The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-09-14
PAYNE AND
TODD CASE
Postmaster Generals Explanation Of
PostmistreSs' Removal.
WAS OFFENSIVE PARTISAN
says He Had to Treat Alice Like
Any other senatOr-ItOw the Rule
Regarding Federal Pat
ronnge Works.

Washington, Sept 1.-THE postmas
ter general has made the following
statement in regard TO the case of Miss
Todd, the postmistress removed from
her position at Greenwood, Del, be
cause she was obnoxious 70 Senator
Alice.
~There Is no law, regulation or rule
which applies to the department or The
civil service commission regarding
changes in fourth class post offices, ex
cepting that under the administration
OF President Mckinley an informal rule
was adopted that d postmaster should
not be considered as liable to removal
until he had served a term Of fogi
years unless for some cause affecting
the propriety or ability of the postmas
ter holding the Office.
when I became postmaster general
/ endeavored to prevent the removal Of
postmasters Of the fourth class. even
after they had served four years un
less il was for some good cause. but
there never was such a rule formally
adopted | am pleased to say that foi
the most part senators and members OF
congress have acquiesced in the wish
Of the department.
There appears to be an impression
that after q fourth class postmaster
has been permitted To remain beyond
four years that he should then. by Gus
tom, be permitted to remain another
fun term Of four years.
mo such custom has ever obtained
and the practice Of removing these Oil
cials at the pleasure Of the postmaster
general las prevailed, believe, since
the foundation Of the government until
the modification which was put into
effect during the term Of President Ne.
Kinley The civil service laws do not
apply in any respect to fourth class
postmasters
The BaII-AlIee Contract.
when the two Republican senators
We're elected III Delaware they werl
put ia their relations to the administra
ton upon the same footing as any 9th
er Republican United States senator
and We're made advisers OF the depart
ment concerning the appointment o
postmasters III the state Of Delaware
For their convenience the state WA
divided, senator Ball taking the north
ern half Of the state and Senator Ala
taking the southern half This praetie
has prevailed in many Of the othe
states and IS not single to Delaware
Greenwood is located in Senator Al
lees district
Zone Of the rules governing the AZ
ton of postmasters IL that 4 pose,naste
shall not allow his oiiice to be made I'll
headquarters Of a political party on
faction Of q political party nor shall h
be aggresslvely active in stirring ri
fractional quarreis, political or othei
wise
Mics Todd who was removed frou
the office lit Greenwood allowed lie
office to be III effect the headquartet
of and her family ana herself to be til
most active factors in political quar-
rel inside the Republican party Til
she virtually admitted IN her Interview
with me and according TO the rule re
ferred to above, was sufficient caus
for her removal
Undoubtedly It would be great Il
lief to the department If the tenure O
Office OF fourth class postmasters wer
permanent and lble during a perio
Of good behavior, but this rule has neY
er obtained under any administration
and no attempt has been made towar
establishing such d rule until the pres
ent administration. Postmaserships 3
all classes have been universally recol
nized as political appointments. nd
civil service appointments, and II
claim has heretofore been made tina
they We're under the civil service law.
THE department in dealing with ser
ators and members Of congress mus
treat them uniformly MT Alice IS
senator Of the United States. iust a
much as Senator Hoar Of Massachi
setts is a senator"
The statements Of officials in the po'