Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-05-14
THE PLUMS IN PROSPECT
DEMOCRATS SIGNING FOR TINE
OFFICES.
Ehe Federal Appointments in VIII
mi"gion and I'hose Applying for
Them.

Local Democrats continue ;n look Inn
lngly at the Federal positions in This cir
10 see them daily occupied by political
opponents while Democratic i.dmiuis.
tration reigns in Washington CRATES
harshly on their feelings, aud unless
changes are made very soon they will
endeaVor to kick up such u commo-
ton as will speedily conyincs
the head of the administration
that "the eyes of Delaware are upon
him." Delaware Democrats as n class.
and particularly those who want Office are
not the most ardent Civil Service re-
formers. The principle "to the yictors
belong the spoilsn has been accepted and
illustrated in this State for years. and
whenever political change is effected by
local election here, il is followed by a
change in all the offices where vacancies
occur, from the highest TO the lowest IN
State, county and city. No guilty office
holder escapes after his party is defeatedb bv
the people, and they all quietly subinitto
the fortunes of political war, and wait
for the next election in hopes of bniny
restored. This being the case the Demo.
cratic workers are naturally restiye NJ the
delay in making room for them in the
nice official berths provided by the
general government, aud not inclined TO
patiently wait much longer for the
realization of their fond hopes.
The Federal positions in Wilmington
are not numerous, but they are, in the
main, very lucrutiye, and good enough
to warrant the impotence felt at the long
life being allowed their Republican
occupants. First in order comes the post
office, with its S2,S00 per year salary and
numerous appointments which is now in
the tenure of Major William Y. Swiggett.
Major Swiggett's term expires May 10th,
1856, and the anxious Democrats waiting
to step into his official shoes are Council.
men Martin Farrell and Robert H.
Taylor and Thomas r. Lally, ESQ. Others
may enter the field later, but these three
are now the only contestants.
The Office of the collector of the port
of Wilmington is just across the corridor
from the post Office department, in the
same building. 1t is at present occupied
by ex-Councilman Henry f. Pickels, but
as his term does not expire until June
SOth, 1888, it is presumed that he will be
called upon to vacate long before that
time. Those who live in expectancy of
seeing this change and of profting by it
are Representative Enoch Moore Of this
city, Representative Henry NJ. Barlow of
Brandywine hundred and DR.. Robert Y.
Watson of Milford, Kent county. The
emoluments are about 81 500 per annum.
The office of United States marshal is
also one which Democratic expeetants
hope will be vacated by removal before
the expiration of the official term. The
present incumbent is Henry FL. McMullin,
and if his official tenure is not curtailed
he will continue in Office until the
10th OF May, 1886. The applicants
Tor this office, the emoluments
Of which are not positively known, but
,re estimated all the way from 81, 900 to
u ,oOO per annum, are more numerous
han for any other Federal position, and
ihe list to date is as follows: Ex-Coun-
Gilman William b. Norton, Councilman
William II. Blake, Robert Cottingham,
William III. Brady, John Pyle, Archibald
jiven and John Mcbride of Wilmington;
Charles M. Hewlin of Newport; John w.
Nhiteman of Mill Greek hundred and
William Murphy of Augustine Mills.
The office of collector of internal reve-
lue can be acted upon at any time, and
he incumbent required to hand in his
at the pleasure of the Secre-
8 said to be worth about 81, 500 per wear,
8 at present held by Beniah Watson,
ESQ, of Dover, lately Stalwart Repub-
lean of the most pronounced type. His
ong continuance in Office is not expected,
nd the applicants for the succession are
Theodore f. Armstrong of
Newark, and ex-State Senator John W.
)ausey of Milford, brother of Secretary
4 State Causey. Both gentlemen are
trongly backed, and the contest will be
n exciting one.
The present United States district
ttorney is John G. Patterson, ESQ.,, and
he pay of the office is about $500 per
ear. Thomas Davis, Esq, an active
oung Democratic lawyer, is favorably
poken of for this position.
There is one other Office in Wilmington
'hich formerly paid quite handsomely,
ut is now so reduced in business that il
not much thought of. The position is
nat of United States guager, and the ap-
is made by the Secretary of
le Treasury on the Recommendation of
le collector of internal revenue. The
uties are to guage all spirits rectified
nd sold by wholesale in this city, but the
usiness is limited, and as the office is
aid by fees the remuneration is
OF large. The office is ut present
eld by John II. Graham, the
ell-know butcher. There are no open
pplicants for his place, but il is whis-
cred that several persons are looking
ITO the extent of the fees, in order to
scertain whether it is worth while to
lake move for the office. There is no
'rm fixed for the place, but the present
is sufficiently partizan to come
nder the ban of removal for this cause,
J he is quite an active politician, and is,
present, the Republican inspector of
lie next city election, in the Seventh
lection district, Third ward.