The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-11
FOURTH CLASS FosToFF1cEs
Will Cut Figure in Politics
Again.

Washington Special to BROOKLYN Easie
It is reported about the Postomce De,
partment that very lmpor'sh. cnntrol
| and management of the fourth class pa.
offices of the country. The story Is tna.
the President will shortly pface an .,.e
business connected with the appoin.me e ~
of these postmasters under the cnal ~ ~
the First Assistant Postmaster IeneI n.
by removing 1t from the once OF TAG
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gehera.
On the surface, such an announcements Ell.
might give rise to but little comment, ou'
back OF 1t all there is deep sigmncanse'
1t is taken to mean that the aomih.sIa
tion- proposes to use the appointments
of fourth class postm asters TOT poHtleai
machine that VIII have close 1 %e EAR arc be-
tween 10000 and 5000 postmasters OF ti,,s
class all of whom are OUTSIDE o. ~.
classified service. They are distripu.eu
through every State ana nearly sio;o,,s
scattering of the appointments II wouiu
be an easy matter to put into goou Of
fees thousands of men, each OF whV IN
would have peculiar and personal ~
terest in maintaining the present admah-
istration in power 1t is stated tnat ONT
of the preliminares to the execusion "
this plan was the appointment OF IT'S t
Assistant Postmaster General nope.e
WINNIE. 1t has been common talk OF late
that there is not the greatest amount
of harmony between Fourth Assistant
Postma ster General Bristow and proml-
nent leaders OF the Republican Party. N
fact one of the influential members OF
the Republican National Committee, SEN
ator Scott. was openly cunning for Mr..
Bristows official head few months ago
and demanded his removal. me Presi-
dent stuck by the official and Mr.. bristow
now has no intention OF leaving the gov
eminent service. A transfer OF the duues
of the First Assistant to the Fourth As
sistant, and vice versa, could readiiy De
made.
The Postmaster General is recognized as
the political member of the Cabinet ana
it is proposed that he shall have direct
supervision of the REORGANIZATION OF the
fourth class postmasters. If these omces
should be given over to the First ASSIST
ant. 1t would amount to putting them
under the immediate control of the Posi-
master General on account OF the close
relationship between the Postmaster Cen
Grad and the First Assistant, both per-
sonally and officially.
AT present the Fourth Assistant Is the
furthest removed from the Postmaster
General Of all the assistants. In the alb
sence of the Postmaster General the po-
sition of acting Postmaster General is as
sumed by the assistants in their numeri-
cal order. 1t can be seen, therefore. that
it would be an important item to nave
the appointments of the fourth class post
masters directly under the eye of the
Postmaster General. and this can be &C
complished by a change in the duties of
the First and Fourth Assistants.
1t has always been the custom to order
| wholesale dismissals among The fourth
| class postmasters with every change in
| the administration. These places are now
practically the only ones outside of the
classified service, and 1t Is evident that
| the Republicans propose to work them
| for all they are worth. AS postmasters
of this grade are not commissioned for a
stated period. there would be no difficulty
! in making changes. In recent years it has
been the practice to keep a postmaster
| in office for four years provided ne Is
satisfactory to all hands. 1t Is no infre-
quent thing. however, for man to be
removed merely to make room for an
| other. The local Congressman, provided
| he be Republican under the existing or
| der of things. is the sole judge of wh1
| shall be appointed. IL the local Congress
man is Democrat the appointment is
| placed at the disposal OF the Republican
| Senator from the State provided there be
| one. If not. the chairman of the Repub-
| lican State Committee. or the State Com
| mittee or the National COMMITTEE is au-
| thoTized to say who shall get the offices.
| Postmaster General Payne could accom-
| plish wonders in the way of building up a
| political machine with 10000 appointments
| of this kind at his disposal. He has had
more years of training at the political
| game than any man in the President
| Cabinet His work has usually been laid
| out on broad lines. especially during Pres
| idential campaigns, so he would be thor
| oughly familiar with the steps necessary
| to establish, a big political machine ex-
| tending over vast territory.