New-York tribune., 1886-11-14
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
WOES OF UNHAPPY CoNGREssMEN.
AN INDIANA REPRESENTATIVES, DEPICTS THE HARD
SHIPS or OFFICIAL LIFE.

WASHINGTON, 13 (SpecaD.-Representatl
Kleiner. of Indiana, who refused to bo can
didate at the late election and therefore voluntarily
retires from public life at tho end OF the present
Congress. is positive in tho opinion that the conto
of Federal patronage has been drawback 20 INC
Democracy. Speaking to Star reporter to'uay'
he said
al would he glad 10 see all power in relation to the
bestoval OF patronage taken away from congressman
IL seems TO me that many Of the Federal offices mght
be made elective. but at any rate members OF ION
eress should DO relieved of all responsibility In con-
nection with giving them out. Now. l determined
some time ago not TO be candidate for re-eecton'
and publicly proclaimed my intention. Hence, ior
some months back could not be charged with any
selfish motive in distributing the patronage OF my
district ! have honestly cndeavorod to ioilow pup
lie sentiment so far as | could ascertain II IN recon-
mending appointments. In the way OF posi- oiices
cot my district in good party shape before the cam
paign began. OF 1874 post offices only one remalneu
unchanged and that was Presidential Office ana
have been waiting for tho ncumbent's term to expire
Postmaster General Villas remarked that had swept
my district clean.
Notwithstanding my purpose to retire from Con-
cress and INV efforts to satisfy the Democratic senti-
ment OF each locality in making recommendations
there has been great deal OF complaint, or rsther'
7 should say there have been some disappointed ap-
plcants who complained loudly and made Dig
noise Take cross roads post Office with saary
of s4 so year attached There arc two or three Vas
in business, each keeping little store Each wants
the post Office and makes hot fight, and when the
applicant who gets the largest number OF residents
Of the vicinity sign his petition is given the once
the Others sulk and complain. They VIII say thac 'e
man appointed bad not done as much for the parry party
as they had respectively. The disappointed ONE
symIathize with each other aud get the sympalny VI
relatives and friends and pretty soon the Cohgressan
finds tha he has made enemies because OF an aPponI
mcnt that was scarcely considered worth ha'hs
Then there are applicants for foreign missions con con
sulates etc who refuse TO believe that their Con
erossman cannot get the place for them. fou seo
when the Democratic party came INTO power uioIe
we're a rreat many OF It's me Ibers who thought they
ought to have Office, and there have not been 0hces
enough to 90 round. These people began WIN the
Congressman of their district They could reach MN
easier than any the authorities at Washington, ana
he has been necessarily Piled for Office Why, II is ne
wonder to that the House was charged WIN IN
efficiency last session. The Democratic members
were kept 30 constantly engaged in looking after
places for constituents that they had not time 10 give
| legislative subjects consideration. know tnaI 1
found 1t impossible TO keep the run OF current pus
ness The greatest reform We could BRING ABOUT
would be to free Senators and Representatives from
all responsibilities TO the distribution OF oficcs
! They should not have anything to do with IT"