The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-05
Bissell and Maxwell Have Made
Quite a Big Record Of De-
oapitations
bven Clarkson's Activity Has
Been Discounted by His Able
Successor.
Verv Few Republicans Hemain In Fourth.
Ciass Posiofilcss In the south
aud the West.

WAaHNoIoS. March 4.-Ths cry has been
raised with Rfeat effect that the postOfioe
department has not bosn responsive 10
democratic sentiment. A few figures on
that point may be interesting. Up 90 Jan.
26. 1886, Villas. then postmaster general, had
appointed 9i6 presidential postmsstsrs.
On the same date In 1880 Wanamaksr had
appointed / 279 postmastsrL. On the same
day Of ihis year Bissell had oppointsd /. 23S
pOstmasteFs. This shows that the record
OF Bissell has been a good deal better than
that Of Villas aud lacks bnt little Of being
equal 10 that Of WanamAker.
80 far as the fourth class postmas are
concerned the record OF the present admin
istration IL unprecedented. During the
first sixteen months OF the frst Cleveland
administration there we're appointed 20. Ssl.
Daring the hrst sixteen months OF ths Har-
rison administTAtion there we're 24,Gi5.
During eleven mOnths Of ths present ad-
minisiration. under the Rhle and efficient
management Of Fourth Assistant POST
master General MsKwsll, there have been
appointed q. .323.
The republicans are braRRing q good deal
on Clafkson's ability Gs headsman
Adlai r. Stevenson was made vice presi-
dent Of the United States bseause the
democrats appreciated his ability in chang
ing postmasiers 20 suit the democratic
partI's Political complexion. Clarkson beat
Stevenson. but MsHwell has beaten Clark
son. Up to Jan. &c. 1880. Clarkson had np-
pointed 19.7l1 fourth-olass pOstmasteIs
and during the corresponding psYiod Max
we'll had appointed ~, 4s3. This shows
that Maxwell has bsRien Clarkson yearly
1900, yet MAXWELL hss not made much
noise. Maxwell has not bsen splurRing
but he has been keeping Up steady work.
Clatkson led 10 make record By ap-
pointing more fourth-class postmasters In
one day than anybody elss did in the same
length Of time. Maxwell. however, by
steady application 20 business has beaten
Ciarkson !, ,112 in the same length OF time.
The fact is, vefy few republican postmas-
tsrs nov Iemain In the fourth-olass Offices
throughout the south and west. Maxwell
has NOS bothered himself very much With
the eastern states. because they have an
idea thTt they like civil service reform aud
continuity IN Office In ths eastern states.
In the south aud west, whore they like 20
have the political com plsxion Of their post
masters changed With the complexion of
the administration. MAXWELL has been act
ing. as will be seen from the hgnrss given.
With this showing 10 is difficult to ace
how the senators and representatives, from
the south and vest have any real grievances
against the postOfiice Departments, but that
Is the department they have been bother
ing and complaining OF with most Vehe-
meRce. 10 will only require a casual iRves-
tigatiOn of the figures that have been given
TO the democrats OF the south and west 10
convince them that 40 far as the tuning
out OF republicans aud putting in OF demo-
Gratis is concerned, the senators and repre-
sentatives from the states of the south and
west have no cause for grievance against
the administration.