The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-18
THE POSTOFFICES.
PosToFrIcE DEPARTMENT, !
WASHINGTON, ID. C.. (


To the Editor o. the Sentinel:
SRI notice a report that there is complaint
among Indiana Democrats because Democrats
have not been substituted for Republicans in tue
various post0ffices Of your State. The admins
tration appreciates how natural is the desire for
tbese Changes and - anxious TO effect them as
rapidly as is practicable. But perhaps the Demo
Gratis will not be so impatient with the admins.
t,ation when one or two facts are presented for
their consideration.
II should be remembered that there are in round
umbers ZOO postoflices In Indiana. OF course
the Postmaster General, nor IL any of his assist
ante, acquainted with the 1000 communities in
W ICh these offices are located. All that we know
from the books Of the department is the names of
The offices and OF the Republicans occupying them.
We are ready to turn the latter out, but do ot
deem it advisable to do until we have accredited
10 us z O0U Democrats 10 appoint In their stead
Fer the latter the administration mas to rely uoon
5eGa or from your State. II the responsibility De
equsily divided each of these gentlemen would
have, say 260 recommendations to make.
row, any one OF these ten Representatives. will
tell you that he has not recon- mended 90 Demo-
Gratis 10 us for postoices It is doubtful II e,Iher
or them has recommended twenty-five applicants
for postofiices. They csn not decide for them
selves Immediately whom 70 indorse. They feel IL
right that they should confer with their coustitl-
enis. In Instances thcre are several applications
fer the same office The Congress man. in that
case, needs 10 weigh the claims merits of all be-
fore selecting one TO recommend So t1e Postonice
Department could rot have by this time made
changes ar ali the offices. because your Congress.
mf have Dot made recommendations for all.
True some recommendations have been made
to US. and we have appointed some of them; but
it should not be forgotten that there are thirty
seven OTHER States in the Union besides the Terri
tories, and some 10000 more postoflices TO be
reilled, and sll equally urgent as Indiana. So we
are not, therefore. able to give our entire atten
ton to applications from your State. But If the
Democrats OF each community Will cooperate in
indicating 10 their Congressman whom thew would
prefer appointed mt ana IL the congressman VIII
ment, We will give Indiana equal attention with
other States in eecing the desired changes in the
poetofiices. w, II. Villas,
Postmaster General.
The Sentinel has not received any letter
such as the above from the Postmaster Gen.
eral. But were he writing in answer to the
complaints that the offices have not been re-
filled, he would, we think. offer about the
explanation given in the assumed letter. We
are informed that not more than ten per cent.
of. the postoffices of Indiana have appiica-
tions filed at the Posioffics Department for
Democratic appointments. OF these mum.
Der have been favorsbly acted upon.
For the larger postoffices there are, of
course, applicants pressing their suits before
their respective Congressman or Senator
Voorhees,. But the Democrats at smslls Z
offices, with less compensation attached are
doing less to obtain changes. We suggest
that at these there should be unity of action
among our party friends. If the Democrats
at esch such Office can unite upon one man
and unitedly recommend him TO the proper
Congressman, the latter will be greatly re.
lievsd and the appointment be, no doubt.
more quickly Obtained Should not each
community do all possible toward obtaining
charge in its Office before oondemning
the administration?