The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-12-05
C0NCRESSMEN'S
MANY TROUBLES
Problem Of Finding Places
for Hungry Constistuents
a Hard One to Solve.
THE STATE WELL REPRESENTED
SOME OF THE CLERKsHIPs ARE
NOT UNDER THE CIVIL SER
VICE RULES AND THEY GIVE
MOST WORRY.

/ WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. 1905.-Con-
| gressmen have troubles Of their own, and
New Jersey Representative are no ex-
| ception to the general rule. With the
adoption Of the civil service rules and
examinations for positions in the differ
ent departments they were relieved Of
much annoyance. At the Capitol. how
tions and appointments to the different
positions are not always made because
of the peculiar fitness of the individual
for the place, but because he happens to
be the protege of some Congressman to
whom the position has been assigned as
his share of the House patronage.
/ New Jersey has Jared well for dozen
years, SO far as the distribution of pat
ronage is concerned. When the voters
of New Jersey swept the race track gam
blers out of power and elected John w.
Griggs Governor of New Jersey a solid
delegation of Republican Congressman
was elected. There was general reor-
ganization of the force Of employees of
the House of Representatives.
AS usual there was a general scramble
of the Congressmen to get all the
"plums' possible from the patronage
tree" A combination was formed Of
some of the Western Congressman, and
some of the Eastern representatives were
allowed to participate 1t was humor-
ously known as the ''hog combine" but
/ its originators were successful in carry
ing out some ideals" and those who par
ticipated were taken care of. in accord
with the agreement.
It was found that the votes of the
New Jersey delegation could be used in
carrying out some of the deals affect
ing the patrona ge of the House of Rep
resentatives. Representative H. G. Lou
denslager, of Camden, had served one
term in Congress. He was, therefore.
better posted about the division of the
spoils'' than his colleagues, fresh from
the Mosquito State, to make their debut
in the halls Of the national legislative
body.
Mr.. Loudenslager was approached by
some of the men interested in the ''com-
| bine." He conferred with his colleagues,
and New Jerseys share of the patronage
was apportioned among the Congress
men If Mr.. Loudenslager got the lions
! share it was not to be wondered at, since
4 he was instrumental in the Jerseymen
getting more than would have fallen to
their lot had they remained outside of
the combine"
| 1t is expected that New Jersey will
lose one of the places which has been
charged up against the State ever since
the late Vice-President Garret A. Ho-
bart was first elected. Among the posi-
tions which fell to the lot Of the Vice
4 President was one of chief telegrapher
/ of the Senate. Mr.. Hobart brought
William Jeffers. Of Hackensack down,
and he was installed in charge of the
telegraph business of the Senate. He
filled the place with ability for several
years.
/ Mr.. Jeffers is an expert telegrapher.
He made scores of friends among the
Senators. When Vice-President Hobart
/ died he was so popular that he held the
position indefinitely. which is not often
the case, for as soon as an employee at
the Capitol loses his influence" his head
/ generally falls into the basket without
any delay Mr.. LETTERS. it is expected,
will be named for postmaster at Hacken-
sack, and his place will probably be filed
by the appointment of some friend or
protege of Vice-President Fairbanks.
AS a result this will be distinct loss
to New Jersey.
John NJ. Biddle, of Elizabeth. is secre-
tary for United States Senator John
Kean. He also acts as clerk of the
Senate committee on contingent ex-
penses. Mr.. Biddle is exceptionally well