Evening journal., 1903-09-05
Administration Officials
Compelled Senators to
Come to Understanding
Months AgO-ExpIained
to Postal Authorities
Generally Supposed That
None of the Old OF
fciaIs Would Be Re
moved for Political
Reasons

"I absolutely deny that Senator Alice
and myself modes any written agreement
regarding the Federal patronage for
Delaware" said Senator L. H. Ball this
morning when he was asked about the
sensational story sent out from Dover
last night aud printed in most Of the
morning papers to the effect that he
and Senator Alice had signed an agree
ment by which DR.. Ball was to make
the Federal appointments for New
Castle county and Senator Alice those
for Kent and Sussex counties. ltswas
Furthermore stated in the story that
this document had been filed in the
archives in Washington.
Senator Ball Talks.
Senator Ball was loath to talk about
the matter when he was first seen to-
day but when he was told Of the state
ment made lie consented to give an ac-
curate statement Of the affair. He
said
After the election Senator Alice and
/ We're in washington and officials Of
the administration forced us to come
to an agreement about the apportion-
ment of the Federal appointments. We
had verbal understanding that the
recommendations of Senator Alice as
to the filing Of Federal vacancies in
Keno and Sussex counties should be
accepted by the administration and
that my recommendation forihiA1g The
same kind of vacancies in New Castle
county should be given the same treat
llent, but there was never d written
agreement signed by me.
Did Not Provide For oustins.
This did not provide for the creat-
ing of vacancies in either OF the three
counties but was made solely in re-
gard 20 the fling OF vacancies made
by the expiration of terms or by death
Informed Postal Officials.
after we had reached the agree
ment which was satisfactory to the
administration we went to the post
office department and told the officials
Of the agreement. When the Todd
case came Up & few days ago again
told Postmaster General Payne of the
agreement and tried to impress upou
him that the agreement did not con-
template the creating of vacancies in
such a manner"
Old Officials to Stay.
There are a number of people in
the State who have known of the
agreement and their understanding OF
1t has been exactly as gwen by Sena-
tor Ball. 1t has been understood thai
the present ~---- holders were not tC
be disturbed.
Senator Alice IS quoted as making
this statement IN Dover yesterday:
1--WE are working under an agree
ment which. Immediately after We
came TO terms about the matter, W,
made in writing before administration
officials at Washington. The instru.
ment was signed and sealed ana dc.
nvered TO a department official a
Washington for safekeeping in th'
archives there"
Mr. Payne Talks.
For tho first time since the re.
nioval OF Miss Ihildah B. Todd as post
master at Greenwood, Sussex county
secause she was particularly and per
onally" obnoxious 10 Senator Alice
Postmaster General Payne yesterda,
Fas willing to discuss the matter.
He referred TO an agreement betweel
he Senators but did not say that Jher
vas q signed contract.
In giving reasons for the action
taken Mr.. Payne said that after tn
state had undiy eiecteu Two Sena
tors the Senators got together AM
agreed to divide the patronage. AM
that the agreement was satisfactory Il
the Postmaster General Senator Allie
took the patronage in Kent and SUISSE;
counties and Senator Ball took that il
r.a,v Castle county. This arrange
nebt appeared to work satisfactorily
and Mr.. Payne said that when tn
name Of n successor to Miss Todd wa
presented to him by Senator Alice h
gave his approval as a matter Of cours
and did not pay particular attention t
the subject, as il was in line with tn
agreement made by Senator Ban wit
the Postmaster General and Senate
Alice.
Several of those interested are no'
demanding that Senator Alice pro
duce the signed contract or q copy o
it.