The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND VIEWS.

Psynes recent decision with regard to fourthcass post
mssershiP will precpita,e fight Of proportions
ana mat II will in the end prove to another Of the many
FEATURES which now seem BE- working toward the disrup
ton partial o. otherwise Of The republican party aud to
the ultimate sscendeney Of the democrats
ms plan OF Mr. Paynes told OF in the Washing
ton dispatches 10 The Post not long ago, to take the
iourth'cass postoces entirely the hands OF the poll
tcians and TO throw around them least during the time
the republican party is in power protection Of the civil
service In other words the effect OF the policy will
% 10 prevent congressman National committeeman and poll
TEXANS IN general from bringing about the dismissal Of
iour,helas posmasters simply by indicating 70 tho depart
ment their desires in the premises Of the class
named are 70 be removed only for cause and where
clean record can be shown no Of political nfu
enee IS to be allowed disturb the postmaerhat is
ar Paynes idea is fully carried out very decided pro
test went up from republican congressman and spolsmen
Seneal ~hen the preliminary cocernng the
matter was given out and is plain that Mr. Payne will be
gwen 10 understand that his decision by popular
inc ohcial order covering the has been proul
gated as yet but when does and the politicians find
that the new postmaster general really there
no doubt that very lively fight will be evidence The
average republican congressman regards the ourhas
otees as his legitimate preserves He depends large
extent on his influence with regard to such offices elon-
gate his political career and TO be informed suddenly
ne Is TO no longer have the privilege of naming and
ing posmasters is very decided blow him lie
templates with hsurative horror the possibility Of low
salared postmaster small town in his district turn
ing his in royal disregard OF the congressman
the man who in former days i'm position to make or
unmake his constituent so far a the office Of postmaster
was concerned.
- e.
Fourth Assistant Postnsster General Bristoo c, me-
that the new rule is DC rgidy enforced and that IN cf
feet no amount Of opposition the part corsosscu or
others viii Mr. Payne change his mind The reason
Tor Mr. Paynes serene and position will readily
apparent when 1t is stated thar the general Impression IS
that the president has given his unqualified approval 10 tho
plan and that in fact he originated is said thai he be-
eve the efficiency OF the viii be promoted u po
ues IS not allowed to cut such 6sure ha, formerly in
the appointment OF the iourh-lo po'mssers and that the
oes possible results will be attained by keeping office
those men whose records all that hey should be-
Heretofore the fourth misunderstanding have de-
pended FIRST on the Recommendation republican repre-
sentatives In States which republicans on their
delegations in the house the been passed up 70
the republican senator's In the that State SO
fortunate as to have republican senator's the
matter Of recommendations with regard small postoccs
has been placed in the hands the committeeman
The latter arrangement prevails OF the Southern
States and in the absence evidence to the con
"ary may be said to prevail Te>a. in which State the
tourthcass posmasers have been wont to look ON Mr.
Hawley as their political godiathcr
X
I'm the Northern States which send republican DELEGATIONS
to congress- and in which the personnel tho delegations
from which is usually changed every two years great deal
OF trouble has been caused to the pos,oce department it is
SAID by the frequent changes which recommended in the
small postotfees The tacou OF the republican party that
wins year will OF reward 70, hencllur
when me offices bsng distributed Az the next election
the other faction might win, would want to have
uudsurbed control Of the distribution of political ME
These frequent changes hardly rebound TO the best in
errtS OF the postal service OF course and it is said that the
president and Mr. Payne deeidq on the new olau had
IN view the correction Of these yer, abuses
While postofhce department official, say that ,h. new
rule win he rsdly enforced they admit that some execution,
will be made and may that after ALL the ,u,pb,r m
will be SuNf
ccmplishment OF all tie good contemplated b the presI,
aud the postmaster general These exceptions IL is stated
viii he made in the Of those congressman who have nj
ready pledged themselves this or that constituent and
they viii be allowed dll the promises made prior to the
determination the Of the postmaster general to
make change in the existing order Of things
Two o. trroc other matters OF rtcres, IN connection
with the postal setvic have DEVELOPED dur,us On, past few
days One Of th,se the omission the po,,d appro
pr,aon hill OF the sls,ooo which or some ne mas,
has been paid annually the Pennsylvans railroad a,
subsidy to encourage the fast running Of trains between
this city and New York Whether or NOT the subsidies IN;
this and other have really increased efficiency OF
the service be doubted and is said that the members
Of the appropriation committee realizing this fact resolved
to cut out the item mentioned above and make that cut the
initial step in general movement looking total abo
iou of the subsidies Under the present bill however the
subsidy paid the Southern and Louisville and Nashville
railroads for transporting the fast mails between this ctv
and New Orleans is allowed remain as is that paid to
the Santa re for the last mail service between Kansas City
and Newton, Kau
Texas vitality interested both OF these matters in
asmuch large OF mail goes there the Kansas
City and Newton route and still larger amount goes from
points in the North and East via Washington and New Or
leans There is really believe that the service
will be crippled in any way if the payment Of subsidies is
stopped entirely for that it is likely that
the railroads interested could afford trains on
slower schedules than prevail present
%E
Another feature OF considerable afforded BY
that item in the postal appropriation bill which provides that
the rural free delivery service shall be taken the civil
service and handled through with private indi
vuals Under the OF the bill the carriers
present in the rural service their positions
until such time the department advertise for bids
and let Tor the carrying OF the rural mail An bid
ders provided must be hde residents of the dis