The National tribune., 1902-02-20
FOURTH-CLASS POSTMASTERS.

A Lively Row Brewing Over the Depart
ment's Stand Against Arbitrary Re-
| movals.
There is the beginning Of n fine row in
the House of Representatives over the re-
port that fourth-class postmasters, by in
structi0Rs from the POstmaster-General
and as supposed. from the President orig
inHlly, were hereafter not to be removed
except for cause. As the fourth-class post
| masters in every rural district constitute
the Republican machines on which mem
hers of the House depend for the elonga-
ton of their political careers, the dsmay
ca aused by these tidings can be imagined.
II the instructions are rigidly enforced
and Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General
BriStow says that the intention is to en-
force them igarOusly-postmasre in ru-
raj communities with efficient records will
be turning up their noses at Congressional
iHcumhents
The usual routine method of changing
fourth-class postmasters has been on the
Endorsement of the Republican members
Of Congress for the district. Where there
are no Republican Congressman the task
falls upon Republican Senators from the
State. If there are no Republican Scna-
tors and no Republican Members of Con
gress the National COmmitteeman's in
ter arrangement prevails now in most of
the Southern States. When Democratic
Administrations rule the Republic the
same plan. with minor variations az to de
tails, has prevailed for Senators, Members
and National Committeeman OF that party.
The Endorsements are kept run Of by the
Appointment Clerk in the Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster Generals office. and Con
gressmen have been in the habit of doing
most Of this business through him. Mr..
Rristow has been appealed to when il was
desired to hasten an appointment or when
there was a fight on over any particular
sffice.
When Mr.. Bristow was called on last
week TO make some changes desired ny
Representatives he made known the pol
icy OF the Department against any
changes except foT cause.
The question Of the four years. term
was raised, and Mr.. BriStow called at
tention to the fact that the commissions
II these noStmaSterS, which are issued
by the Fourth Assistant Pnstmaster-Gen-
-ral. hut not signed by the President. are
not for four. years, but run on indefinitely
till successor is chosen Therefore,
while it may be necessary for the re-
newal OF the postmaster's bond. there is
20 need for new commission for him at
the end OF every four years.
II is. said that the new plan meets with
he fall approval of the older Republican
Members Of Congress. who have been here
= long time. In the States where there
,re sharp factional quarreis among the
Republicans the pressure for frequent
"hanges- among the fonrth-elass postoffices
is great. Pennsylvania is State that
gives the Department considerable trouble
n that regard. hut Indiana leads all other
States. The outcome Of party fight in
a County there il often made the basis |
for claim TO change fourth-class post |
masters so that the victorious wing of the |
Republican party of that County may be |
promptly rewarded.
Postmastcr-GeDeral Payne takes the no |
sition that it is not good business or polt |
ical policy ta throw one good Republican !
out of office and make ar enemy of him !
simply to reward some other Republican |