The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-10
BAD APPOINTMENTS.
How the Grandson of His Grandfathe
Keeps His Promise.

How the Grandson of His Grandfathe
Keeps His Promise.
''1n appointments to every grade
and department, fitness and not part,
service should be the essential ant
discriminating test" Such was Ber
Harrison's promise when he was look
ing after votes last summer.
Here is the performance of less than
year later: A few weeks ago Presi.
dent Harrison appointed George P.
Fisher, of Delaware, as First
Auditor of the Treasury, one of the
most important Offices in the Govern
ment and one calling for scrupulous
honesty. George P. Fisher is not un.
known to fame. He was district at.
torney Of the District of Columbia
under President Grant, removed, and
in 1866 nominated for Office again but
withdrawn. The New York Tribune
on that occasion spoke of him in
these terms:
The district attorneys office in Washing ton
was, for long while, uldcr Judge Fisher, the
chief bulwark of the strict ring. There were
Matched the conspiracies to convict innocent
citizens of felony, the plots to get rid Of wit
nesses, the schemes to take burglars out OF
jail. Crimes of the most dastardly character
were committed under the sheltering caves of
that scandalous establishment. Theft, and
riot, and bribery, and perjury received there
encouragement and protection. Two OF the as.
sistant attorneys have been tried in the crimi-
nal court for grave ohenses, and are to be tried
again. George P. Fisher, who was chief OF the
office during the period when 1t was q disgrace
to the whole Nation, could not escape the re-
sponsibility for the actions Of his subordinates
Whether he was only foolish inefficient and
weak, or was answerabe in some m ore direct
way for the doings OF his son Charles and his
other assistant Harrington, we need not in
quire. lncompetency in prosecuting officer
is bad enough offense even when the best in.
tentions wait upon it. At any rate, public
opinion would not tolerate Fishers appearance
In the safe conspiracy trial, and after some
miserable revelations OF the misconduct in mis-
office the President was obliged to call for his
resignation.
And now General Grant names this same
George P. Fisher United States district attor.
ney for Delaware. The Senate must reject the
nomination without an hours unnecessary de-
lay. No sympathy which Senators may feel
for the personal misfortunes of the nominee,
no conviction which some OF them may enter
tain that he is only the victim Of his own weak
ness, should deter them from duty VIII CHI
they owe both to the country and the party,
II General Grant will not think Of Republican
interests, we hope Republican Senators will.
So much for Fisher, President Har-
rison's choice for a position where
millions of dollars of claims must be
adjudged. Evidently the election
bargains of Harrison are not all paid
yet.
A short time ago President Harrison
appointed Paul Vandervoort superin-
tendent of mails at Omaha, Neb. The
leading Republican newspaper in Ne
braska is the Omaha Bee. It spoke
of Vandervoort when he was ap-
pointed in these words:
Postmaster-General Gresham dismissed
Vandervoort because he had been insubordi-
nate, had made false reports to the depart
ment and had been absent from his most of
duty two hundred and sxty.fve DAYS at
Omaha, in one single year. Vandervoort is an
inveterate braggart and liar. Wander.
Voorts associates, when he was chief clerk, !
wore ward bummers, roustabouts and rowd es |
Of tho lowest degree. He often de.
tailed railway mail clerks from the service to |
assist him in packing ward caucuses and fight
ing at political primaries and substituted for |
these regular mail clerks rrespons bic yaga-
bonds and bummers, who were transported in
The mail cars in charge Of the mails without
even taking the oath.
Unless hypocrisy is stamped on
svery page and line" of Harrison
etter OF acceptance, the appointments
If Fisher and Vandervoort will be
at once. They will not be
ALBANY IN. w Arrns