Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-06-25

Stepping into the Collectors office yester-
law. d Register reporter met the new Col
lector. Mr. McGraw, aud after speaking on
general topics for some time, the reporter
preached the subject OF the little rumpus
down I'm Hampshire county and asked Mr..
McGraw's opinion of the matter, TO which
he replied
81 have nothing tosay particularly about
tbe action taken by the Democrats of ROM
ney. as published in the paper" said he,
" except that my position from business
and political standpoint Is, as l think, the
proper one. and must be so admitted by any
fair minded man who Is at all converSant
with the business of the Collectors office.
Those people have not asked any questions
about the matter, hut have assumed an err
-oleous premise from which they deduCe
heir own conclusion. Besides, don't
think it ever paws well 20 commence the
,huyelling until the snow ceases to fall.
-rl.ess ,.,,-f,to o-,sr ia, tt,o South Drouoh
Valley have adopted Their own conclusions
without che least foundation. have made
no permanent Republican appointments, As
.hey assume Tor me- but have awaited my
self temporarily of the experience OF some
of the old Deputies until / could familiar
ze myself with the duties of an office which
are o. me and my Democratic appointees
70, novel as they arc intricate and exacting. -
Wen. what Is the true iuwardness of the
Hampshire county kick
" The fact about the Romney case is sim
ply this: On last Monday week | assumed
the duties of this office. and it necessarily
took some time TOR me and my deputies at
the centr3, Office 90 get properly started
rom that point I'm this Internal Revenue
division. comprising five counties, of which
Hampshire Is one, there are two places,
Deputy and Guager, and for these two places
here are no less than from fifteen to wenty
applicants The first question presented Is
"a conflict of counties rs % where the busl-
Ness demands that the offices should be To-
Gated. 10 then becomes a conflict between
the several applicants, all good men and
we.Iendorsed. When the old collector went
ont his deputies went out with him as they
give bonds of idemnity to him, aud when
he releases them, their obligation ceases
and their official functions are at an end.
Hence after Mccormick went out, his dep
ute, had no authority 70 act, AID the duty
developed upon me TO see that some one was
then I'm that division 20 represent the gov
rrum NO and 90 transact its buSireSS The
public business could not stop and | would
be responsible upon my official bond for
any loss 0r damage caused thereby. Now
the selection of some one had 10 be made
and 10 would have been manifesty unjust
to the other applicants for the place 20 have
selected one of their number 20 act until
could make permanent appointment That
would have been an unfair and unjust dis
elimination and the source of humiliation
Co the Democrat SO appointed TO be super
seeded by some other and whose selection
might subsequently appear as the proper
one to Doe made As a relief from this en-
barrasSment in all Instances where / was
n0, ready 20 make the appointment at once,
/ asked the old deputies 20 re-quality. In
one instance, that of Deputy Gibbins, of
Parker,hurg, he declined 20 serve unless l
would assure him of a certain tenure of a
few months. which / declined 20 do and
promptly relieved him by sending Division
Deputy Mckinney to take charge OF the Of
fee until i could agree upon the proper man
among the several applicants for the place
Tn what manner do you go about select
ing the right man for the right place? -
Wen, the rule which ! have adopted
with reference 20 appointments Is not 20
consult my personal preferences for the re-
,pectiye places. but TO try and ascertain the
sentiment and desire of the community 10
which the incumbent is assigned, and this
cannot always be speedily done. This
course will save me from falling into errors,
us think. and Others from the humiliation
of q removal % correct the error " were
inclined % regard the Collectors office *
one personal 70 myself and my friends,
would make these appointments from that
standpoint aud look to no other criterion.
Besides an this. from the time that | took
charge of the office until the end of the fs-
cal year 10 was but twenty-five days, and
vet in that time am required TO make my
annual report. based upon the transactions
of tne past wear. my deputies must make
their reports 90 me. and the whole must cor
respond 90 q fraction. Il I were 70 start in
with fresh men an through. aS some persons
think | should DO, I would have ny Office
bon confusion and myself In disgrace 10
that proposition there is involved neither
business principles or any degree Of p0liti-
cal sagacity. I have thought and still
believe thar it would be positive advan-
tage DO the new appointees 20 have a new
fiscal wear before them. which commences |