be appointed and
may be removed by the postmaster
general" The fourth class offices are
those paying a salary of less than
$1,000 but more than 5000, and those
of the fifth, less than $500.
The letter was sent to the democrat
ic congressman of only four states, but
it is stated in the public prints that it
will be sent to members from other
states, so is a matter of considerable
public interest. The important part OF
the letter is as follows:
l think that from Is to 25 per cent.
of the fourth class pOstmasters in New
York might be removed within the
next two months, and great good ac-
cOmplished thereby, if our people will
adhere TO a proposed plan. This is,
in short, to pick out the most ObnOx-
iOus and offensive partisans in each
county to the number of a sixth to a
quarter of all, and choose frst-class
men to take their places. L will re-
quire no more proof of the partisan
ship in these selections than the atfir-
nation of knowledge on the part of a
representative or senator that the post
master has been an active editor or
proprietor of a republican newspaper,
printing offensive articles, easily
shown by slips or a stump speaker,
or member of political committee, or
officer of a campaign club, or organ
izer of political meetings, or that his
Of political work, or that his clerks
have been put into the performance of
political duties. Possibly other acts of
equal force may be noted in some
cases.
If the representative does not know
the fact, it should be established by
some affidavit of some person whom
he can affirm to be of unquestiOnable
credibility, or by some documentary
evidence. In recommending for APP
pOintment | beg the representative
will state the age, business and what
kind of business experience and de-
scriptiOn of the business character OF
the applicant, and also of his habits
and standing in the community. 1t
would be we'll to file evidence showing
that he will be satisfactory to the com
munity, and when there are various
candidates | shall be obliged by any
explanation which the representative
can give. This necessarily imposes a
little trouble, and yet not very great
but it seems to me reasonable to re-
quire very extraordinary care and
trouble enough to be taken to repre-
sent surely the facts. The earliest re-
mOvals or appointments of this kind
will challenge the keenest scrutiny.
The former must be iustifiable and the
latter beyond criticism.
Some mistakes have perhaps occur
red, and our adversaries are keenly in
terested to make the most of every
fault because they have perceived a
strong current of general appreciation
of the purposes of the administration.
In rendering this justice to our people,
which consists of these removals and
substitution of our friends, | feel that
it is very desirable to proceed with ex-
treme care, and that | am correctly
representing the presidents wishes and
purposes in earnestly soliciting that
every step may be taken accordingly.
| may add that, as the common good
is infinitely beyond the welfare of any
one person, however great his place,
so appointments to further a mere per-
sOnal end should be absolutely forbid
den, and recommendations upon that
basis may well expect disfavor. | shall
very willingly take up the case of any
district or of any county whenever it
is ready, and | shall be glad if the rep
resentatives can personally attend and
go over them. Papers should be sent
i'll as soon as possible, and will be then
carefully briefed in the department,
and when so made ready appointments
can he made with great rapidity.
Vermont News
SUICIDE OF VERMONT LAWYER.