The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-29

A%hSA Aa0 DcEn lulcDQGQ Dy the 1ram-
ers OF the government hat any commu-
nifty should be deprived Of the right 10
be consulted in the selection of Fed
eral officers. any more than in state or
county officers.
In the state of Georgia, with $500. OoJ
people, he said there is not a single
officeholder with the exception OF an
occasional postmaster. who would have
been selected by the people of the state
resentatiye in the consular service.
What was true of Georgia. was pracu-
caIy true of every Southern State and
thu is one-third of the country abso-
lutely ignored in the distribution OF the
Federal offices.
Moreover it was intended that Sena-
tors should be consulted in the matter
of appointments. but instead of con-
sulting the Senators. the Federal au-
thorities pass them by and consult
their referees, men who would not be
selected by the state.
Would any Republicans be elected
there?" asked Mr.. Spooner.
Mr.. Bacon answered in the negative
and when Mr.. Spooner pursuing the
inquiry further asked if there were no
good ones there. he replied, very few"
Mr.. Hoar asked whether il Mr.. Bacon
had been President instead of Mr..
- 49, "So
Republican officeholders on the advice
OF the Republican Senators from Mas
-~sachusetts. but Mr.. Bacon did not
make direct reply. He said hat the
division should be along lines OF intel
ligence and character, rather than OF
craftsmanship. Wherever there are nor
mai divisions" he said. t party in
power should appoint men Of their own
faith"
He would not say hat in the case Of
Massachusetts, for instance, a Demo
cratic President should confer with the
Senators from the state in all matters
Of appointments and that he should
rely upon their advice rather than upon
that of political "heelers." But the
conditions in the South he contended,
are entirely different from those exist
ing in Massachusetts or other Northern
States. The President should inform
himself as to the best interest OF the
state when about to max an appoint
ment in the state.
Mr.. Hoar stated that since the retire
ment of Mr. Cleveland the nomina-
lions to the judicial positions in the
South had had the endorsement of
Democratic Senators from the Southern
States, and Mr.. Bacon admitted this
had been the practice in most cases.
He made the point, however, that the
judicial positions are comparatively lew
in number.
Mr.. Bacon added that it was due to
the present President to say that he
had asked him (Mr. Bacon) to inform
him in case he knew of anything det-
rimental to an appointee, but that he
had not been able to do so. as he. knew
nothing about intended appointments
until names were sent in. Mr.. Bacon
disclaimed m desire to control ap-
pointments because of the patronage
;--o1f h,t -ni1 thn+ bic nn1U tntnrac%
was that Of securing competent Off
Gals.
In Illustration Of his point that tn
South is practically. disfranchised in.
Federal appointments, Mr.. Bacon sal!
that only one OF the isthmian canal
commissioners is from the South and
that of the min members of h Su-
preme court. only two men are of
Southern birth.
Mr.. Hoar sale that New England. IS
unrepresented on the canal commission
and Mr.. Bacon replied that if that was
the case. it was worth nothing, for 1t
was very rarely that New England is
overlooked in such matters. Mr.. Ba-
con also said that Notwithstanding the
South pays it's share Of the taxes, prac-
tically all the money expended on &C
count Of pensions is distributed in the
Northern States.
Mr.. Hopkins asserted that Illinois
paws as much internal revenue
as any seven or eight of the Southern
States, but Mr.. Bacon replied that It
is a fallacy to say that the money is
entirely collected n the state In
which it is paid in the way of taxes.
Early in the day Mr.. Gibson spoke in
support of his bill for h repeal of the
desert land. the timber and stone laws
and of the Communication clause Of the
homestead law.
The senate adjourned until tomor-