Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-14

THE POSTMASTER GENERALS PLANS.

THE POSTMASTER GENERALS PLANS.
Postmaster. General Villas has issued q
private circular letter to a number of DEM
ocratic members of Congress with reference
to the removal and appointment of post
masters. The letter is as follows:
Confidential.
Postotfce Department, Office Of Postmaster
General Washington, April %, lSoo.-Dear
Sir: The continued illness of MIR. Hay will
delay his coming for some time yet TO the
denartment, and l think it desirable that
some action should be taken in the way of
removals, and am impatient to assist ous
peoule in securing relief to which they are
Justly entitled from partisan postmasters.
I have had conference with the Virginia
delegation and they will soon bring in their
cases, and shall hope to make the earliest
removals in that State. As soon as they
shall be ready, and hope within week, |
desire to appoint from three to ten IN
county in Virginia, amounting to several
hundred altogether. | had intended to IN
vite yourself and the democratic delegation
from Ohio to meet me this week and con-
slider the plan upon which we should pro-
coed in making removals in Ohio. But
understand it will be inconvenient for some
to travel hther now, and it has occurred to
mo that perhaps the same end might be &C
complshed by writing. ! shall beg you,
therefore, to consider thesuggestions make
as TO the methods of procedure, and II you
can adopt them and get some cases ready
within the next two or three weeks, ! think
within the month of May ! can give sub
stantial relief that will take away the I'M
por,unity and discomfort. think that from
| Is to % per cent of the fourth-class post
masters in Ohio might be removed within
the next two months, and great good &C.
complisbed thereby, if our people adhere TO
proposed plan.
This is, in short, to pick out the most OBJ
noxicus and offensive partlsans III each
county, TO the number of sixth to quar-
ter OF all, and choose irst-class men to take
their places. will require no more proof
of partisanshp in these selections than inc
affirmation of knowledge on the part OF
representative or Senator that the post
master has been an active editor or proprle.
tor of republican newspaper, printing o.
fensve articles, easily shown by slips; or
| stump SPEAKER or member of political
committee. or officer Of campaign club,
or organizer of political meetings, or that
his Office has been made the headquarters OF
political work, or that his clerks have been
nut 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 estab-
lished bv some affidavit of some person
whom he can affirm TO be of unquestioned
crediblity. or by some documentary evil
| dence.
| Ia recommending for appointment, beg
the Representative will state the age, and
what kind of business experience, and a
| description of the business character of the
applicant, and also Of his habits and stand
ing in the community. 1t would be we'll to
| file evidence showing that he will be salts
| factory to the community, and when there
are various candidates, shall be obliged by
any exclamation which the Representative
can give.
This necessarily imposes little trouble,
and yet not very great, but it seems to me
reasonable to require very extraordinary
cn,e and trouble enough To be taken to rep
resent surely the facts. The earliest remov-
els aud appointments of this kind will chal-
lenge the keenest scrutiny. The former
must be iustifable and the latter beyond
criticism. Some mistakes have perhaps &C.
cured and our adversaries are keeny in
teresled to make the most of every fault,
because they have perceived strong cur
rent of general appreciation of the purposes
OF the administration.
In rendering this usLice to our people,
which consists Of the removal of and substi-
tuition of our friends, feel that it is very
desirable to proceed with extreme care, and
that am correctly representing the Presi-
dents wishes and purposes in earnestly so
| Letting that every step may be taken &C
cordngly may add that as the common
good is infinitely beyond tie welfare of any
one person, however great his place, so APP
pointments, to further mere personal end,
should be absolutely forbidden, and recon-.
mendations upon that basis may we'll ex-
pect disfavor.
shall very willingly take up the case of
any district or Of any county, whenever
they are ready, and l shall be glad if the
Representative can personally attend and
go over them. Papers should be sent IN as
soon as possible, and will be then carefully
briefed in the department, aud when SO
made ready, appointments can be made
with great rapidity.
| Should you think it desirable to have
personal conference before this is begun, l
shall be very glad to meet the delegation.
But as have felt it desirable to relieve
them of unnecessary journeying and expense
have written a similar letter TO each Rep
resentative from Ohio, and respectfully So
| licited responsive action in accordance with
the spirit Of it. Very truly, yours,
VIM F. Villas, Postmaster General.
The Catfish and its Kittens
IT. ,J;fo,. IF Tho dToruu1,.ju Euro{fe.