The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-02
ey w. w: Jermane.
Special to The Journal. . .-....


Washington, March "A good many claims
and countercaims have been made thruout South
Dakota as to patronage questions in Washington
affecting the state, and these have been ill.,
creased in number since the falling out of the
delegation. Senator Kittridge and Representa-
tives Martin and Burke are in one camp and
Senator Gamble is alone in the other, and neither
VIII yield on patronage matters, with the result
that ther Is deadlock that may last until
after the state convention.
A fair recital of the South Dakota patronage
story from the Washington viewpoint ought to be
Of interest to all the republicans Of that state.
In 1901, Senator Gamble and Representatives
Martin and Burke-they then being the repub-
lcan representatives from that state-entered
into an agreement whereby they We're to act
Jointly on all federal appointments. and further
that Senator Gamble should have voice in the
selection Of postmasters. The fourth class post
Offices were divided alternately between the
representatives, but Gamble was conceded the
right to act concerning them should he SO
elect, as in the case Of the presidential Offices.
Afterwards Senator Kittridge was appointed
and he came In under the agreement. This
cooperation was continued without q break until
last December, when Senator Gamble feeling
that he would be outvoted three to one in any
conference that might be held under the old
agreement. refused to so into conference until
some understanding could be had with the presi-
dent and postmaster general Senator Kittridge
and the two representatives straightway claimed
that Senator Gamble, by refusing to go into the
conference, had forfeited all claims to patronage
| and that they were henceforth entitled to dis
pense 1t, under the old agreement, they being a
majority.
President Takes a Hand.
| Under the practice growing out Of the agree.
| ment of 1901, the representatives had the same
rights as to general state patronage the sena-
tors, and the senators the same rights as the
representatives to postoffces.
Senator Gamble 1t is asserted here, at no
| time asked for more recognition by the president
and postmaster general than would cover one
fourth Of the state patronage. In this connec-
ton it may be stated that the total salaries of
presidential postoffces in the state practically
equal the combined calaries of the federal ap
pointees.
| The president, recognizing that the differences
arising in the delegation were irreconcilable
| concluded on the whole that it would be better
| to Invoke the customary rule to patronage
and SO he gave the postoffce patronage to the
representatives and the general patronage to the
senators. This solution of the problem is ii
line with the practice in all the rest of the
states, and puts Gamble and Kittr1dge On ar
equal footing, giving to each fourth Of thu
general patronage. With this arrangement botl
| senator's are said to be fully satisfied. Instead
of having one-fourth of the total patronage o
the state, each senator now is to have one-hal
Of the general patronage.
All postoffce appointments have been held u
by Senator Gamble until some solution could b
had Of the" entire patronage problem, and her
| the matter for the present rests. .-
! There are seventeen presidential postoffce
in South Dakota. The terms Of the present in
cumbents will expire in twenty -four Of them be
fore June 3, this year, the date Of the stat
convention. OF the eight postmasters appoint
ed by the president on Feb. 1, two were ne,
? appointments and six reappointments. Unde
. the rule recently invoked by the postmaste
general and approved by the president, where til
record of postmaster is good, he will be real
: pointed without political Endorsements, and
| is learned that a considerable number of til
present postmasters in South Dakota will b
protected by this rule.
The terms of fourth class postmasters are nc
limited to four years, but are indefinite. Change
9 in these positions infrequent, and made on]
a for cause. g.. 49,. ~ - 49,.
d Appointments Held Up.
a At the recent conference which Senators XII
| fridge and Gamble had with the president, IL
latter gave them to understand that appoin
u ments to positions in which they interestt
would be made until they had reached an agre
j.. ment regarding them. From present indication
such agreement is not likely to be reach'
il soon. The only recommendation so far made
!. this class Of patronage, and over which the
is conflict Is that for district attorney the ca
a didates for which position J. D. Elliott, re
ct commended by Senator Gamble. and A. @. Be
ID natzski, recommended by Senator Kittridl
rs During the deadlock, Mr.. Elliott will remain
D. office.
I'd Both sides of the deadlock profess to be p,
N fectly satisfied with the outlook. The postms
~, tiers will be appointed from this time ON by t
- representatives, excepting in the senator's hol
e se towns, the same as is done in all the ott
Or states Of the union, and the two senators W
IN continue to lock horns over the general fedel
By patronage until after the state convention, Will
p will decide which side is to carry the day.
. This is fair statement of the situation a
ne If it does not square with great many thir
OF OF that have been said and published over I
W state, so much the worse for those things.
w In the senate and at the White House.
airr senator cuts as much Of figure the 9th
in and neither Of them can do anything as long