The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13
1T WOULDN'T WORK.
Attempt to Keep Names of Postmasters Out
of the Newspapers.


of the Newspapers.
Postmaster General Bissell created a genuine
sensation On Wednesday, April 5, by Issuing a
verbal order to Department employees not TO
give the names of the new Postmasters which
arc being appointed daily by the hundreds. 1t
is said the order was issued at the suggestion of
President Cleveland but it was soon found that
such star chamber business would not work.
Ever since Mr.. Max well, the new Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General, began to Gust
Republican Postmasters throughout the coun-
try at the rate of about 200 day, and give
these places to good Democrats, list has daily
been prepared for newspaper correspondents.
which gave the names of postoftices in each
State where change had been made, the
name of the app0ntee and statement as to
whether his predecessor had resigned or been
removed. On Wednesday morning, April 5,
the list was not forthcoming. and inquiry re-
vealed thu fact that the lips OF employees had
been officially closed regarding the number Of
appointments made the day previous, etc.
There are "a, SIT fourth class postoffices in the
United States, and only 1880 of these had
changed their Postmasters since the advent of
the Cleveland Administration. 1t looked,
therefore, as though the other thousands Of
Postmasters were yet to ne appointed and re-
moved in absolute secrecy, not line of tho
action of the Department being allowed to
reach the public. Nothing like this secrecy
had ever before been heard of at the Postofice
Department and there were many anxious
inquiries as to why the order had been issued.
1t was finally stated, aud this seems to have
been the principal reason WAY the order vas
issued, that the paragraphs sent out daily by
tho correspondents giving the number of Post
masters removed bad provoked innumerable
funny paragraphs in the papers about MIR. Max
wells ak, with blood curdling reference to riv-
ers of gore aud other frivolous comments upon
the dextrous use of the headsmans ak in Mr..
Maxwel's hands.
AS the removals ha*e been numerous enough
daily to crafty the most hungry Democratic
Office seeker there was no grounds for these
pleasantries in the papers. But the powers de-
cided that the public should not KNOWN fact,
had no right to know-what was going on at the
Department, and so they resolved to close up
the sources of the information. Another rea-
son besides this levity business is also given.
1t appears that the publication Of the name Of
Postmaster who was appointed out in Indiana
a few days ago. led to the discovery of the fact
that he had been in the penitentiary. This
was very annoying, and if publicity had not
been given to the matter it would never have
been known. Then, again, it was found out
that only day or two ago the Department had
removed dead Postmaster who had been q
Republican.
But this order remained In force only about
six hours for about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
the criticisms on the action of President Cleve-
land, who directed the order, became so vigor-
GUS from everybody. members of Congress and
Senators included, that it was revoked tempo
rarily at least, aud the books were once more
thrown open for inspection by the public. 1t
is very interesting to note that the order was
not committed to writing-was merely verbal
order, no one apparently being willing to father
such star chamber proceeding. The publica.
tion of the names OF the new appointees and
those of the Postmasters removed will hereafter
20 on as usual.