Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-13
THE DRAWBACK OF FEDERAL PAT.
RONAGE.
How 1t Has Injured the Democracy
Representative Kleiner Gives q Dis.
interested Opinion About 1t.

Representative Kleiner, of Indiana, who re-
| fused 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 drawback to the democracy. Speak
Ing to STAR reporter to-day, he said: IL would
be glad to see all power in relation to the
bestowal 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
relieved OF all responsibility in connection with
giving them out. Now, determined sume
time ago not to be candidate tor reelection
and publicly proclaimed my ntentton. Hence,
for some months back could not be charged
with any selfish motive in distributing the
patronage OF my district. l have honestly en-
deavOred to follow public sentiment, SO far as
could ascertain it, in recommending appoint
mentS. In the way of post offices got my dis
irict in good party shape before the campaign
began.
OF one hundred and thirty -four post offices
only one remained unchanged, and that was q
presidential office, and have been waiting for
tne lncum6ents term to expire. Postmaster
district clean. Notwithstanding my avowed
purpose to retire from Congress and my efforts
to satisfy the democratic sentiment OF each
been great deal OF complaint, or, rather l
should Say there have been some disappointed
applicants who complained loudly and made a
Dlg noise. Take a crDsS-rOads post Of
flee with salary of $3.50 a year attached.
There are two or three rivals in Ousiness-each
Keeping a little store. Zach wants the post
office and makes a hot fight tor it; and when the
applicant who gets the largest number Df resi-
dents of the vicinity to sign his petition is given
the Office the others suik and complain. They
Will Say that the man appointed h.d not done
as much for the purity as they had respectively
Ihe disappointed ones sympathiZe with each
other and get the sympathy of reiu-
lives and friends, and pretty soon the
Congressman finds that he has made
enemies because OF an appointment that was
scarcely considered worth having. Then there
are applicants Tor foreign missions, consulates,
etc, VINO refuse to believe that their Congress.
man cannot get the place fur them. You see
when the democratic party came into power
there were great MANY OF its members who
Thought they ought to have office, ana there
have not be n offices enough to gn round These
people began with the Congressman of their
district. They could reacn him easier than
any OF the authorities at Washingtou and he
has been necessarily piled Tor office. Why it is
no wonder to me that the Hou " was charged
with inefficiency last session. The democratic
members were kept SO constantly engaged in
looking after places for constituents that they
had not time 10 give legislative subjects con-
s1derat1on. know that found it i'm possible to
keep the run Of current business. The greatest
reform We couid Drlug auout would be 10 free
Senators and Representatives from all RESPONSE.
Dliltles as 10 the distribution OF Offices. They
should not have any thing to do with It,