The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-25
LET SENATORS
NAME OFFICERS
BAC0N'S IDEA OF PATRONAGE
AS 1T SHOULD OBTAIN IN THE
SOUTHERN STATES.

Georgia Senator Thinks the Presi-
dent should Consult Democratic
Senator's when 1t Comes to MAX
ing Federal Appointments In
Their stntes-PeopIe DO Not want
and Would Not Elect the Majority
of Once Holders or the Referees.
Washington, March 24.-The Senate
to-day passed the Indian appropriation
bill.
After the routine features of the bill
had been disposed of, Mr.. Bacon again
raised the question of civil service APP
pointments, basing his remarks upon
the statement made by Mr.. Hoar yes
terday to the effect that senators from
states of political faith different from
that of the President should be con-
suited in the matter of appointments
to office.
Mr.. Bacon characterized the utter
ance "as a most notable one" in con-
demnation of a system which practi-
cally disfranchses one-third Of the
people of the United States in the
matter of administration of the fed
eral laws in their midst" The pres
ent system was, he said. a denial of
the right of the people in this respect,
and the denial, said Mr. Bacon, was
especially felt in the South. 1t never
had been intended by the trainers Of
the government that any community
should be deprived of the right to be
consulted in the selection of federal
officers any more than in state or
county officers.
In the state of Georgia, with $780,
900 people, he said, there is not single
officer holder, with the exception of
an occasional postmaster, who would
have been selected by the people of
the state. The state also is without a
single representative in the consular
service. What was true of Georgia
was practically true of every Southern
state, and thus is one-third of the
country absolutely ignored in the dis
tribution of the federal offices
Takes Referees Instead.
Moreover it was intended that sem
ators should be consulted in the mat
ter of appointments, but instead of
consulting the senators the federal
authorities pass them by and consult
three referees, men who represent no
body and are appointed by no one in
the state, and 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 II Mr..
Bacon had been President instead of
Mr.. Cleveland he would have appoint
ed Republican officeholders on the adj
vice of the Republican senators from
Massachusetts. but Mr.. Bacon did not
make direct reply. He said that the
division should be along lines of intel
llgence and character rather than of
craftsmanship Where there are nor
NAL divisions" he said, the party in
power should appoint men of their
own faith" He would not say that in
the case Of Massachusetts,, for in
stance. a Democratic President should
confer with the senators from the
state in all matters of appointments
and that he should rely upon their adj
vice rather than upon that Of political
eheelers." But the conditions I'm the
south. he contended. are entirely diff
ferent from those existing In Massa-
chusetts or other Northern states.
The President should inform himself
as 10 the best interests OF the state
when about 70 make an appointment
In the state
Mr. Hoar stated that since the re-
tlrement OF Mr. Cleveland the nominal
tlons 10 the judicial positions IN the
South had had the Endorsement Of
Democratic senators from the SOUTH
ern states and Mr.. Bacon admitted
THIS had been the practice IN most
cases He made the point. however,
thar the judicial positions are come
paFatlveiy few IN number.
Noe 0iven fims 80 spsah.
Mr Bacon added that d was due %
conun1ad VA Eiflh lass.