The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-06
State POSTMASqERS.
Rumors Of Congressional OPP
position to the New
Appointees

A Washington dispatch in the Newark
Evening News of Thursday says
Twelve of the New Jersey men who
have been recently nominated for post
masters of as many offices in the State
are not unlikely to have some trouble
before they are confirmed. A few may
slide through without much difficulty, but
it is pretty certain that some win have
much trouble and probable that most
will not find smooth sailing.
The reason is that several member of
the New Jersey delegation object to the
confirmation of these nominees for four
years. They hold that it is not fair for
the President toefll vacancies in the
Federal service ~withsfour-year term men,
so near the end of his administration. es-
pecially when the vacancies are caused
by the resignation or death of Democrats
who received their appointments early in
the life of the present Administration
1T gives the Democratic side too long
a hold on such patronage" is the way
they argue. Had the vacancies been
caused by the expiration of the terms
or resignation or death of Republicans
who had been allowed by President
Cleveland to serve out their terms, the
objection to his. filling the places with
Democrats would not seem so hard to
the Republican representatives. But they
seriously object to an office which has
been held already by a Democratic APP
pointee under this Administration con
tinuing for -four years longer under the
Democratic rule by the appointment to
it of another member of the Democratic
party.
The most emphatic directors to the
confirmation of such New Jersey nominal
tons are congressman L-oudenslager and
Fowler. OF the twelve nominations four
are in Mr.. Loudenslager's district. They
are James ]. Davidson of Swedesboro;
Charles H. Pierson of Bridgeton, Charles
Thorn Of Ocean City. Mr.. Fowler has
two, John w. Goddard Of Bayonne and
William j. Whelan of Elizabeth. The
Of Bloomfield, Mr.. Parker's district;
Michael r. Devine of Atlantic City. Mr..
Gardner's district: George MeCraeken of
ton. Mr.. Pitneys district: Wii i ni's Pin
tard of Red Ban and Michael +. Hickey
OF r Rarftan. MI. HowelIs district.
ne rns may Is m S1me o laeegae th so f MT. c GaFd-
nation of Devine. 1t may b. that he
has already done so; but, on the other
h may eo ans aela ao dc no Si5g s Gsengrf + N
that he would be following the example
OF Devine, who has not asked any one TO
uelp uiiH get MS Onnfmatl0n In fact,
he did not even ask for the nomination
after the removal of his predecessor.
Devine is so strongly endorsed that his
Will be certain if Congress-
man Gardner does not object, He may
be confirmed in spite of such objection.
Senator Sewen will not, 1t is understood.
oppose the confirmation of these nomina-
tons. congressman L~oudenslager and
Fowler are said to nave asked him to do
so, and it ds reported that he made per
sonal inquiries at the Post Office Depart
ment to learn of the procedure followed In
former Administrations. He learned that
the practice had been to confirm such
nominations and that President Cleveland
had not molested Federal officials who
were nominated and confirmed during the
last part of President Harrisonis term.
That being the case, Senator Sewell is
naturally dissnclined to enter objection
Congressman Fowler Is said to be deter
mined to prevent the confirmation of
Whelan as Postmaster of Elizabeth, if it
be possible for him to do SO. It is not
known that he objects to Whelan person.
ally. His opposition to him is thought to
be due to his wish to ave a Republican
in the office while he, Fowler, is in Con-
gress.
1T Is understood to be Senator Sewen's
intention to do nothing in the matter of
the confirrna bion further than to ask the
Post Office and Post Roads Committee of
the Senate to hear the New Jersey Con-
gressmen who wish to enter formal objec-
ton to the confirmation of the nominees.
Such objection may "a some weight
with the committee, and even result in an
adverse report of one or more of the NOM
nations. Whether the Congressman will
care to go SO far as to formally object to
the nominees remains to be seen. Thus
far the committee has taken no action on
any of the New Jersey cases.