Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-04-18
NO HOPE FOR oFFlcE-sEEkERs.

The Washington correspondent OF
the Wheeling Register recently sent
an interesting letter to that paper con-
corning the Office work of the new
Postmaster-General, Hon Vim. L.
Wilson. We quote part Of 1t
Probably the most unpleasant portion
of his daily routine just now is the read
ing of and answering letters from friends
and acquaintance in West Virginia
and throughout the country, who think
that he has a large amount of patronage
at his disposal. Letters of this kind
reach him by the dozen every day. and
some of them are almost pathetic in
their appeals for something to do where
by the writers may earn living. But
to all alike he is compelled 10 answer
that there are no places at his disposal.
With few exceptions the employees OF
the postal service are now selected by
civil service examination. and can be
removed only for cause. The places in
the department here which are not
under the civil service law were filed
by Democrats in the first months OF the
present administration and Mr. Wilson
cannot. Of course, turn out the appoint
ees Of Mr. Bissell, his predecessor as
Postmaster-General, in order TO give
other Democrats places.
To the applications for Office from
West Virginia, most of which come
from personal friends and acquaint-
ances. Mr. Wilson himself dictates the
answers, explaining the exact situation
and expressing his regret that IL Is I'M
possible for him TO make places for the
applicants, however deserving they may
be or however much he might personally
desire to serve him.
Even if there were places in the de-
partment at the disposal Of the new
PostmaSter-General. he could not. under
the law. give any Of them toresidents Of
West Virginia. for the reason that the
Stale now has the legal quota Of ap-
pointments in the postal service. as in
almost every other department Of the
government. IN fact. no State in the
Union has Jared better in the matter Of
appointments under this administration
than West Virginia. Still the applica-
tionS for Office from residents of the
State continue 10 pour in. But these
candidates would save themselves both
time and money if they would under
stand once for all that the quest for Office
at this late day in the administration is
hopeless. The positions not in the class
fled service have long since been filed,
and vacancies only occur by death or
resignation And years ago il passed
into a proverb that in the public service
few die and none resign.
It gives US inward pain 10 read this
letter, Under the mugwumpish Bis
sell the Postoffce Department was
maintained as an asylum for INDECENT
Republicans and megalophonous part
isans left over from former admins
trations. We had hoped that Mr..
Wilson would with great vigor accom-
plish the work in this line that Mr..
Bissell refused TO perform, and thus
endear himself to that class Of sturdy
Democrats who love the Offices, dis
ike the Republicans and win the VIC
tories at the polls. five are correctly
informed, the number Of Republicans
in the Postoffce Department Is out Of
all proportion TO the deserts Of an op-
position party, while the Democrats
are 50 few that they are not within
bailing distance Of each other.
The Supreme Court didn't find any
difficulty in upsetting the income tax
law that embodied the wisdom and
the wishes Of the Democratic party.
1t ought not TO be difficult for Mr..
Wilson or any other head Of depart
ment to discover a way to evade lot
Of higb-talutiu regulations designed
to keep Republicans in and Democrats
out. And as for West Virginia al
ready having her QuOta-never Not
as long as any Of heI patriots stand
signing on her hilltops for a chance
al the public crib shall ii be acknowl-
edged that she has obtained her share.
And may they never be silent until
Democrats are put on guard
Prosecuted by Woman.