The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-07
ONE MORE dull DAY
Senator's Who Mix Politics With the
Postal Service.
AR. GORMAN HAS HIS SAY
The Running Talk Gives Allen q
Chance to Ring In a Refer
ence at Some Of Harri-
sons Old Friends.

Washington. April 6-Among the bills
favorably reported was one to prevent
wholesale divorces in territories by re-
quiring a years residence before appli-
cation. Call made an ipeffectual effort
TO take up the Cuba resolution offered
by him some days ago proposing i'm
mediate action by the United States to
protect American citizens In Cuba and
prevent barbarities. Allison insisted
that appropriation bills must be kept to
the front Call gave notice he would
move to take up the Cuban resolutions
tomorrow.
The postofice appropriation bill was
taken up, pending the question Of con-
solidating county and suburban post
offices as adtuncts to city or metropoli-
tan districts. Wolcott advocated re-
form as essential to the vast postal SER
vice of the country. Small postoffices
are being created at the rate of more
than 1000 a year and the aggregate
army Of 10000 pOstmasters maintain
ing separate accounts with Washing
ton. lie believed the change would do
away with the system of giving post
Offices as rewards for political services.
the democratic grocery storekeeper
running the machinery OF one admin
istration, yet he desired to commend
the able and intelligent conduct of the
postotfice administration under POST
master General Wilson. The senator
added that this was move towards
throwing of the domination of the
spoils system from the postal service.
I'm civil service IL is" he said, large
ly an acquired taste, but any public
man who has remained here through an
opposing administration and has seen
men appointed 10 Office as a reward for
political dirty work, unworthy men. not
tit to hold Office. many OF them unin-
telligent and unprincipled men. then
one can appreciate the virtues Of civil
service"
Wolcott and German Joined issues
over some references OF the former to
the Elliott City, Md. absorption OF the
Baltimore postoffice. the latter saying
he knew all about the matter and did
not like Wolcott to get his information
at second hand.
Wolcott said that any difference that
might exist between the postmaster gen.
eral and one or two senators ought to
give way before the needs OF the public
service.
German answered that Wolcott sought
to place the subject on a low plane He
sought TO intimate that this was a mere
personal aid political question. If IL IL .
political question:, exclaimed Gormans
with intense sarcasm. then l congratu-
late the postofice department that q dis
tinguished senator on the other side OF
the chamber can be Its defender on this
occasion. There has been a suspicion
among many democrats that many acts OF
this administration could consistently be
defended by some republican"
German rejected the idea that the post
Offices were a huge spoils system. He had
served under democrat administrations
and under republican administrations and
the mere appointment OF postmaster was
never anything to him. He knew. he
said. from recent events. that any recon-
mendations by him would be rejected.
German said that his observation OF civil
service reformers was that they were the
first to get their friends into office and
then to keep them there. Referring to
the postmaster general. German said 10
would be well for the official to listen to
the people and serve them. rather than
TO be delivering lectures on tarin and gold
and silver. II would be well. said Cor
man, to return to the old rule that when
you found a man constantly proclaiming
his virtues there was a rascal near at
hand. The senator said he hoped to see
a postmaster general. no matter what his
politics might be. who would really re-
form that department, not by removing
IL from the people. but by cutting down
the high compensation for carrying the
malls and the high salaries above the
81, ,0O0 mark.
Hin suggested some modification In the
proposed amendment. and said he was
with the senator from Colorado (WolcotO
on the general principle OF including small
postoffices within the limits OF a city or
its immediate outskirts.
Nelson. republican. Minnesota. opposed
the consolidation. II was. he said. on the
principle OF the general department. the
devil fish OF modern society" These de-
partment stores are the curse OF the COM
mercial world and he would not like TO
see the same system carried into the post
Office department.
Lodge declared that the best methods
OF business would inevitably prevail. and
could not be stopped by politics or legis-
lation. He differed with the present post
master general on the tariff and yet this
did not prevent his recognizing that ON
cial as a most capable public officer.
At this point Sherman presented the
conference report on the Cuban resolu-
tions and also the action OF the house
accepting the senate resolutions. He said
no further action was needed. He remark
ed that the vote In the house for the res
olutions was very large.
Allen raised a question as 10 the formal
ity of the report and the action by the
house. but after brief discussion II was
agreed that all parliamentary require
ments had been observed.
Allen spoke for the retention OF the old
system. with its country postmasters. and
arraigned civil service as farce. In
this connection Allen said: The greatest
mugwump OF the day is In the white
house. IL Is difficult TO say whether he Is
greater as a mugwump or as imperial
democratic dictator. He has led the host
OF mugwumps in this country for 10 or
IS years" The senator severely criticised
the action OF the president In removing
Civil Service Commissioner Johnson.
"a.
said: He IL a disgrace to the great ONCE
he occupies. He should not and doubtless
viii not be returned 20 the position
again" He went on 10 say that the Wall
street contributors were in a ouandary
after nominating Cleveland and Harrison.
but inally turned TO the former, because
he had an Office In Wall street and con-
tributed 81. 40. 900 toward his election. Con-