Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-03
TIE DRAWBACK OF FEDERAL PATRONAGE,
HOW IT HAS INJURED THE DEMoc'
MISUNDERSTANDING KLEIN
ER GIVES A DISINTERESTED OPIN-
10Y AnOIT LII.

! HOW IL lAo lNJ y NM ihi' bi'-N'N
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. KLEIN
ER GIVEsA DIsINTERESTED oPIN
ION ABOUT 1T.
Representative kleiner, OF lndi-
ana. who refused to be a candidate
AT the late election, and Therefore
voluntarily retires from public life
at the end of the present Congress,
| is positive in the opinion that the
control of federal patronage has
been a drawback to the democracy
Speaking to Il star reporter to-day,
he said: 81 would be glad to see
all power in relation to the bestow-
al of patronage taken away from
Congressman. 1t seems to me that
many of the federal Offices might
be made elective, but at any rate
members of Congress should be re-
lieved Of all responsibility in con-
nechon with giving them out
Now, determined some time ago
not TO he a candidate for reelection
and publicly proclaimed my inten-
ton. Hence, for some months back
/ could not be charged with any
selfish motive in distributing the
patronage of my district. | have
honestly cndeayored to follow pub
lie sentiment, so far as | could as
certain it, in recommending ap-
pointmcnts. In the way of post
offices | got my district in good
party shape before the campaign
began.
OF one hundred and thirty-fOur
post Offices only one remained un-
changed, and that was presiden
tial Office, and have been waiting
for the incumbenrs term to expire.
Postmaster General Villas remarked
that | had swept my district clean.
notwithstanding my avowed pur-
pose to retire from Congress- and
my efforts to satisfy the democratic
sentiment Of each locality in max
ing recommendations, there has
been great deal OF complaint, or,
rather, ! should say there have
been some disappointed applicants
who complained loudly and made a
biz noise. Take n crossroads post
Office with a salary Of $3.50 a year
attached. There are two or three
rivals IN busincss-each keeping a
little store. Each wants the post
Office and makes a hot fight for 1t
and when the applicant who gets
the largest number of residents OF
the vicinity TO sign his petition IS
given the Office the others sulk and
complain. They will say that the
man appointed had not done as
much for the party as they had re-
spcctivcly. Tae disappointed ones
svmpathize with each other and get
the sympathy Of relatives and
friends, and pretty soon the Con-
grcssman finds that he has made
enemies because OF an appointment
that was scarcely considered worth
having. Then there are applicants
for foreign missions, cOnsulateS,
etc. who refuse to believe that their
Congressman cannot get the place
for them. IOu see. when the dem
ocratic party came into power there
were "A great many of its members
who thought they ought to have
Office. and there have not been olli-
ccs enough to 90 round. These peo-
pie began with the Congressman OF
their district. They could reach
him easier than any Of the authorl-
ties at Washington, and he has
been necessarily piled Tor ollico.-
Why, it is no wonder to me that
the House was charged with ineili-
cheney last session. The democrat
ic members were kept 80 constantly
engaged in looking after places for
constituents that they had not time
TO give legislative subjects consld-
Grafton. know that found it i'm
possible to keep the run OF current
business. The greatest reform we
could bring about would be to free
Senators and Representatives from
all responsibilities as to the dlstrl-
button of Offices. They should not
have anything to do with it
Washington star.