The San Francisco call., 1904-02-24
Text Of Senator's
Note Concerning
Patronage.
Would Give House DelGga-
: ton a Voice in Making
- Appointments.
EIcsptS. Two San Francisco Offices
- II Els Initiative Toward a ReStO-
ration Of Harmony.
special Dispatch to The cali


CALL BUREAU, HOTEL BARTON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-RepubIican
members Of the California delegation
in the House held no formal meeting
to-day TO consider the matter of the
distribution Of Federal patronage be-
cause Of the illness Of Hon. Y. H Met
cali, who was compelled 10 leave the
" Capitol this afternoon and is confined
% MS room in the Arlington Hotel.
IndiVidual members Of the delegation
say there is no doubt as TO the ac-
ceptance. Of Senator Bard's proposi-
ton II concurred in by Senator Per
kins.
Following is the text Of the com
munication, as made 10 Representative
Metcalf for submission 10 the Repub-
-lican members of the House. Il viii
be noted that Senator Bard excepts, in
this initiative toward harmony. the
pending cases relating 10 Naval Of
fcer Of the Customs and Register Of
the Land Office in san Francisco.
Bard's notes read:
UNITED STATES SENATE. COM
NTTTEE OK IRRIGATION, WASH
INGTON, Saturday. Feb. 20. 1904
Hon. Y. H. Metcalf, House Of Repre-
sentatives-Dear Sir: I desire TO refer
10 a statement contained in your re-
cent letter, written by you 10 a gentle
man who is also my friend. and which
is placed in my hands for reasons that
/ have explained TO you in converse
ton with you this afternoon. The
statement is as follows:
The Republican members Of the
House from California have met and
gone over carefully the question of
Federal patronage. We unanimously
came 70 the conclusion that, mas
much as the Senators claimed all the
Federal patronage in the State. we
would not, where there was a division
and the Senators could not agree, in
dOrse any Of the candidates, our con-
tention being that the Federal patron
age should be at the disposal Of the
entire delegation and not under the
control Of the two Senators in this
matter, but let them fight il out be-
tween themselves
OLD RULE DISADVANTAGFOU
4 confirm your statements that as
rule, rarely infrnged, the Senators have
claimed and exercised the right to
recommend for appointment 10 Federal
Offices without formal consultation with
any member of the House delegation
and that there have been several cases
where the Senators appear to be in dis
agreement in regard TO certain appoint
rnents. Indeed at the present time there
are four Federal Offices occupied by in
cumbents whose terms have long ago
expired. and in some Of these cases no
HsN appointments have been made be-
cause the Senators could not agree.
When ] came 10 the Senate learned
that the Senators from each State
claimed the exclusive privilege of
recommending the Federal officers and
that California had been accustomed TO
follow this rule. There seems to me 10
be q good reason for the rule in the
consideration that the Senators were
exclusively responsible for confirmation
Of the Presidents nomination. but 1
could not understand. however. why the
Senators might not. with great pro-
rriety and in consideration of the public
interests as vel as Of the welfare and
harmony Of the party in control. con-
suit with and be guided in a large
measure by the advice Of members Of
the delegation in the other chamber, as
is the case with some Of the State dele
Rarions. j think 7 expressed myself
substantially TO this effect early IN my