The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-06
A WORD TO OFFICE-SEEKERS
They Will Gain Nothing by Infudicious-
ly Pushing Their Claims at Present.
There Is No Emergency Calling for an Imme-
date Clean Sweep" and the Civil-Service
Law Will Be Respected and Enforced.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 5.-0fice-seekers
are doing themselves violence and the adj
ministration an injustice in rushing upon
the President and his Cabinet officers, and
upon the friends of these men, inst at this
time. Their opportunities are not in season.
ings held before appointments are made.
The first selections will be of the assistants
to the Cabinet officers, then will come trio
heads of bureaus and the chiefs of divisions :.
All this viii be lone before appointments
are made to offices located Throughout
the country, except where emergencies
arise-that is. to ill vacancies already e,;-
listing. or TO succeed officers who are con-
sidered incompetent or unfit for the places
they occupy. POstmaster-gencral Wanna
maker does not intend to begin the con-
sideration of applications for postofices
till some time next week. He saws he
wants to become thoroughly conversant
with the policy of the administration. and
to now the men who present the %applica-
tons. and to learn as thoroughly
as possible the necessities of the situa-
ton before he begins real ac-
ton. There will be three Assistant
Postmasters-general. a superintendent of
the railway mail service, and other officers
of the department selected before the thou
sands of applications for postofices are
taken into consideration.
The same is true in all of the other de-
partments. Secretary Blaine will choose a
first and second assistant secretary and
chief clerk and some other officers before
he takes up the wagon-load of other appli-
cations which have been dumped upon him
for missions and consulates. The first and
second-class missions will be filled before
the lower grades are acted upon. Men
who aspire to positions in the consul
lar and diplomatic service should
not become nervous. nor should
those who want to be United States mar
shals. collectors of internal revenue and
special agents. The same policy as TO
changes in the government service will ap-
ply in all branches. 1t will be three or
four weeks before anything of Importance
is done in the way of appointments. Pres
ident Harrison and his assistants do not
recognize any general emergency or de-
mand which will bring about wholesale
removals, yet they recognize that there
shall be a great many changes, and that
Republicans will always he given prefer
ence for positions outside of the civil
service. The civil-service law will
be respected and enforced as long
as it is on the statute books.
Whenever President Harrison comes to re-
gard it as an impeachment to the public good
he will recommend its repeal. but he is de-
termined that all laws shall be enforced
while they are In existence.
These suggestions are thrown out for the
information of not only the men who want
appointments, but those who are in the
service. Applicants will not be given any
advantage in pushing their claims just at
this time. Senators and Representatives
in Congress are overwhelmed with ap-
plicatiOns, and thousands of a%spirants to-
political positions are here already, person.
ally urging their merits. This is not only
unnecessary, but 1t is distasteful, because
the condition of affairs is not such as to
warrant action. These statements are not
to be construed that the present admins
tration intends to protect Democrats in
office to the disparagement of Republicans,
nor should they be construed to mean that
the general service of the government will
not need to be recognized. 1t is simply to
Indicate that there should not be a great
haste on the part of office-seekers, and that
the time for opportunities will not come
for two or three weeks.