Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-05-19
Washington Notes.

Postmaster General Bissell and Congress
man Sine had a set-to last Thursday. The
slow going methods in vogue at the post
office department are q source OF great an
novance to the congressman. On the 4th
of March he commenced to recommen
changes in postmasters in his district, but
up to date all he has received can be
counted on the fingers of one hand, and
this has not been all.
Mr.. Sipe has been requested to make
recommendations to fill vacancies, but al
ter he complied the cases were pigeon-hol-
ed and no attention paid to the recommen-
dations. This treatment naturally made
him very angry, and this morning he call
ed upon the postmaster general with de-
termination tosind out where he was at
in the matter of influence in that depart
ment.
Mr.. Bissell received him courteously and
for a few moments the conference was
quite harmonious. Mr.. Sipe asked Mr..
Bissell to define for him just what infiu-
ence a congressman's Endorsement wonld
have in a contest, whether it would secure
the appointment or not.
Mr.. Bistell replied that it would depend
entirely upon the person indorsed, MI
Sipe cOntended that this was not fair. he
then asked whether, if he recommended an
appointment to fill vacancy in response
to q request from the department, II tnat
would be final. Mr. Bissell replied in the
negative.
This seemed to anger Mr., Sipe and be
retorted that if congressman was called
upon for information his recommendations
ought to decide the case.
At this iuncture Mr.. Bissell seemed TO
become impatient and intimated that he
was running that department. This arous-
ed Mr.. Sipe's ire and he retorted:
"I am member of congress, and am
entitled to this information"
The 35O-pound successor of John wan
namaker eyed him curiously for moment
and then said sarcastically:
"Oh, how long have you been mem
bert"
aIong enough to know what my duties
are and what yours are" replied Mr; Sipe:
srWell, want you to understand tnat
you cannot bulldoze this department,
angr lily retorted Mr.. Bissell.
Rising slowly to his feet and shaking his
finger in Mr.. Bisselps face, Mr.. Sipe said
sSWheu congress convenes there Will De
| a postofice committee, and l shall secure
the information desire through the COM
mittee and you will furnish it.
"Mr. Bissell made no reply, but thus
manner wasso ungracious that MI Slpe
| fired the following shot at him:
al now give you notice that will make
no further recommendations to you sir;
when there is vacancy will simply for
ward the applications of my constituents
and Won can appoint whom you please
And if you ever send me request to make
a recommendation / will fire it into the
waste basket" =,
By this time both gentlemen were thor
oughly angry, and with curt "good NOM
| ing, sir" they parted.
THERE'S is undoubtedly foundation to the
| complaints of extortion in the WorPs Fair
grounds. The press generally have taken
| the matter up in good time. This is un-
fortunate, as all abuses must be righted
| quickly if the fair is to succeed. 1t appears
that it is mistake to lay all the blame for
oyercharges at the doors of the restaurants
and other dealers. The local board is to
blame. 1t forces the restaurants to pay
25 per cent. of their receipts for their priv
ileges, and in addition it charges for light
and power. Such exactions drive the
renters into extortions. A letter in the
Philadelphia Press thus hits another
phrase of the grabbing spirit that rules
the management. "An order has even
been issued" he writes, "forbidding any
person to bring camp chair inside the
gates. This was done to make business
for the company which has a concession
to rent camp stools at 10 cents stool, and
to insure still more business for the compa-
ny all seats have to be taken out OF the
| grounds There will be absolutely nc
chance for tired visitors to sit down unless
they rent chair. Even the grass will be
forbidden them, as rigorous orders have
been given that all people be kept off the
turf" If this mercenary, suicidal spirit
exists, the management must shut down
on it in double quick time.-Franklin
| Neps.