Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-11
PLUMS TO BE PICKED.
A Number of Desirable Vacancies for
Harrison to Fill Soon.
APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN PLENTY,
Eut the List Will He Cut Down by the
Election of tuesday
MAKING TERMS OF OFFICE so SHORT


ment and the problem of filling them has
been considerably complicated by the re-
suit of the recent election. These positions
are outside of the civil service law and
regulations, and are looked upon as the
legitimate patronage of the party in power.
Under the present administration all Of
these places are or have been filled by men
of the Republican political faith, as during
the last administration they were hlled by
Democrats
1t is expected, of course, that when the
administration changes, March 4, next. an
other general change will be made. In
view Of that fact, the vacancies now exist
ing cannot be regarded as altogether desira-
bic prizes, as in about three months the
sppointees would, no doubt, be expecteG TO
step down and out 1t will be necessary,
however, that the public business may be
properly carried, that some of these vacan-
cies be filled at once Although there has
been no lack of applicants yet 1t is doubt
full whether any large proportion of them
would now be willing to accept places
which they must so soon surrender, and in
making such appointments President Har-
rison will probably find that the ofhcs must
seek the man, and not the man the Office,
which will be something of novelty in his
political experience
Whitfield's Successor to Be Named.
In the Postofice Department there is
only one vacancy in the higher Offices and
that is the Office of the First Assistant
Postmaster General Colonel Whitfeld's
resignation went into effect nearly month
ago. and since that time Mr.. Fowler the
chief clerk of the Office, has been acting as
First Assistant Under the law, an Acting
First Assistant can serve only 80 davs, after
which a permanent appointment must be
made, if the vacancy is filed at all Mr.
Fowler and Mr. Bell, the Second Assistant
Postmaster General, have been mentioned
for the place, but General Wanamaker, it is
said, has not fully decided whom he will
recommend, but he will presumably take
some action soon.
In the Interior Department there is also
one important vacancy-that of the COM
missioner OF the General Land Ofice-now
being temporarily filled by Assistant Com
missioner Stone. 1t has been suggested
that Mr.. Carter might be induced to return
and serve until March T. but this is quite
improbable.
1t is assumed that the heads of all of the
bureaus OF the several departments will be
replaced by Democrats soon after March 4,
and these, with the hundred or more chiefs
OF division, chief clerks and others outside
the civil service, will constitute the main
patronage at the disposal of the Democratic
party in the Government service in Wash
ington.
Some Fine Missions to Go Begging.
In the War and Navy Departments there
are no vacancies in any of the important
offices. The same is true of the Department
OF State proper, but there are several diplo-
matte places vacant, which are usually
most enticing to the would-be oficeholders,
but may now go begging Some of these
places are ministries of a high order, such
the Italian Mission, the Russian Mission,
the Portuguese Mission, the Swiss Mission,
and finally, the Chinese Mission In all of |
these cases but the last the Republican in
cumbents have resigned. In the OF
the Chinese Mission, owing to Mr.. Blair's
rejection, the place is still filled by Minis
ter Denbv, hold-over from the last Demo-
cratic administration, who therefore ap-
pears to be safe to continue at his post for
four years more unless President Harrison
should determine to make a change before
the 4th of March, which is improbable.
There are practically now two vacancies
in the important office of Assistant Secre
tary of the Treasury, as Mr. Nettleton's
resignation will take effect next month, and
Mr.. CroUnse, who ran as Republican can
didate for Governor of Nebraska, has like
wise resigned from the Treasury.
One Cabinet Vacancy Now.
In the Department Of Justice there will
be a vacancy at the very head Attorney
General Miller having signifed his inten-
tion of resigning, but it is not vet known
whether this action will be taken so soon as
TO require the President to make a Cabinet |
appointment before the 4th of March.
The President will also have tour vacan- |
10 bench fill het apd /
the 4th of March These are United States |
JudgcshIps caused bv the retirement of |
Judge Blodgett, of the Chicago district; by |
the resignation of Judge Montgomery, of |
the Supreme Court of the district of I
Colorado; by the retirement of Judge James |
of the same court, on the 1st proximo and |
bv the resignation of Judge Dixon, of the |
Utah district. These are life positions, and
really the most alluring prizes remaining
within the gift of the administration,
Colonel Hepburn, who has Just been
elected to Congress from the Eighth district
of Iowa, will probably retain his present
office as Solicitor OF the Treasury until
March 4.
The judiciary is the only branch of the
Government that will remain under the
control of the Republican party after the
4th of March next United States Judges
ale appointed for life, subject to the priyi-
1ege of voluntary retirement on full paT
after reaching the age OF 40 years, provided
they have been 10 years in service
Hard to Clean All Out
The district and circuit judges are, as a
rule, Republicans, and it is unlikely that
there will be a'sutficient number of yacsn-
cies during the next four years to enable
Mr.. Cleveland, by new appointments, to
give the Democratic party majority of
these positions Nor is there any proba-
bility that the next administration will
have an opportunity to make the United
States Supreme Court Democratic. AS this
is the court of final resort on all questions
of constitutional or Federal law, the
political predictions of its justices NAV
at any time become a matter of Importance.
though the freedom of the court from in
fuence by considerations extraneous to the
legal points at issue in any case before it is
conceded.
The places on the Supreme Bench which
1t is most likely Mr. Cleveland will have
an opportunity to fill during the next four
years (if there be any vacancies at alb are
at present occupied by Democrats, Justices
Field and Lamar. Chief Justice Fuller is
the only other Democrat on the Bench. The
remaining six members are Republicans
and, except Justice Blatchford, none of them
are within five yeare of the age at which
they may retire on full paw. Justice
Blatchtord is in vigorous health, and as he
likes his work, he is in no hurry to take