The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-23
Chance that the Decision May Be Ex-
tended to Presidential Offices and
Mr.. Thompson Be Thus Retained.
GRESHAM'S LATEST DESIRE
He Would Fain Succeed Shelby
NJ. CullOm i'm the Senate.
His Ludicrous Claim on Chicago Demo-
crats-Proposed Transfer of the PEN
sion Bureau-Judge Long Case.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 - Bad news
comes from the Postofiice Department fof
an army of Democrats throughout the
country and especially a number in In
diana who have for some time been expect
ing their appointments to presidential post
offices now held by Republicans, whose
commissions have some time yet to run
on account or their being the second or
third Republican appointed TO the office
under the Harrison Administrative II was
believed that under the regime OF ths
spoilsnen the department would rule that
the four years OF service intended for a
postmaster should date with the first ap-
pointment TO the office OF Republican by
the last administration. and that when the
four years of service dating from the COM
mission Of the first Republican appointed
to the Office under the Harrison admInistra-
ton had expired the possessor OF il would
be removed and a Democrat appointed to
his place. Many hundreds. probably two
or three thousand. presidential postoffites
now in the hands of Republicans who
were appointed TO unexpired terms, and IL
was contended by the Democratic Senator'S
and Representatives, and State and county
committeeman demanding removals, that
the terms should now be consolidated. SO
that when the Office had been in the hands
OF Republicans four years the incumbent
would be crowded out by dismissal
Assistant Postmaster general Maxwell
has ruled I'm the matter of fourth-class
postmasters that 1t Is the intention OF the
law and the department to give a postmas-
ter four years OF service IL he is efficient
and satisfactory, from an official point OF
view, and that removal will not be made
OF such an officer upon mere grounds OF
offensive partisanship. During the last
year OF President Harrisons administers
ton several hundred presidential postmas-
tiers were appointed, and these will have
about three years of service ahead OF them
yet, if something more tangible than offen-
sive craftsmanship cannot be brought against
them. This will be sad news TO many as
pirants in Indiana II is believed that the
ruling OF headsman Maxwell presages =
similar decision from Postmaster-generaI
Bssell upon presidential postoffices.
When Representative Bynum's attention
was to-day called 10 the ruling on fourth
class postmasters, and it was suggested
that this was an anticipation Of a ruling
by the Postmaster-general on presidential
offices, and that IL would apply to the case
of Postmaster Thompson, at Indianapolis,
and probably defeat the expected removal
OF that official. the Representative of the
Seventh district declined TO express an
opinion. At the Postoffice Department the
belief is general that the intended work or
removing postmasters whose commissions
have only run a year or two, upon grounds
OF offensive partisanship alone. will be cut
short and that there will be no such re
movals. except in especially aggravated
cases" The charges against Postmaster
Thompson are described at the department
and the White House as being purely parti-
san, as in no way affecting his official In
tegrity or efficiency, and IL II believed that
there will now be considerable doubt TO
his removal. This ruling at least invests
the Indianapolis case with element OF
doubt, and gives the civil-service reformers
a good opportunity to get in their work.
There have already been received a nufnber
OF protests against the removal OF the Ins
dianapolis postmaster. and IN view OF the
fact that il is not expected, even by the
two Senators and Mr.. Bynum. that action
will be had until after Congress convenes
In January, IL looks as though the spoils-
men were not as sure OF their game as ap-
pearances indicated they were few days
ago.
OF the four hundred nominations sent 20
the Senate by the President during the tins
the Senate has been in regular session l0S
were Enacted on when the Senate took
recess for the Christmas holidays. These
nominations do not expire at this time. how
ever as they would In case OF an adjourn-
ment but may be considered after Con-
gress shall reconvene on the Sd OF January,
Just as il they had not been sent in until
that time. A large majority OF the nominal
tons which go over are those Of postmas-
tiers I'm small towns There are some nonli-
left however which
included in this class, and among these are
the nomination OF Judge Hornblower for
Justice of the Supreme Court and OF Rob-
ert T.. Preston for Director of the Mint,
which have been in dispute almost ever
since the beginning of the extra session.
The list also includes the names OF j.
Scott Harrison. brother OF ex-President
sas City, Mo-; OF Walter III. Bum, APP
prafser of merchandise; VIM. ~. Mailman.
superintendent of Indian schools, and \.
J. Arnold, postmaster at Topeka Isaac ".
j. Woolf, OF New Jersey. for agent Of the
Indians at Nevada agency, in Nevada, and
Kope Elias, for collector OF customs In
North Carolina, both Of which were op-
posed. also again suffer temporary defeat
Among other nominations not acted upon
were the following: Charles Parlange,
United States district Judge. louisiana: w.
j Mize, collector or internal revenue, First
district OF Illinois, Charles Speck. collector
of internal revenue. First district of Mis-
souri,: Webster Withers, collector OF inter-
nal revenue. Sixth district OF Missouri: Da-
vid c. Brown, collector OF internal revenue.
Montana and Idaho; Wilson 3 Baldwin.
collector OF customs at Erie. Pa; j. ID.
Walker, marshal for the Western district
of Pennsylvania.