Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-30
POSTOFFICE FIGHT ENDED
Wesley j. Cook Has Been Named to Succeed
Himself in the Blair Office
SENATORS BRING PRESSURE ON OFFICIALS
Intimation Cook Must Bc ReappOintcd
or the Nominee would Not Bc
COnhrmcd-ConEresSmSn Ken
nedy Makes Statement.
lFrom a stan correspondentl

WASHINGTON, March 29.-(Special Telc-
gram 1.-The Blair postofficc fight has been
finally determined by the Postohice depart
ment through the reappontment of Wesley
J. Cook While the records i'm this case
may never be made public. 1t can with
truth be said that the Nebraska senator
put themselves on record in behalf of Nes-
ley J. Cook by indicating that they saw
no reason why he should not be reap
pointed This case has heen pending since
December %. and probably nifty letters are
on file in behalf OF Wesley y Cooks reap
pointment and In opposition thereto. while
il may he denied that intimations were
made to the Postoffice department that no
one would be confirmed in the senate unless
IL was Wesley J. Cook. your correspondent
has II from authentic sources that such
intimations were made.
Senator Millard in speaking Of the re-
nomination of Wesley J. Cook. said he was
glad that the matter was out Of the way
and would probably remove many heart
burnings.
Mr. Kennedy. in speaking Of the ab-
pointment OF Wesley ]. Cook. said: The
Postoffice department has reappointed Wes-
ley j. Cook postmaster at Blair absolutely
and entirely on its own responsibility. I
have had nothing whatever to do with the
appointment. Congressman were advised
that presidential postmasters who had con-
Quoted their offices in manner satisfac-
tory to the department would be recon-
mended for reappointment unless reasons
were presented showing conclusively that
such action would not be for the best in
terest Of the service and In cases where
the records of postmssters were not sat
Oh MOI
be requested TO recommend new appoint
ments This established the merit OF civil
service rule. with the operation Of which
have not interfered. It was adopted under
the direction Of the president and has his
approval The appointment OF postmasters
belongs to the executive department Of the
government and not to the legislative
/ Hranch The right OF congressman to name
! the postn:asters has never been more than
a courtesy. Under the present rule the
executive department exercises fits un-
| doubted right to reappoint incumbent post
masters without recommendation. IL theii
records are satisfactory. and to that. extent
! such appointments are withdrawn from
congressional control.
out of Kenuedy's Hands.
with reference to the Blair postoffice
/ 1dQNlSeu Audl tue ldbl inspection OF Nht
| office disclosed the service to he good and
that the incumbent postmaster would b'
reappointed unless some good reasons were
shown to the contrary. I had no sucl
| reason 20 show. have heretofore stated
and repeat now that during the existenc,
/ OF the present rule / win neither recon-
mend the reappointment, of an incumben
postmaster nor will 1 sh6w cause agains
! his reappontment, no matter how objec
| tionable he may be to me. The departmon
| will have to live up to the rule so far a
1 am concerned. l advised the department
that stood ready to make recommeuda
tion whenever the department was read!
to consider it. Evidently that time neve
! came.
Senators are responsible for their Owl
actions and can answer for themselves
The department is obliged to consider thei
| views in relation 20 presidential appoint
ments only so far the question Of con
flrmation is concerned. To that extent the,
! exercise an influence on nominations
whereas in the reappointment of an in
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