The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-19

A newspaper core ponuent called %
see Mr.. Wilson al his rooms, At 1910
N. street. recently and in answer to
questions propounded from time 70
time, he said in substance
81 have remained IN Washington
almost constantly since the iua1gna-
ton. knew there would be large
number Of my own constituents and
others visiting this city who would de-
sire and who had right to see me. I
have accordingly remained here, and
formost Of that time havebcen closely
imprisoned in my Office. When | get
up from the breakfast table, ! find my
dice nearly full Of visitors. Oftener
than otherwise the streams continued
until late bedtime. Asa consequence,
/ have been utterly unable TO look
after my eorrespondenceand, although
| have had all the active assistance Of
one clerk and part Of the time Of two,
| have been unable to answer or even
TO sort and distribute the letters that
have been piling in upon me. have
no doubt there arc hundreds Of friends
ia West Virginia and elsewhere who are
angry at not receiving prompt replies
to their letters but | am obliged oe-
easionaily to admit q one ST these
callers that have not seen the com
muuicaiion lie sent me several weeks
ago. The contests over The fourth
class pnstoffices are far moro numerous
than they were eight years ago. lam
constantly asking myself, what right
have l, as member Of Congress,
chosen 10 lcgislate III the direction Of
certain lines Of public policy, 70 dictate
who shall be fourth class postmastcrs
III my district 7 And on the other
hand by what right am | made to take
On me the inyidio1s burden Of de-
Gliding among applicants, allof whom
are my political and nearly all Of whom
my personal friends; these volnminous
and oftimcs bitter postoilice candida
ciesi AS to general applications for
Offices. my docket which is as yet very
incomplete viii show nearly two thou.
sand Many Of these are for high po-
sitions, from chiefs Of divisions to as
sistant secretaries, and / verify be-
lieve the doctors at home are prescrlb-
ing foreign consulates for all of the
diseases they cannot cure. Here, for
instance, is the record Of a single coun-
ty, which / will not name, but It is
typical Of almost all. There are over
fifty applicants for places in Washing
ton, and more than half Of them for
important and well salaried positions.
Almost all Of them arc men and women
who haveareasonable right to apply for
public positions and reasonable right
to expect my hearty support in secur-
ing them places. Now, if were able
to take up this list and by extraordi-
nary efforts to secure for each appli-
cant upon it the place he seeks, ] would
more than consume the entire quota Of
West Virginia under the administers
ton, and every other county in the
State would be excluded from federal
positions at Washington Or in the con-
sular service. Our friends at home
will eventually learn that there are but
few places outside Of those covered by
the civil service law, that can be OBJ
tanned. A few hundred Of these, pos
sibly two or three, are for reasonable
salaries. Tie remainder are what are
called laborers and skilled laborcrs, fol-
for which the pay generally, while
sounding large, compared with the
pay Of country school teachers and
country clerks, is not large in city
I like this.
II feel confident that in the lone
run the Democrats Of West Virgins
will receive ample recognition from thii
administration and my own desire, ans
am gratified to add the desire Of m,
colleagues generally, is to have thi
recognition fairly distributed over th'
State in the interests ofl the entir'
parity
i - ~, !. 1Tr,fr,o