Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-02

Presidents clerical force to the office of
local postmaster received the Endorsement
of the Post Office Department. President
Roosevelt, 1t Is understood, was determined
on the appointment. and when his desire
was communicated to Postmaster General
Cortelyou. the latter strongly Endorsed MI.
Barnes for the position. According to in
formation gained this morning from re-
liable source, the initiative in the matter
did not come from the Postmaster General,
but from the White House.
Mr.. Barnes is a Citizen.
In various quarters today there was a
story that Mr.. Barnes was not citizen of
the United States. having never been nat
uralized
When Mr.. Barnes was asked by q Star
reporter today about the story that he Ia
not a naturalized citizen of this country.
having been born in Canada, he said:
Yes, have heard that story before. but
there is nothing in It. My father was
native-born American citizen. He had con-
siderable business in Canada, and my par
ents were In that country when l was
born. That is all there is to 1t. / have been
In the United States ever since l was
child. and did not need naturalization
papers"
A number of callers at the White House
today dropped In on Mr.. Barnes to con-
graduate him upon his selection post
master of this city. and he expressed his
appreciation of their kindly feeling. There
were no local visitors, however.
His Civil Service Record
The record of Mr. Benjamin Franklin
Barnes filed with the civil service commits
sion does not state that Mr. Barnes Ia q
citizen of the United States or has ever
been naturalized. He has taken three ex
amInations held by the civil service COM
mission. The first. for clerk in the de-
partmental service. is dated June 4, 1887.
The second, for stenographer and type
writer. is dated September g.. 1887, and
the third about 1897. The papers in the
latter case are not on record with the civil
service commission, and have probably
been destroyed. as the general rule Is to
dispose of them after five years. In his
first examination he states that to the best
of his knowledge he was born in Yarmouth
Nova Scotia. on December 3, 1868. and that
his home Is at Vineland. N J.. and that his
employment is as clerk In dry goods house.
He also AYERS that since making the ap-
plication he has suffered from slight
weakness of the eyes, from which he has
recovered. This examination was taken in
trenton. n. J., and his signature is B.
Frank Barnes The second examination
was taken In Philadelphia He gave his
residence as 61S Arch street. Philadelphia,
and he further states that he passed the
general examination held by the civil serv-
Ice commission Some time before. He AYERS
in both papers that he was born of Ameri-
can parentage. From the way the record
appears IL seems as though Mr.. Barnes left
the service for some time The next time
MIR. Barnes is heard of, according to the
record. is on January 80, 1903; he is trans
ferred from a salary of So, 900 In the office
of the President to a cierkship in the Of
flee of the supervising architect of the
treasury at salary of $500. 1t appears
that in May, 1901. he was transferred back
TO the White House as assistant secretary
30 the President at a salary of s., 500. and
later made a clerk at 81. 600.
An Ill-Advised Appointment.
There appears to be pretty well de-
fired sentiment on the part of members OF
the House of Representatives that the APP
PCintment of Benjamin F. Barnes, assist
ant secretary to the President as postmas-
ter at Washington. was exceedingly Had
yised. There appeared TO be a very
strong sympathy with the people of the
District of Columbia on the situation. Very
few members were willing to be quoted in
encouragement OF the appointment con-
tcntfng themselves, in large measure with
private but forceful expression of their
views.
One of the most influential members OF
the House expressed himself In this man
ner on the subject to Star reporter today:
II said this representative, members
or congress IN making post office appoint
ments in their district showed as little con-
sideratton for local sentiment as the Presi-
dent has evinced on this occasion, not one
or these members would ever be returned 10
Congress for second term
Representative Sims of Tennessee, a
member of the House District committee
and man who Is largely interested In Dis
trtct affairs, thought the appointment was
In the nature OF an injustice to the people
of Washington.
A local man certainly should have been
appointed postmaster of this city," ne said.
The appointment Of Assistant Secretary
Barnes without giving the people OF Wash
Y s. a n rhaty ,af
erence. was undemocratic, unrepresentative
and un-American. The city postmastership
IL essentially one that should go to rep
resentative local business man.
AT all events, the people of the city
should have been consulted in the matter
Citizens OF the national capital have no
vote and very few privileges that are the
natural rights OF people In the states. and
it would certainly not seem to be too much
10 permit them to have a hand In the nam
Ing OF appointees to such an Office as this
Moreover. there are additional well-known
reasons why the appointment is naturally
distasteful to the people Of Washington
ana under the circumstances anything but
wise and just"
Representative Loudenslager OF New Jer-
sey told The Star man that he thought the
citizens OF Washington were entitled to
nave the city postmastership go to a local
man.
Many other members of the House ex-
pressed themselves in this way. Many
others recalled the Morris incident and re-
marked that even II President Roosevelt
held Assistant Secretary Barnes free from
blame I'm that lamentable affair that he
might at least have given some thought to
the attitude of the people of Washington
on the subject and If ne desired 10 reward
Mr. Barnes to put him some place else. As
stated, the gtst Of sentiment seemed to be
largely In this direction, although members
OF the House have become very chary OF
late In expressing themselves along lines
that would be accepted as personal crit
icism Of the President.
Objected to by Lawyers.
The appointment by the President OF Mr..
Benjamin F. Barnes to be postmaster for
this city was the subject OF animated dis
cussiou today among lawyers and others
having business at the city hall Express
stons OF opinion adversely criticislng the Sc
lection of Mr.. Barnes were freely made by
many. while few upheld the appointment.
Mr.. r. Ross Perry. when seen by A re
porter FOR The star. expressed the fear that
has convictions in the premises were so
radical that they would not appear well IN
print, lie. however reduced his views 10
writing Ia the following language:
1t Ia a matter Of very general regret
that the President should manifest so little
regard for the wishes or opinions OF the
residents OF this District Apparently he
thinks that we should be governed as the
Romans governed a conquered PROVINCE