The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-10
Law First, Then the Courts
Opinion as to the Con-
stitutiol.
Trouble Over Cortelyou's
Policy as to Appointment
of POStrnasterS. >
John Goodnow Living in
Fine Style in Shanghai
Mansion.
BY w. w. Jermane.

~ ance Commissioner T. D.
O'Brien Of Minnesota, &C
companied by Commissioners Host of
Wisconsin,, Carroll Of Iowa and the in
surance commissioners of Tennessee,
Mississippi, Kansas, Massachusett and
the District of Columbia, today called
on the president by previous appoint
ment and discussed with him the ques-
tion of whether it would be possible
for congress, without violating the con-
stitution, to pass bill placing insur-
ance under the federal government, in
accordance with the suggestions con-
tanned in the PRESIDENT message to
congress-. =
The conference lasted for half an
hour, but it was not productive of def
mite results. The president and his Wis
itors felt that it was desirable for the
government to take control of insur-
ance, and the insurance commissioners
from the south were as strongly of this
opinion as. those from states farther
north. Nobody however, was i'll posi-
ton to say what the supreme court
would hold as to the constitutionality
~ . : = =.
of such a. law 49,, w. ..,,s.: -
It was finally agreed, however, that
the thing to do was to push for legisla-
- ton, and leave to the courts the decis-
ion of the. constitutional question:.
This will be done. The president will
"stand pat' on his message recon-
mendation, and the insurance commits
sioners who were here promised him
that sentiment in their respective
states would indorse him.
Clash With Cortelyou. +
Dissatisfaction with the postmaster
generals policy relative to presidential
postmasters has become so great among
some of the republican members of the
house that they have taken to- discuss
ing it to the exclusion of matters OF
legislation.
A member of the Minnesota delega-
ton, who is outside the controversy be-
cause he has his own postmasters In
office and is willing they shall stay
there, but who has kept in touch with
the situation, said today:
~ "When you see three or four or a
half dozen republican members of con-
, gress in earnest confab these days, they
are not discussing rate legislation, MOI
the Panama canal, nor international
peace, but the postmaster generals or
der. I went to two hotels last night
and found such groups in the Hobbies.
-e~s 9'Now that it is known that Mr.
Cortelyou, backed by the president
meant what he said when he promul
gated the new rule, sentiment in regard
to the department 8 policy has beer
,rvsta LIKING and a size-up Of the situa
vion shows it to be about as follows
Fifteen or twenty republican house
members are well satisfied with the new
policy. AS many as fifty. have ex
pressed a determination not to have
nything more to do with the postof
ice department, so far as recommend
No men for appointment as postmasters
S concerned. They will inform the de
)artment that the filling Of these posi-
ions isSa purely executive function
nd that the department can 60 aheae
nd do as it pleases. Still anothe
lunch, the hot-heads, are advocating
he adoption Of legislation providing
or the election of postmasters In cities
f 10000 population or less. .l~,.
Mlnnesotans Interested.
In this connection it can be state
hat six Of the nine members of tn
Minnesota delegation are vitality con
erned in the new policy Of the depart
rent. They are Volstead, Davis, Steen
rson, Bede and Buchanan of the new
nembers, and Tawney of the older men
4 rho is said to want to make som
3 aanges in his district. In the district
{ the first five, which were rearranget
lnder the '=sst apportionment, there ar
DIV many presidential postmasters VIII
I +ere appointed by former congressman
nd some of whom were actively op
iosed to the present members.
a ! Under the new policy, these member
an It put their own men into the post