The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-20
ADMINISTRATION Will. NaT Rn
PARTY TO THIS KIND OF
TRICKERY.
FOURTH CLASS P0sTMAsTERs
WHO THINK TO CIRCUMyENT RE-
PUBLICAN OFFICE SEEKERS
CALLED DOWN.
THE FOUR YEAR RULE IN FORCE.
No Changes VIII BE Made Excent
In Cases Of Absolute Ne
cessity.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-"There has
been no bad faith, and there will be-
no bad faith by this administration
said First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Maxwell, today.
Congressman Hepburn, Of Iowa CALI
ca TO inquire concerning the attftude
OF the administration towards fourth
class postmasters who are now send
ing in their designations, and recon-
mending their successors. Mr.. Max
we'll continued:
From the beginning of the present
administration the rule has prevailed
tnat 1ourth-class postmasters shall not
be removed, except for cause, until they
nave served for four years That is
the legal limit for presidential post
masters and the president thought that
1T would be in the interest of the pub
lie services, and a bar to the spoiIs
system, if the same rule should Be ap-
piled by executive action, towards
fourth-class postmasters; and the rule
has been rigidly observed
ou may remember, Col. Hepburn"
continued Mr. Maxwell that Gen.
Clarkson welded his official axe very
ef11ciently and actively during the first
year OF the Harrison administration.
The result was the appointment of
about forty thousand Republican
fourth-class postmasters. Well, during
the first year of my administration OF
this office, I diligently endeavored to
keep pace with him, and removed
about the same number of fourth-class
postmasters, placing Democrats in their
places. But / was simply removing
men who had served four years. When
that period of activity was over, I
settled down to close observance OF
the four-year rule in all cases. Look
over your own congressional district.
and see II it has not been so there 1t
has been so throughout the entire coun-
try"
Yes, that is true as to my district"
responded Col. Hepburn.
Now L understand the 9ituation,"
said Mr.. Maxwell. 'The Democrats
fourth postmasters, who have
held Office for nearly four years know
that Republican administration is
coming in, and they expect to be re-
moved and have Republican postmas-
ters appointed in their places. They
are finding men in their neighborhoods.
Who are willing to pay them good
prices for their poStoffice fixtures, pro-
vided they can be appointed to sue
ceed the present incumbents. Conse-
quently, they are reslgnfng, or send
ing in their designations, expecting
that this administration will appoint
their successors on their recommends
tions. They are looking to their own
personal profit in this matter But
they are counting upon the impossi-
BILE.
1.-THE present ineumbents Of fourth +
class postoffices must hold their po-
sitions until the next administration
appoints their successors. When you
read in the newspapers that certain
postmasters are being appointed, you
may be sure that they are appointed in
the place Of Republicans who have
held office for four years during the
present administration; or elSe they
are appointed in place Of postmasters
removed for cause.
Col Hepburn went to the capitol and
asked several Republican congressman
about their districts, and in each case
he found that fourth-class postmas-
ters appointed by Gen. Clarkson had
been allowed to hold their places for
four years, just as has been the case
in his Iowa district He then said:
Il never knew anything more fair and
just. / believe that this system will
prevail under the next administration
1t seems to be fair to the postmasters
of both political parties, and is in ac-
cordance with the spirit Of the civil
service law. The determination of Mr.
Maxwell to prevent incumbent post
masters from naming their successors,
in advance Of McKinley's Inaugural
uon, Is highly commendable.