Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-05
A TALK WITH LANHAM.
What Congressman s. W. T. Lanham
Of the Eleventh District Says
About the Offices.
No Public Servants to be Bounced With
out Cause.-The Reform will be
Late Reaching Texas.
special.

sentative Lanham any information in
his possession upon the ELL bject of re-
movals in the postal service. He says
he has been constantly seeking livht
on the subject ever since the inaugu-
ration and has made repeated inquir.
les officially and otherwise In his eff
fort TO ascertain the course that would
be pursued by the administration in
such matters and that save In excep-
tionsl instances, 1t is his opinion that
the policy to which the postoffice de-
psrtment will probably adhere Is sub
stantially outlined in the following
remark made hr Postmaster General
Villas.
1--WE do not intend to interfere with
men whose terms of Office have not
exired. Where Republican office
holders are proven 10 be incompetent
or derelict in duty, IL will be conid.
cred that they are subject to removal
on charges, but these charges must
not be of q partisan character. Politi-
cal questions will have nothing to do
with the changes"
This is the plalnest statement of the
administrations policy. Mr.. Lam
ham went on 10 say to your corre-
spondent that he Is daily In receipt OF
letters and petitio 8, with reference to
the postmasterships, from a over his
district, ali of which he has endeav-
ored to answer as best he could, with
the lights before him. In ignorance
OF the policy TO be pursued by the ad-
ministration, he has here
tofore been unable to give
that reliable and authoritative
advice and information which he
would desire, and he IL not now pre-
pared to furnish absolutely accurate
intelligence upon the sui ct; but for
the benefit of his immediate con.
stituents he says that his best judg-
ment in the premises, from ali that he
can learn, Is that removals Will not he
made merely
ON THE GROUND OF POLITICAL AFFII-
IATIoN.
The fact that an officer is q Repub.
lican will not OF itself he regarded by
the department as sufficient 10 war
rant removal. Cause will have to
be shown, charging the incumbent
with special activity AZ a partisan,
showing him to have participated in
caucuses, stump-speaking, newspaper
work or some other form of special adj
vocacy OF partisan politics, going
beyond the exercise OF his right
of citizenship in voting and
challenging more than that tolerance
which ought to be freely accorded to
every man TO differ honestly with an
other In politicsl sentiment.
or course, iucompetency or corrup.
ton in an official would be sufficient
aside from any political considera-
lions. Mr.. Lanham believes that
charges Will have TO be sustained by
proofs, and IL the office be a presiden-
tial one, by such proofs as should not
only satisfy the president, but ought
TO satisfy any faii-miuded inquirer.
If 1t be not a presidential office, then
the postmaster-Reneral alone ls re-
quirtd to be satisfied, and it is likely
that proof will be required In that case
In the shape OF athdavits or some doc
evidence establishing the
truth of the causes assigned. There
are now about two thousand two hun
dred vacancies 10 be filed. There is
great necessity for giving attention to
the condition of the department
and the general carrying eervice.
These are very important and
pressing matters of public business re-
curing early consideration by the
heads of the departments.
THE GENERAL MACHINERY NEEDING
REORGANIZATION
In Mr.. Lanham's Judgment 1t will
lie sometime before there will be many
important changes made In Texas, and
local changes and the consideration
thereof will be deferred on account of
other matters demanding prior atten-
tion from Just regard to the neees-
stiles of the public service.
Mr.. Lanham further informed your
correspondent that 80 far as the post
offices In the Eleventh congressional
dislrict were concerned, 1t would be
his purpose in all that he might do, or
represent TO the department under the
rules by II adopted, TO endeavor TO re-
tl-ct the wishes and desires of the
Democratic patrons of the Office con.
cerned, and that he would not know
ingly or willingly aid in
retaining or appointing any
obj .ctionable or incompetent
person; that the pleasure Of the people
and not mere personal favoritihm
would be the rule of his conduct
IN HIS REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY.
From the above, which Is simply sub
mItted M an opinion derived from the
observations of the working OF the
postotlice department up TO date I'M
der the new administr ltlon, and from
such other sources OF information
as We're accessible, the PROBABLE
titles are that many, IL not all,
Of the present Republican incumbents
In the postotlices who have given eat
isfac,ion ana conducted their Offices
with propriety and efficiency, are not
likely to be disturbed for the present.
The policy OF the administration and
the purpose OF the postcflice depart
ment will control such matters. Tits
not In the power of any Democratic
representative
TO EFFECT ANY CHANGE,
save rs 1t may be done in pursuance OF
such rules and upon such reasons,
terms and conditions as the depart.
ment may inaugura,e and in