The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-19
Popular Department Change.


 It Is doubtful if any departmental changes of consequence have been re- ceived with more general approval than the retirement of Eugene Ware as Pension Commissioner, and the ap- pointment in his place of Representa- tive Vespasian Warner of Illinois. Mir. Ware undoubtedly proved himself an honest officer, but he was severely ex- acting in hist enforcement of discipline and exercised often what was regarded peculiar and obnoxiously eccentric methods of enforcing his ideas. What first most hurt the feelings of old em- ployes was a public order extravagant- ly eXtolling clerk from Georgia named Wiggins because he had never asked for leave on account of sickness or any other cause for a year. Then he afrronted every one of the yeraclouS clerks by having posted in a consplc- uous place placard bearing the legend, "The Lord Hates Liar" As soon as Mir. Ware quit office the pen sion bureau workers were greatly re- lieved when one morning laborer came along with n brush and with Q few sweeps of a brush erased the of fensive inscription. . .
 Colonel Warner, the new Pensions Commissioner, Is serving his tenth year, or fifth term, in Congress. His home is at Clinton, H., and has rep resented the Nineteenth District. He has always been a Republican, but not of the partisan sort and is one of the most popularf members of the House. especially among the Southern mem bers. He learned to respect the South ern people while a Union soldier. Ills merit as a soldier he proved by rising from the ranks to command the 20tb Illinois Infantry. His service carried him with the armies of the West into Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. After the war he was grad uated In law from Harvard University and was Judge Advocate General Of the Illinois State Guard when he en- tered politics and was elected to Con- gress. Colonel Warner 1t Is believed. will make a popular and successful commissioner, satisfactory to all par ties. He was one oT the candidates for Governor in Illinois previous to the last Republican State Convention, and had he been more In the State than att tending Congress would have doubtless been chosen as-the Republican candI- date.
 Passing of BriStOW.
 When Postmaster General Wynne is- sued his order transferring from Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Joseph L. Bristow, the postofice inspection service. it produced large sensation in both legislative and executive circles but it was nothing to the thrill which followed the news that Bristow. ansNred by the curtailment of his power. had resigned.
 The fourth assistant postmaster gen eral. notwithstanding the unpleasant duties which had developed upon him during the postoffice investigations re- tained not a few friends who stoutly insist that he has always been a square man; and. it is not to be doubt cd that he made many enemies Some Of these were among the innocent as well us the guilty. His report to Con gress. which was in response to a joint resolution inquiring into the results of his investigations with his force of postoffice inspectors classed rather in- discriminatory in use of names of numerous Congressman. Senators and Representatives. as having practiced undue influences in the department.
 This made him an object of criti- cism. not to say execration, which at one time threatened to break up party discipline among the Republicans of the House. It was only by the most vigorous and persuasive efforts of Senator Lodge and other emissaries from the White House that peace was patched up and the offended members appeased. But they have not forgot ten Bristow'S superserviceabIe zeal, as