Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-04
LETTER BAG
1rhe Postmastership UsurpatiOn-Bowers
OvorhauIed.

feels real interest in the honor, the
safety, the perpetuity of the Federal
government.
The constitution permits and pre-
scribes that ''the president, by and with
Che advice and consent of the senate"
shall appoint certain persons to desig
mated offices as the laws may direct. IL
was a very surprising thing to many
coEservative minds when Senator STAN
ford and the Republican congressman
undertook to act for the president in
1889 by selecting and designating who
should fill the various offices iii this
state. 1t has become the standard opin
ION that the victorious party should
xule-vae victis-but consenting as the
public has done to this method of dis
tributing patronage, it has been con-
eeded, under the belief that, all things
being equal as to the services of the
partisan and as to his character and in
tegrity. the men who should receive
reward must be OF the highest class also
ia intellect and administrative qualif-
cations The government is run upon
business principles. 1t is not an elee-
m0synary institution, ,in,which to pension
off all the favorites-male or female
who may have the influence of sena-
ys0rE, congressman, etc., to secure Federal
positions for persons totally incompetent
to faithfully discharge the duties OF
the office. In view therefore of the oc-
currences of the past two weeks, and
especially of the conduct of Mr.. W.tW.
Bowers, whom the voters OF Los Angeles
so unfortunately helped in electing to
congress, the pertinent question may be
asked: ''Is the constitution to prevail,
or can the president legally delegate his
powers to such a man, and authorize
MIN to select the important officials as
he may please from caprice or whim; or
70 CRAFTY prejudice, hatred and re-
~enge?"
If the action of Mr.. Bowers prevails
IN telegraphing to the president or post
master general. and virtually directing
shat such person shall be duly COM
missioned to discharge the federal func-
tions here-the president, if he obeys
the instructions would do what the
courts have repeatedly held to be illegal.
&t will be no answer to this to say that
the appointment will be that of the
president. 1t will be nothing of the
sort If he accepts as final the recommen-
dation of the congressman, and consents
AEO a SllludI QClCkdb1Ou w bldJ PcIcOu Vi
tshe powers which the constitution con-
Ters solely upon the president. The
founders of the republic clearly meant
chat the subordinate officials should be
selected by the president with an eye
90 their fitness, integrity, business ca
paeity, and the wishes of the people
of each special locality. Indeed that
opinion still prevails in many districts,
and for the selection of postmasters polls
are regularly opened for the partisans,
who have won, to designate by actual
election the person most desired by the
community. Senators Stanford and Fell
@OR' have much right to say who is the
most competent and worthy man, for
the constitution expressly associates the
senators as advisers to the president,
who can appoint only by their consent
expressed in the senate. But there is
nowhere provision injecting the con-
&ressman into the selection of officials.
This is a matter which ought to receive
the attention of the senate; and the
nominations. by congressman should be
uniiormly rejected. Abuses that creep
in gradually are enlarged-never recti-
fled. The senate should decide as high
court that there are some things which
even president cannot delegate. Just as
i'm New York, Tildens will was invali-
dated upon the ground that he could
direct the expenditure of his millions in
any manner designated by HIMSELF but
could not delegate that designation
to be made by his executors, as
1t then became the will of the
executor, and not of Tilden. Mud and
water always find their proper level;
and though sediment may rush tempo
xarily on the surface current it will
soon drop to the bottom. There are
xeasons why Mr.. Bowers should not
have interfered in Los Angeles. He
gealiy has no more moral right to select
and recommend an official in this coun-
tey than in San Francisco. He was
elected from the old district, but he is
utterly separated by the formation of a
different district in which he lives. The
people here do not look to him for any
advancement of their interests, nor be-
dieve in his desire to do so; or his
capacity to effect anything. 1t may be
truly asserted that Mr.. Bowers will
lnever present bill that can pass con-
gEess; and that he will never receive
the recognition of the speaker. He will
draw his pay and exert no influence
whatever on the destiny OF the country.
Still less will he become entitled to any
cQurtesies from fellow members, if his
course for the past two weeks becomes
thoroughly known.
\ Mr.. Bowers telegraphed to promin-
ent politician-and the writer saw that
dispatch-in substance:
e j desire that Judge Carpenter shall
indicate the postmaster. Will be in San
Dege Wednesday"
This was notice to all the politicians
: TO keep their mouths shut, and not to
bother him with any appeals. He vir-
Gually pledged himself to delegate the
appointment, which he assumed the
president had transferred to him. Judge
sCarpenter made his preference known,
from among the nine prominent citizens
who were aspirants; and his selection
WAS supported by the great mass of the
prominent Republicans of Los Angeles.
All the other aspirants retired except
Mr.. Shoulders, and it looked as though
che question was settled if Mr.. Bowers
regarded his word and pledge as being
Ehe came as his bond. But he was ut
eerly faithIess; and determined to sup
mort Mr.. Shoulders, the candidate OF Mr..
Hazard, who is known to be congress-
Sonal asplrant against Hervey Lind
aey, for whom Mr.. Bowers pro
6essed the warmest friendship. While
ne was in for double dealing he
...k - 4Ls<I~ al raund. uhau he went tn