The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The President Still Harassed b,
OfliceseekerS.
His Hint That No Changes Are to BE
Made Fails to Have the Desired En-
fcct-A More Formal and Definite
Notice to BE Served ON the Impor-
tunate - applications Increasing.

More than a week ago The Times said
the President was being so harassed by
the opportunities of Office seekers that it
was probable he would get the information
out to the country in some form indi-
eating plainly his policy 10 make virtually
no change in the Offices. When he for
mally asked his Cabinet Ministers, soon
after the election. to remain with him
through the next Administration, it is
known that he hoped this would be taken
as hint by all place-hunters OF his in
tention to run along for the next four
years with the men in office who are now
there, quite as much as that the busy and
numerous host of Cabinet makers would
cease their activities for while.
But it appears that MIR. Mckinley's gen.
tie hint has not had the desired effect.
For a week the volume of applications
pouring in upon him has been increasing,
instead of diminishing. and yesterday he
found Ii necessary to serve a more formal
and definite notice on the country of his
purpose to continue in Office the men he
appointed three and half years ago. The
press associa tions have sent out a story
embodying this idea, and 1t is said the
President hopes this will prove effective.
IT, however. it does not IL is thought he
will soon resort to the old familiar letter
writing process. Hence, unless there Is a
let-up in the opportunities of the hungry
horde of patriots with lust for the spoils
OF victory it is expected that somebody
somewhere will receive a note on the
White House paper stating in terms that
cannot be misinterpreted the wish Of Mr..
Mckinley to be permitted to run the Gov
ernment with the assistance of the men
he selected when he first seized the helm.
OF course. the President will make
changes for cause" but it is given out
that trivial charges will not be enter
tained SO that it will be best for those
who are rayenously feasting their eyes
upon choice morsels in the public service
to move very cautiously in their search
for causes of removal.
II is colseryatiyely estimated that by
April l fully $4,000 commissions will ex-
pire. The President will have all of this
vast number of vacancies in the public
service to fill. II he intends to make no
changes, generally speaking. it is pre-
sumed that he will not wait for this num-
ber of commissions to expire before pro-
viding for the vacancies. but will recon-
mission the present office holders before
the special session of the Senate adjourns
in March. 1t is known that the President
is determined to keep down as far as pos
sible all scandalous talk that may be en-
couraged by the saving clause in his hint
to the place hunters about changes for
cause" 1t is thought that he can do this
more eifectually by recommissioning the
present office holders before their terms
expire than he could If he should wait for
the expiration of their commissions.
Another theory of the case is that Mr..
Mckinley Will permit a large number Of
his appointees to hold on several months
TO the places they now occupy without re-
commissioning them! This will enable the
Administration to keep better control OF
members of Congress who may be inclined
to act stubbornly with regard to the Ship
Subsidy scheme, the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty. and other pet measures. The
President thus will have a club in his
hand ready for use II he should make
wholesale reappointments without refer
ence to the conduct Of unruly Representa-
tives and Senators it is thought that sew
eral schemes now maturing would gang
agiee