The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-31
PoSTMASTERS'
Heads Falling at the Rate Of One a
Minute.
A DEEP GROWL FROM THE DIS.
SATISFIED MAINE DEMOCRACY.

Extra Session the First of September-A
Long List of Appointments-Bayard I'd
Goes to England-Senate Discusses the
Case of Mantle of Montana-Other
Washington News.
The following Washington despatch,
which appears in the Boston Herald, has
created no little comment among the
Democrats of Maine and called forth a
vigorous protest from ex-Gov. Plaisted's
paper, the Augusta New Age. The
Herald despatch reads:
''Col. Morton of Maine will return to
his home in Augusta on Friday, having
finished, so far as he is able to do at this
time, the work of presenting the papers
of the Maine Democrats who wanted
offices and recommending them for ap-
pointment.
s'Col Morton has not sought anything
for himself, but has spent all his time in
behalf of the Democrats of his state.
Every one believes, however, that the
President will invite him to take some
important Office.
s'At the postoffice department full re-
cognition has been given to the Demo-
cratic organization in Maine and no
fourth class postmasters will be ap-
pointed who are not recommended by
= Col. Morton and Chairman Donovan"
The statement that Morton, who is
widely known as the most persistent
beggar for Office in New England, is
seeking nothing for himself, has been
received with howl of derision. The
New Age says editorially:
GAS Gen. .Sewall and Chairman Donovan
have returned from Washington, it is
fair to presume that this remarkable pro-
nunciamento was issued by Mr.. Morton.
This arrangement would doubtless be
satisfactory to Mr.. Morton and to few
other Democrats in Maine, but we fear
it would not be regarded with favor
by the great mass of the party. Nor do
we believe, in view of it's action in cases
of self-eonstituted advisory committees
from various states, that the postofice
department is in the slightest degree re-
sponsible for the above statement.
We cannot believe that the department
would sanction the establishment of Office
brokerage bureaus in Washington or that
it would force any deserving Democrat
to secure the Endorsement of any particu-
lar man before according him the
courtesy of hearing"
Among the results of Morton's revision
are the following postal appointments,
made yesterday:
Maine Postmasters.
These Maine postmasters have been ap-
pointed: M. M. Thompson, Bingham,
vice Willis B. Goodrich; Geo. A. Hop
kins, Millbridge, vice George R. Smith !;
o. P. Lyons, Vinalhaven, vice Austin B.
Vinal; S. Leavitt, Naples, vice John S.
Clark; Ell. r. Rand, Wytopitlock, vice w.
T. Staples; N. Ripley, Princeton, vice G.
A. Rolfe.
First Blood for Morton.
Especial to the Press.l
WASHINGTON, March 3O.-Col. Morton
has won his first important fight and is
feeling good about it. Henry ]. Hatha-
way, whom the President today, ZEN
dorsed by State Chairman Donovan and
Morton), appointed collector at Aroos-
took, was opposed by D. A. H. Powers,
brother of Attorney General Powers,
who thought his influence strong enough
to defy Morton. Both sides have fought
the matter bitterly; especially Donovan
and Morton, as with them it was a test
case whether any appointments were to
be made in the state without the endorse
ment of the machine. Cleveland decid-
ed in favor of the machine andigave the
place to their man. This is satisfactory
to Morton & Co., but it will not tend to
L ,o1, hot oh
ium just now among Maine Democrats.
NIXON.
Merrily Swings the Axe.
The complaints which some of the
Democrats are making that the admins
tration is not proceeding fast enough
with removals do Mr.. Cleveland an in
justice in the eyes of the machine men.
On Tuesday Bradley B. Smalley of Ver-
mont, who represents the administratio
in that state, spent 35 minutes at the
Post Office Department. and as result
21 efficient Republican postmasters were
removed. and 81 Democrats, who may or
may not be efficient, were appointed in
| their places. This is much less than
one-half of the number removed on that
day.
The Republican postmasters are being
removed at the rate OF one minute, ana
500 clerks have been ordered to work
extra hours flor which there is no au-
thority of law, in order that the decapi-
| tations may proceed more rapidly. Civil
service reform as interpreted by Mr..
Cleveland is running in its full course.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Maxwell today appointed 1SS fourth class
postmasters, and OF this number SIS were
to fill vacancies caused by removal. In
Vermont there were 20 appointments and
| 10 removals.
The Four Years Rule.
The postmasters of the country are
very much interested in knowing what
Interpretation the Postmaster General
will give to the four year rule. The adj
ministration announces that it intends to
carry out the principle that Republican
postmasters shall remain office four years.
A very interesting point is when the four
years begins, whether from the date
when the postmaster tentered upon his
duties, or from the date when he was
confirmed. There are some eight hun
dred postmasters in the country of the