The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-11
w. :. sbaiIenberger Likely to he Sec
Ond Assistant and Ex-Representa-
tive Murphy Probably Third.
NEW RULE BY THE PRESIDENT
CONGRESSIONAL DELEG ATIoNs MUST
AGREE ON APPOINTMENTS.
Mr.. Mckinley VIII BE n Party 10 No
Guarrels Over Distribution of Pat
ronnge-white House Callers.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. March I0.-President Nc
Kinley himself confirms the report that
Perry S. Heath will be appointed first as
sistant postmaster general. vice Frank
Jones. OF Illinois. Mr. Heath started out
originally for public printer and was told
he could have the place. His name was
subsequently urged for secretary OF agri-
culture and when he went TO Canton to
finally discuss the situation with Major Nc
Kinley 1t was decided TO make him hrst
assistant postmaster general Mr.. Heath
Will have direct charge of the vast machin-
cry of the postoffices of the whole country.
postmasters reporting To him and rendering
their accounts TO him. lie directs the ex-
penditure OF about si00OoeoO annually and
the ruturns from the offices pass through
his department. He has nothing TO do with
the rail or steamboat or star-route trans
| portation of mails or with The decapitation
or appointment of postmasters. those duties
being discharged by the second and fourth
assistant postmaster generals.
w. = Shallenberger. rich resident OF Bea-
| yer. Pa. viii be made second assistant
postmaster general, and indications point 10
Representative Murphy. OF Illinois, for
| third assistant. Shallenberger is Senator
| Quay's man. sss
Colonel w w. Dudley of Indiana had a
boom for commissioner of pensions to-day
and tonight This is his old place. The
| movement entirely without his knowl-
edge and consent and the colonel says there
is no place in the gift of the President or
| the people that he could get he would take.
| Colonel Dudley and General Michener have
worked up a tremendous professional bus-
ness in Washington and neither could af-
1 n gi al fe
on the list. short of President. They are
just beginning TO reap returns from the up
| building Of years.
| There is a notable thinning out OF In
diana office seekers and no new ones are
arriving on the scene. The wholesome adj
| vice to place hunters to ascertain whether
or not the jobs they covet are protected by
| the civi-service law before starting for
Washington is having an effect.
The Washington Post to-day gives Hon.
| Will Cumback half a column, going ex-
! tensively into his career and telling of the
| important scenes and events i'm which he
has participated in the course Of his long
| life. ***
| Congressman ana office seekers are hav-
| ing new experience at the White House.
In fact, they are having several kinds OF
1
ton is made here is that relating 10 appIi-
cations. Mr.. Mckinley has let 1t be known
pointedly. and in a way that cannot be-
| misunderstood, that he is going TO make
| senators and representatives responsible
| for the distribution of patronage within
| their own States. Time and again within
| the past few days he has told visiting con-
gressmen that they must get together and
| decide among themselves what they want
| and who they want to indorse. To one SEN
| atOr he said to-day: Il DO not intend 10
| become involved in any factional quarrels
in any State and if you cannot decide
among yourselves which candidates you
favor and reach agreement you must
| not expect me to decide for you.' The logic
of this Is that where State delegations cail-
| not decide for themselves In regard to
offices the patronage will be very likely TO
| go some mere else, or the incumbents
| hold on. *s*
Senator Mason, Of Illinois. carried an
| armful of applications the White House,
indorsed by himself and casual representa-
tives. Have these applicants secured the
Endorsement of Senator Cullom alsoy" In
quired the President, and when negative
reply given. he said: We'll then. you
had better take them back and get Gull
lom's name. There must be no division OF
| responsibility in these matters"
In consequence OF this departure from the
| White House rule of the past twelve years
| State delegations are getting together as
they have not been I'm the habit of doing
for many years past and discussing local
patronage with serious desire for results.
Outside of few personal appointments. it
| is becoming palmer every day that Major
Mckinley will have no favorites.
New candidates for the position OF as
sistant secretary OF the navy are continu-
ally presenting themselves. Henry Clay
Fisher. retired officer OF the marine corps.
is seeking the place and his candidacy is
being urged. it is said. by Vice President
| Hobart and the leading Republicans OF New
| Jersey The formal candidacy Of Cornelius
| Van Cott. of New York city. has just been
| announced. His aspirations are indorsed by
Senator Piatt and by the Republican state
| and city committee. The chances of Sec
| retary Long recommending any one here
| tofore connected with the naval service are
| said 10 be exceedingly slim. lt has been
| pointed out To the President and TO the Sec
! retary that each of the several beureaus at
the Navy Department is controlled by
| naval officer who IS a specialist and who
| can give the executive head of the Depart
ment any special or professional q iowledgs
that he may require.
Postmaster General Gary has not yet an
nounced his policy regarding either presi-
Dental of fourth-class postmasters. He has
| been so overwhelmed with callers and with
famliarzing himself with the scope aai
methods of the department that he has aad
little opportunity to give the question of ap-
pointments consideration. Before he comes
30 a definite decision TO whether post
masters will be allowed TO serve out their
terms he will have consultation with the
| President As all presidential postmasters
| are commissioned for four years little
| doubt Is entertained at the department that
| they will be allowed TO out their
| terms save in exceptional cases. where cir
! cumstances may warrant early changes
| Fourth-class postmasters are not commits
| stoned for four years. but are appointed 10
| serve at the pleasure OF the postmaster
| general. Some OF them have been allowed
| 10 serve for twenty years without being
| disturbed The general practice OF recent
| administrations. however has been 10 ap-
| point their SUCCESSORS approximately at the
| end OF four-year periods The changes IN
| these small offices. once begun. are rapidly
| made. BEGINNING with cN-Nlce President
| Stevenson. who was fourth assistant under
| MIR Claveland's first administration, tne
| fourth assistant postmaster generals. who