Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-25
The New Presidents Appointments
what of the FutureT


to know just what his action,
as far as he has gone, indicates.
The clearest note of the Presidents
policy is contained not in the number,
but in the character, of his appointments.
He has indicated, with q directness not
subject to doubt, that he recognizes party
service as the basis to preferment. That
this will be the handspring of his action
has been shown in his appointments all
over the Union. California has proved
no exception to the rule, and the idea
which we aim to present is exempliied
by his selections in this State.
He has has given Hon. John F. Swift
the second-class mission to Japan, with
a salary of $4,000 a year. Although
Mr.. Swift was bolter in 1872, in COM
mon with many of the best and most
illustrious Republicans, lapse of seven
teen years is too remote to be taken into
the count. Since then Mr.. Swift has
been Republican wheelhorse, and he
was the defeated Republican nominee
for Governor in 1886.
Hon. Morris M. Estee was also q
high kicker in his green and salad days,
but for years he has been strong and
even eloquent worker in the Republican
ranks. He was the defeated Republican
candidate against Stoneman in 1882. He
has been given the position of one of the
Comm issioners of the United States to
the Congress of American Republics,
which will assemble at Washington.
The appointment is largely an honorary
one, but, to man of Mr. Estes's wealth
and ambition for distinction, i. is COM
pliment that will be appreciated, and
which any distinguished man might titly
accept with thanks.
Next on the list comes Hon. Timothy
G. Phelps, Republican worker from
base. Mr.. Phelps has been given the
Collectorship of the Port of San Fran
cisco, the most valuable Office, in the
sense of influence and patronage, west OF
the Missouri River. Mr.. Phelps has
recently had the honor of being beaten
for Congress in the Fifth Congressional
District by Gen. Tom Clunie, Demo
crat. Years ago he was beaten for Gov.
ernor as the Republican candidate by
VIM. Irwin. Phelps is what is known as
war horse-a worker from base-and if
p erhaps the best exemplar of the theory
we are advancing as to Harrison's ap-
pointments.
The next conspicuous man on the list
is Col. John P. Jackson, who has
been appointed United States Treasurer
at San Francisco, very digniied and
responsible post, the emoluments oi
which scarcely correspond to its i'm
portance. Col. Jackson has been hard
working Republican both with voice and
pen. He has been the editor of the San
Francisco Post and the Wasp. He be-
longs to the higher order of Republican
workers.
The same rule which is SO clearly ap-
parent in President Harrison's appoint.
ments in California, prevails in all the
States. The party worker is to receive
his reward.
Another notable thing in the new Pres
ident's appointments, is the quite unpre-
cedented recognition which the Republi-
can press is receiving. A great proper
ton of the most distinguished posts in
the gift of the executive have been be-
slowed upon journalists, including two
of the first-classs foreign missions, with
salaries of s17, 800 year.
These things very plainly indicate that
we are going to have strongly partizan
Republican administration. The extent
to which the Civil Service rules will fig
ure in the regime thus becomes matter
of great interest. 1t cannot be said that
President Harrison has as yet shown any
unseemly haste in bouncing Democratic
office-holders. Postmaster Pearson, of
New York, received his congo in a very
peremptory manner, but Mr.. Pearson
was Republican, originally ap-
pointed by Republican Presi.
dent, and left undisturbed, or rather
re-appointed, by President Cleveland.
While the President has been quite con-
servative in his individual action 80 far,
the First Assistant Postmaster General,
Clarkson, has shown very bloodthirsty
disposition, choppiDg off the heads of
Democratic postmasters by the thousand.
During the few weeks in which he has
held Office he is credited with having
already gotten rid of four thousand. This
may be an exaggeration, but the havoc
has undoubtedly been great.
The real sentiment in both parties as
10 Civil Service reform is, to certain
sxtent, an unknown quantity. Mr..
Cleveland really honestly tried to carry
out the so-called reform" and got no
credit for it. What Higgins vas to Mr..
administration, Clarkson, on
\ larger scale, promises to be to Mr.. Har-
.ison's. Higgins found himself in an
atmosphere, and resigned.
We are quite anxious to see whether the
atmosphere will be made too hot
or Clarkson. We doubt it. The era
# the theory that to the victor belongs
he spoils has doubtless set in again at
or all signs fail.
--------
Our esteemed contemporary, the Tl-
une, in its issue of yesterday, returns to
g statement that General Vandever