The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-05-22

Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,


WASHINGTON, d. c., April %, 1885.
DEAR SIR: The continued illness of Mr..
Hay will delay his coming for some time yet
TO the department, and | think it desirable
that some action should be taken In the way
of removals, and am impatient to assist ouI
people in securing relief, to which they are
Justly entitled, from partisan postmasters ]
have had a conference with the Virginia del
egaton and they will soon bring i'll 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 a coun.
ty in Virginia, amounting to several hundred
altogether. l had intended to invite yourself
and the Democratic delegation from Ohio to
meet me this week and consider the plan
upon which we should proceed in making re-
movals in Ohio But | understand it will be
announcement for some to travel hither now,
and it has occurred to me that
perhaps the same end might be ac
complished by writing. | shall beg you,
therefore, TO consider the suggestions |
make as to the methods of procedure, and if
you can adopt them and get same cases ready
within the next two or three weeks | think
within the month of MayI can give substan-
tial relief that will take away the Importantly
and discomfort think that from fifteen to
twenty-five per cent of the fourth class post
masters in Ohio might be removed within the
next two months, and great good accom-
plished thereby, if our people will adherelto
This is, in short, to pick out the most OBJ
noxious and offensive partisans in each
county, to the number of a sixth to quarter
of all, and choose first-class men to take their
places. / will require no more proof of parti-
sanship in these selections than the atiirma-
ton of knowledge on the part of a Represen-
tative or Senator that the postmaster has
been an active editor or proprietor of Re
publican newspaper printing offensive
articles, easily shown by slips or a
ia.
cal committee, or officer of a cam
paign club,o organizer of political meetings,
or that his Office has been made the head
quarters Of political work, or that his clerks
have been put into the performance of DO.
litical 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 un.
questioned credibility, or by some document
ary evidence.
In recommending for appointment, l beg
the Representatives will state the age, bust.
ness, and what kind of business experience
and a description of the business, character
of the applicant, and also of his habits and
standing in the community. 1t would be
well to file evidence showing that be will be
satisfactory to the community, and when
there are various candidates, | shall be
obliged by any explanation which the Repre-
sentative can give.
This necessarily imposes a little trouble,
and yet not very great; but it seems to me
reasonable to require very extraordinary care
and trouble enough to be taken to represent
surely the facts. The earliest removals and
appointments of this kind will challenge the
keenest scrutiny. The former must be iusti.
fable and the latter beyond criticism. Some
mistakes have perhaps occurred and our al.
versaries are keenly interested to make the
most of every fault, because they have per
ceived a strong current of general approba
ton of the purposes of the administration.
In rendering this justice TO our people,
which consists of the removal of opponents
and substitution of our friends, feel that il
is very desirable to proceed with extreme
care, and that l am correctly represen ting
the Presidents wishes and purposes in earn,
estly 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 ap,
pointments to further mere personal end,
should be absolutely forbidden, and recon.
mendations upon that basis may well expect
disfavor.
shall very willingly take up the case OF
any district or of any county, whenever they
are ready, and | shall be glad if the Repre-
sentative can personally attend and 60 over
them Papers should be sent in as soon as
possible, and will be then carefully briefed in
the department; and when so made ready,
appointments can be made with great ra-
pi1ity.
Should you think it desirable to have a
personal conference before this is begun,
shall be very glad To meet the delegation
But as have felt it desirable to relieve
them of unnecessary journeying and expense
have written similar letter to each repre-
sentative from Ohio, and respectfully solicited
responsive action in accordance with the
spirit Of it. Very truly yours,
WIN. f. Villas, Postmaster-G General