Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-13
Senator Hale.
In RELATION TO SIMON s Browns Posi-
OFFICE BROKERAGE BUSINESS.

In RELATION TO SIMON y BROWNS PosT-
OFFICE BROKERAGE BUSINESS
The Congressional Record of January 9th
contains the important speech of Senator
Hale upon the communication sent to the
Senate by the Postmaster General, in regard
10 the procuring of the removal and appoint
ment of postmasters in this State. The com
munication of the Postmaster General was
accompanied by list of all the removals and
appointments of postmasters made in this
State, the recommendations for which were
endorsed by Brown. The number of re-
movals and appointments so made was SO.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Hale recited
the facts in connection with these changes
which had been brought to his notice He
had received a very large number of letters
from Maine, coming not from republicans or
men removed from office, complaining of the
manner in which post office changes were
brought about Republicans expected to 60
out of office. They had no COM
plants TO make If changes were made in an
orderly and decent manner Attention was
called to the proceedings of Mr.. s. S. Brown,
who had left his home and business at Water
vile and come TO Washington to attend to
the distribution of patronage in Maine.
Samples of letters received were produced
and read by MIR. Hale. One of the letters
which Brown had sent widely over the State,
and which had been handed to him (Mr
Il. N.
wAsHINGroN. ID. c., 1856.
DEAR SIR; have secured your appointment a:
postmaster at your place. Your papers will be sent
In day or two II you feel like sending small sun
TO help defray the expenses of attending to oul
Maine matters you may do so.
Nv m ali comes to the above address.
Respectfully yours,
$. s BROWN.
Mr.. Hale then continues as follows
As said in the beginning. of the larg,
number OF fourthclsss post-otfices in the
State. numbering in all several hundred per
haps one hundred of them are important
ennugh To make it an object to hold the place
and pay ranging from 5000 up to nearly
81 900. OF this class of about one hundred
Il only speak approximately, not exsctiy-
over Fights are found in that list Its large
part Of the patronage of the Post Otfica De-
psrtment in the State of Maine; and un
douhtedlv, As is suggested, il the letters sen
out and the statements of citizens of Main,
can be depended upon. there are hundreds o
others where the appointment was procured
At little places where nothing appears upnr
the record, for there has been almost \ gen
eral sweep in this branch Of the POST Off
Department in Maine, aside from the Presi
dental appointments. which fall under tn,
scrutiniziug eve OF the President and II,
Postmaster General. The Republicans hsv,
gone out and the Democrats have come in.
Az tothe answer 10 the resolution of inqui
nv which the Senate passed. have no com
plant TO make against it. II has followet
the terms of the resolution aud has techni
cally answered ii; and the Postmsster-Cien
ersl also states that all these appointment.
where Brown had recommended them wer,
made not because Re recommended them
but because they were backed up hv petitions
| soquit the Postmsster-Genersl of an,
knowledge Of this mans performances
He comes to that official armed with the in
dorseme nts of the Democratic party OF tn,
State of Maine. He was its committee
chairman. and the committee had sent him I,
Washington Ia manage this business. and i
was not strange that the Po.tmas,er-Genera
turned tins subject-matter over, as he ii,
largely. to the First Assistant, and that tina
assistant depended largely upon the repre-.
sensations of Mr.. Brown. They were ignor
ant. we will presume, of his ways and of hi
methods, but the party at home knew it, an,