New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-24
SPOILS BOARDS AT WORK.
VIRGINIA PUTS OUT A FEELER TOWARD
- THE WHITE HOUSE.

TO TIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO THE
Il ExoFFICEHoLDERs' RULE TABU-
LATED-THE EDITORS RULE
ALSO MODIFIED.
[Br TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUSE.l
Washington, March 23.-It Is perfectly safe TO say
that not less than 1000 Virginia oiceseekers have
visited Washington within the last month and that
twice rs many more have sent letters and petitions
to the Senators and Representatives IRON that state
The latter have had TO believe that cheap, easy
and rapid means OF transportation and communication
are not unmixed blessing When the new Admin
istratien had been In power fortnight and not
suge office had been bestowed upon that State.
which Is the Mother of Presidents, including Thomas
Jefferson, Virginia Democrats naturally began 10
ash, "where we att" In no uncertain tones.
They were angry we'll as impatient. The very
hdlls upon which the late Capital OF the late southern
Confederoy sits enthroncd. trembled when the edict
was published which barred from reappontment Rich
ond's OK postmaster, who had fed the p0place with
plum pudding to celebrate the Democratic victory ana
had not forgotten to send big slice to Lakewood.
Matters at last became serious that the Demo-
cratic Senators and Representatives felt that some
thing must be done for their safety and preser-
vstion and II accordingly determined TO organize
In Washington Virginia board to divide the spoils
To b composed Of the two Senators and ten Represen
tatives in Congress. The first meeting OF the board
was held last night behind locked doors. The men,
bers had profted by the experience and failures OF he
Tennessee and Missouri and Texas "Doarhs'' ana
they managed to get through the first meeting With
ont nm open mutiny. This may have been due IN
part to the fact that the Virginia Senators are not
supposed to be In rs high favor at the White House
a CONGRESSMAN O'Ferrall IS. He was the man VINO
prevented David b. Hill from capturing the entire
virginia delegation at the Chicago Convention But
Colonel O'Ferall is now candidate for the nominal
ton for Governor and therefore is strongly and earn
estlv IN favor of harmony He wants the good
will Of Senator Daniel and does not want to incur
the .wl OF the Administration or the ofhce-seekers
and their friends. lie knows that he has dimcuH
role to play. Even while the board Was denpernuhe
last night in an upper room OF hotel scores Oh
impatient and hungry oice-seekers were pacing the
corridors downstairs there were ten ior every o"'e
In Virginia's quota"
Here Is an outline Of one problem which conlroh'eo
the board: Two Senators plus ten congressman SIX
Offices to be fed-two United States dstrict-atorhey-
ships, two marshashps and two internal revenue COL
lectorshps, and about forty men downstairs anxious
to all them. OF course, the six ofhces menuoheo are
only an Insignificant proportion of what Virginia VIII
demand as her quota and the forty claimants are
only an infnitesimal fraction OF the whole NUMBER OF
office seekers from the Old Dominion
After discussion which lasted until nearly mid
night II was wisely agreed that the board wonu
better 60 Slow A committee composed OF three
Ferrsll, Wise and JOnes-was there
fe appointed to put out feeer" In the direction OF
the White House, and ascertain whether President
Cleveland would favorably consider a unanimous rec
ommendauon from the board to cover tne AA
Offices or accept estate" prepared by majority
vote of the board" Another meeting OF the Doard
Is to be held next week, when report Will DC SUD
mitted by the committee. Meanwhile Virginia once
seekers will wait with such patience as they may De
able to command unless they can persuade senators
and Representatives TO move individually IN 'hsir
behalf as State Chairman Basil Coz don To-Day sue
ceeded in doing. Senators Danlei ahd iiuh'oh anu
Representatives O'Ferrall and Jones all urged Mr.
Gordon's appointment to foreign mission Oh 'ne Sec
ond class.
The Tennessee "patronage board" held another
meeting today and tried to agree upon division OF
the spois among its members. Repres en'a'Ne NC
Millip who has candidate for the Knoxville pension
agency In opposition TO senator Harrss man. uio
not attend. 1t is believed that Senator Harris OK
plained and described his colleagues his interview
with Mr. Cleveland In regard to the pension agency.
According to his version Of the Interview the fresi
dent said -
al am inclined to appoint Patterson" "here"poh
Senator Harris replied:
81 regret that cannot recommend that appoint
ment.'
.why not ~ asked the President, and the Senator
replied: Il have regarded Mr.. Patterson as Tree
in politics working with the organization when
r. suited him to do So kicking out OF the traces
when IL shifted him to do i favor giving these
plsces TO men of the old guard, who are always In
line and ready to fight the battles Of the party
Tho President then said Il will appoint Carpenter
OF. patterson: but l don't know that can control
these appointments The eolloquy apparently began
TO grow warmer and more interesting. at least Vi
senator Harris's part for according TO his own ac-
coun+ Of il, he responded: %" think you can when you
wish TO do So"
The President replied Il don't know whether
can,or not
al am quite certain YOU CAM reto.ted senator
Harris and there MS account OF the Interview ehus
lie ev,aent,v thought he knew better what the Prcsi
dent could do than the President himself and he
promptly told him and left the room, without
the slightest appearance ., excitement In anything
said by me In the manner OF saying H. u quote
his words.
sec,e,ary Hohe Smiths hortaory crrular to Georgia
ofnce-seekers has excited good deal Of comment
among Georgians In Washington, who, without cxcep
ton would be glad TO know whether Mr.. smith dis
covered before tie managed 10 obtain seat In MI
Cleveands Cabinet that Government officers get into
a groove which units them for civ life,' ana also
whether he does not think that 1t "wo,d BE- the
part OF wisdom In his own ease 10 find In private
LIE those rewards which never come to the ONCE
holder"
IL am truly sorry that HIKE has found thus early
that ONCE holding is 50 irSsome and Improbable an
occupation. II were he l would Iesgn,' WAS 'ifr
ssrcasic comment OF a prominent Georgia Congress
man after reading copy OF the secretarys circular.
Onice-seskels who have studied and who EATER
themselves that they have mastered the rule In reg IRA
TO ex-cffice holders have prepared schedule oil lex
ceptions." The rule. they say, does not apply 10
tho following persons First, those who have no or-
position for rcappcntment; second. those candidates
for postmasteiships who have opposition, but are IN
aorsed almost unanimously by citizens OF Their city or
town; third those who were removed by the Harrison
Administration without serving ont their terms;
fourth, those who nominated for Office by Mr.
cleveland Just prior 10 General Harrisons Inaugural
tion. but who failed Of confirmation by the Senate
Postmaster General Bissell today modified his rule
about newspaper editors who may be appointed post
vussters They are TO be allowed. II editors OF daily