Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-05-21

| On thursday, the question OF paying Den-
efits in case of suicide was taken up and
discussed at length. The Supreme Lodge is
in favor of paying the insurance in such
cases when the person committing the deed
is insane beyond question, and does not ap-
preciate the effect of his act, but in any event
it thinks the benefits should be withheld.
The Treasurer submitted a statement re-
garding the expenses incurred by the Su-
preme Lodge in the Breckenridge case in
Kentucky On motion, it was decided to
leave the salaries of officers of the Supreme
Lodge the same as during the past year.
Ali the old Supreme officers were re-eect-
ed for the ensuing year.
A BLAST FROM Villas.
The following circular, which explains
itself, has been issued by the Postmaster
General. 1t has thus far been sent to the
Democratic members of Congress from the
States of Ohio, Indiana and Virginia and
will be sent to members of delegations
from other States:
IConfdential.]
PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF FPOsTMAsTER-GENE
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 90.
DEAR SIR: The continued illness of Mr..
Hay will delay his coming for some time
yet to the Department, and think it desir-
able that some action be taken in the way OF
removals. and am impatient to assist our
people 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 I shall hope to make the earliest
removals in that State. AS soon as they
shall all be ready, and hope within week,
I desire to appoint from three to ten in a
county in Virginia amounting to several
hundred altogether. 1 had intended to in
vite yourself and the Democratic delega--
ton from Ohio, to meet me this week and
consider the plan upon which we should pro-
ceed in making removals in Ohio. But |
understand it will be inconvenient for some
to travel hither now, and it has occurred to
me that perhaps the same end might be ac-
cOmplshed 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 some cases
ready within the next two or three weeks,
l think within the month of May can give
substantial relief that will take away the
importantly and discomfort. l think that
fourth class postmasters in Ohio might be
removed within the next two months, and
great good accomplished thereby, if our
people will adhere to a proposed plan.
This is, in short, to pick out the most OBJ
noXious and offensive partisans in each
county, to the number Of sixth to quar-
ter of all, and choose frst-class men to take
their places. / will require no more proof
of partisanship in these selections than the
affirmation of knowledge on the part OF a
Representative or Senator that the post
master has been an active editor or proprie-
tor of a Republican newspaper printing Of
fensive articles, easily shown by slips; or
stump speaker, or member of political
committee, or officer Of a 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
put into the performance of political duties.
Possibly other acts of equal force may be
noted in 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 unquestioned credibilty,
or by some documentary evidence.
In recommending for appointment, L
beg the Representative will state the age,
business, and what kind Of business expe-
rience, and a description 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 community,
and when there are various candidates, L
the Representative can give.
This necessarily imposes 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 rep
resent surely the facts. The earliest re-
movals and appointments of this kind Will
challenge the keenest scrutiny. The form
er must be justitiable and the latter beyond
criticism. Some mistakes have perhaps
occurred, and our adversaries are keenly
interested to make the most of every fault,
because they have perceived a strong cur
rent Of general appreciation OF the purposes
of the administration.
In rendering this justice to our people,
which consists of the removal of obnoxious
the and substitution of our friends, feel
that it is very desirable to proceed with eX-
| treme care, and that | am correctly rep
resenting the Presidents wishes and pur-
poses in earnestly soliciting that every
Step may be taken accordingly. may
add that the common good is infinitely
beyond the welfare of any one person,
however great his place, SO appointments,
to further mere personal ends, should be
absolutely forbidden, and recommendation
upon that basis may as we'll expect dis
favor.
/ shall very willingly take up the case
of any district or of any county, whenever
they are ready; and shall be glad if the
REPRESENTATIVES can personally attend and
90 over them. Papers should be sent in as
Soon as possible, and will be then carefully
briefed in the Department; and when so
made readyappointmentsc can be made with
great rapidity.
Should YOU think it desirable to have q
personal conference before this is begun,
Shall be very glad to meet the delegation.
| Rut MS have felt it desirable to relieve
them of unnecessary journeying and eX-
pense, have written asimilar letter to each
Representative from Ohio, and respectfully
solicited responsive action in accordance
with the spirit of it. Very truly yours,
WM. f. Villas, Postmaster General.
A notable event in the proceedings of
! the Diocesan Convention in Columbia last
week, was the question Of admitting, colored