The Washington critic., 1890-01-28

publican.
Last Sunday the New York Times
published long article, giving cir.
cums,aniial account OF split among
the Republicans of East Orange over
The postoiiicc. The Office is one of the
second class, the salary reaching the
handsome figure Of 81 300 per aunum
The present incumbent is a young lady,
by name Miss Mary +. Simonson, who
was efficient as an official and agreeable
10 the public to do business with
Under her control the salary of the
Office had gone UP from 81 500 to its
present FAT figure. The fact that East
Orange is really but q suburb of New
York City and its population Is chiefly
made up of rich and wcll-to-do Gotham.
ties of aristocratic tendencies lends
metropolitan halo and importance to the
contest So soon as II was definitely
known that Harrison and Morton had
won the day, though New Jersey had
no part In the victory Republicans am.
bilious To serve their country by selling
postage stamps were very numerous in
the pretty precincts Of East Orange.
However the commission of the fair
postmistress did not expire until the 9th
day OF February next. 1t was race of
endurance rather than of speed. Ii
narrowed down nj last to three men
stephen b. Long, a former postmaster;
Il. Il Mills and William H. Baldwin.
AZ the last moment Mr.. Long withdrew.
1hc executive committee then decided
ty one majority in favor Of Mr.. Bald
win. who was the candidate favored by
Mr. Henry A. Potter a, member OF the
committee and very active Republican,
well known throughout the State.
THE TIMES" CHARGES.
The New York Times, in the article
referred to, charges that % "
when Congressman Lchlbach was a
candidate for another term, in 1888, he
had frankly stated that he was not
financially able to enter upon another
canvass, although he desired very much
TO do SO. An arrangement was patched
up among the prominent Republicans
OF Essex County by which a sufficient
sum of money was subscribed. and Mr..
LchlbaCh was assured of another term,
One of the contributions to this fund,
amounting to $500, came from Henry
a. Potter and he it was who by
special agreement with Mr.. Lehlbach
was TO have the naming of the postmas.
Ter. Reduced to hard facts, he had
purchased the privilege and it was his. "
WHAT CONGRESSMAN LEHLBACH SAYS.
When THE CRITIC representative
asked Congressman Herman Lehlbach
Of the Sixth New Jersey District, of
W bich East Orange forms part, that
gentleman had not read the Times,
That publication evidently not forming
part of his daily mental pabulum. He
took the clipping and read it through
carefully and then pronounced it, so
far as Mr.. Poiter's buying the privilege
nt naming the postmaster of East
Orange, 10 be false. Mr.. Lehlbach,
who is chairman of the Civil Service
Committee, said:
Il did not want to be candidate for
Congress at the last election, but the
Republicans insisted on my running. |
did not spend any money to secure
my election, for do not believe in that
kind of politics. Mr.. Potter NAV have
contributed $500 to the committees S
campaign fund, but have no personal
knowledge Of that fact, or indeed,
whether he contributed anything.
have made no recommendation for the
East Orange postoffice nor any promise
in regard to it, excepting alone that I
told the East Orange committee that if
they would decide unanimously on
suitable person l would recommend
him. All the gentlemen named as
candidates are prominent citizens of
East Orange and good Republicans.
Have there been many changes in
the postotfices of your district?'
Not many. have only recon.
mcnded two, and in each case it was
not until after the expiration of the
term of the Democratic incumbent.
Two changes for cause have been made
by the Postoffice Department, one at
Newark, my home, which was really
against my judgment
What do you think of the present
way of appointing postmastcrs?"
i do not like it. | believe it would
be fairer and better to let the people
elect their postmasters. That would
take the mater out of national politics.
They could be as much under the con-
troll of the Postoffice Department then
as they are now. approximate that
system by endeavoring to recommend
the person whom the people seem to
want. Thus, when the Montclair Of
flee was to be filled, | recommended
the candidate whom | thought came
nearest TO suiling the majority of the
people, and who would make an ac-
ceptable and efficient officer. Before
tho appointment was made, however.
delegation of Montcair citizens who
mil laI I.
and asked me TO withdraw my recon-
mendation in favor of their man. l told
them / couldn't do that, but |
would go with them to the Post.
Office Department and Introduce
them to the Postmaster General, to
whom they could state their claims.
They agreed 10 this. In making them
and their errand known, / assured the
Postmaster General that these gentle.
men did not agree with me about the
Montclair office; that l wished him to
give them a hearing, and that, il he
thought II best to appoint their man. 1t
would be all right with me and would
give rise to no hard feeling on my part
Mr.. Wanamaker said that hardly
another Congressman would say that
In the East Orange case will make no
recommendation until Miss Simonson' s
term expires next month. Mr.. Potter
is an active Republican, who no doubt
contributed TO the campaign fund, but
he has purchased no postofflce from
me. II the committee unanimously
recommends the gentleman he favors,
shall join in il. If they recommend
some one else, / shall join in that.
am not factionist.
FIGHTING FOR SILVER.