Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-11
s.Sr.CEss 1NNE,S P0STM LISTER.
i.ow tGr Referee system Worked on This
Peninsula.


.snm tar Referee system Worked ON This
Peninsula.
N. :. Evening Post.
anoth"r illustration Of the way the
administration used Federal offices 10
secure llarrison's denomination is afforded
BY the story Of the post-oiiirc III Princess
Anne, Md, as told BY u. r. Ducr, the late
postmaster. Duer was appointed about
three years ago, and has managed the office
80 successfully that 1t was not long ago
raised To higher grade which brought
the place within the range Of Il Prcsidcn-
tial appointment. The rule in such cases
IS for the President to name the incumbent
II his record has been Il good one and his
continuance is desired by the patrons Of
the GliicC. There is no dispute whatever AS
10 Duer's efficiency, or AS TO the satisfac-
ton of the local public with his udminis-
tratIOn. lie filed his papers with the de-
Jartmeut in due course Oh the 18th of
May, and was told by the fourth assistant
poStnaHtcr-gcncral that tie appointment
would not DE made before IL days. Not
withstandinE this, seven days later w. H.
LankCord was appointed, without even a
notice To Ducr that his claims would be
heard, and without any examination by
the PostmustGr-genera of the papers
which lie had filed. The explanation is
that Landlords name WAS presented by
Thomas $. lludson, who WAS il delegate to
the Republican National Convention then
soon 10 meet. AS Dner says in his letter
10 the Postmastcrgcncral How FAR these
things stood to each other N relation of
cause ana effect, is Il question which each
one can decide for himself and in view of
| the charges generally made as To the
manner III which the rcsidpnts renomi-
nation was effected il may prove an inter
| csting question:"
Mn h'un4,,,,t Al. t.tt.p Ia, ;rl
ally cpnicsStS the truth ct the Indictment.
| The POStmastcr-Bencral makes M attempt
! whatever 10 show that Durr had not been
u thoroughly efficient postmaster, that his
administration had not been entirely salts
factory to The public Or that lie was not
as much entitled 10 retention in his place
as would be any faithful and capable
clerk IN his Philadelphia shop. The most
| interesting point in the letter is its refer.
cncc To 4 new element nj orr politics--"the
! referee" says MIR. Wananaker; while
| il is true that many of the incnmbents Of
| iuurth-claS5 offices arc rcappointcd when
tho Offices become Presidential, there il a
considerable percentage that are not reap.
| pointed, and for good and sufficient reasons
not always known to the department, mas
| much ms tine recommendation Of the Sena-
| tors, members, or referees resident in the
districts where the offices are located
mainly are followed"
Ii further appears from the Postmaster
general letter that 'thc referee in the
| Princess Anne case was one Russum and
that the change in the office was made at
| ltuSsum' demand . j personally saw MIR.
l;ussun," says MIR. Wauamakcr, 'and he
told me that he desired tile appointment
made that Mr.. llodson recommended
that Is, the appointment of Landlord in
I Duer's place, In u second letter To the
| Postmastcr-general Duar makes all the
comment that seems necessary upon this
extraordinary revelation, when he says
"Witl the frank Statement contained i'll
| your letter as to the manner in which my
successor was appointed, am conpen
stated for my trouble | took To writGto ynu
The referee system, which under this all
lninistration has completely disurganizcd
the Republican party iii this district was
supposed to be based on theory never car.
ried into practice) that the referee would
act impartialy and give his endorsement
according TO merit. | am glad to have
| il over your hand that in i!.u postotiict
department 1T least the spoils system pre-
walls to such All extent that the referee can
| not only bcstow the offices but can even
transfer llls power Of bestoWinS,"