Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-07
NEW PHASE SHOW N
SENATOR BALL SAYS MISS TODD'S
TIME HAD NOT EXPIRED. :
Discharged Postmistress Said to Have
Prepared Full Statement for
President Roosevelt.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
WILMINGTON. Del, September 7.-Sena-
tor Ball today contributed a new and I'M
portant phase to the agitation over the re-
movaI of Miss Huldah B. Todd as post
mistress at Greenwood Del, by Postmaster
General Payne, because she was parucu-
larly and personally obnoxious to Senator
ALE.
An impression had gotten out that the
reason why Miss Todd was removed was
because her time had expired, and that in
reality there was vacancy, which Senator
ALE, in accordance with his understand
ing with Senator Ball, had right to FILL
Senator Ball, however, declares that such
was not the case.
Senator Balls Statement.
Under a ruling of department officials"
said Senator Ball today, Miss Todd was
continued in office, my understanding being
that she was not to be molested unless
there should be cause for removing her
from Office. 1t Is true that she completed
her fourth year last October, and / took up
the matter with the department at that
time with the intention of recommending
her for reappCintment, but was informed
that as she held fourtheclass postmaster
ship reappontment was not necessary, the
understanding being that fourth-class post
masters were to remain in office except
where there was cause for removal, and at
the expiration of each four years all that
would be necessary would be for the in
cumbent to rebond.
Il conveyed this informal ton to Miss
Todd, and she rebonded last October, and
the impression at that time was that she
was to be continued in Office, in accordance
with the plan which had been outlined
to me-
Believed Her Secure
All of this it will be noticed, occurred
while Dr. Ball was representative, and the
only representative Delaware had in Wash
ington. At that time DR.. Ball had control
of the federal patronage in this state. and
it will be seen therefore that Miss Todds
official status was settled to his satisfac-
ton long before Ale became United
States senator. Representative Ban De
Heved that she was secure in her position.
When Senator Ball was asked today II
he had made any new move In the matter.
he replied that he had not. 1t is reported,
however, that Miss Todd herself has either
personally brought the matter to the at
tention of President Roosevelt or will do
so very shortly.
Payne Given Reminder.
When the removal of Miss Todd was be-
ing discussed with Postmaster General
Payne recently in Washington Senator Ball
reminded him of the agreement he and
Senator ALE had made, which Ball under
stood applied only to vacancies caused by
the expiration of the terms of incumbents
in office or by DEATH but not to the Great
ing of vacancies, except for cause.
Layton on the Case.
Secretary of State Layton in conversing
today relative to the removal of Miss Todd
as postmistress at Greenwood, declared
that she had never been recommended;
that she was appointed in March. 1893, and
her continuance to the present time was
but a hold-over The statement that she
was reappointed last October Secretary
Todd added, is not true. She merely re-
bonded, he said which is often required in
cases where either the bond is not salts
factory or owing to increased duties and
financial responsibilities.
AS to Miss Todd being the target of the
union republicans, Layton stated that they
waged war on no women, the object of at
tack being against the men who had her
appointed. AS she was appointed at the
suggestion of a handful Of regular repub-
licans In Sussex county, he declared who
were antagonistic and obnoxious to the
union republicans, just SO is she opposed
by the union republicans on the same
grounds.