Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-02
COMMENT ON THE
BARNES APPOINTMENT
General DisapprovaI in Con-
gress and by Citizens.
MAY FAIL OF CONFIRMATION
If Sufficient Protests Are Sent to
the Senate
SHOULD GO TO A LOCAL MAN
That is the Concensus of Opinion as
Expressed in Interviews With
Star Reporters
If Sufficient Protests Are Sent to
the Senate.
SHOULD GO TO A LOCAL MAN

The announcement that the President
would nominate Mr.. Benjamin f Barnes.
one of his private secretaries to be, post
master of this city, was received as 4
great surprise in the Senate today. and
while many senators thoroughly disap-
proved of the carpetbag principle in reIa-
tion to appointments in the District of CO.
lumbia, many of them preferred to make
no public statement In relation TO the mat
ter today. It is well understood that Mr..
Barnes has regularly voted at Vineland,
n j.. and that he has maintained his resi-
dence in that state with g.eat care.
1t is also understood that despite the fact
that Mr.. Barnes is a citizen of the state
of New Jersey, and in that capacity has
held public office for sixteen years. there
was considerable doubt at the White Housa
today whether he should be accredited 10
the state of New Jersey in this case or set
down as a citizen of the District of Colum-
bia. The idea that there should be an effort
made to befog the situation by crediting
Mr.. Barnes to the District of Columbia
for the purposes of this appointment caused
much surprise on the part of people who
visited the White House and learned that
there doubt on that subject
In the Senate Mr.. Barnes appointment IS
regarded purely personal matter and
Taany senator's who strongly condemn tho
principle involved in that appointment are
inclined to think that the view will be
taken by many members of the Senate TO
the effect that the nomination should ba
confirmed without that same degree OF
scrutiny that might be given in some other
case.
AS strange as it may seem to people who
claim citizenship in the District, some SEN
ators and Representatives say that the
rights of the District of Columbia. in re-
spect TO having the home rule principle ap-
piled, are not as sacred they would be in
a state which has senators and representa-
tives TO be consulted in such a case.
Disapprove Presidents Action
But there are many other senators who
are inclined to disapprove of the Presi-
dents action toward the District of Colum-
bia as so greatly out of keeping with re-
publican and democratic platforms favoring
the home rule principle that the appoint
ment should in their judgment, not be con-
firmed 1t is believed by many of them
that If the people of the District undertake
to make strong fight against Mr.. Barnes
confirmation that the result will be to hold
up his appointment, and it is assured that
in the case of fight in the Senate there
would he very large vote against con-
firnation.
Senator Blackburn, when his attention
was directed toward this nomination. said
that he had never been consulted by he
President upon any appointment, and no
had no comment to make the character
of the appointment made by the PresidelF-
Il have never been consulted by the Pres
ident," said Mr. Blackburn, even in ina
case of the appointment of a postmaster
in my own town whose duty it has been
to handle my own mail, and l have never
thought to Interfere in any such appoint
ment When Mr.. Cleveland was President
/ fought every nomination he sent 10 tha
Senate in which the principle OF home rule
was violated in the District of Columbia.
! fought every nomination of that kind
ha ann n rGpnFGgn
deeds down but | have never so far both-
cred myself about patronage under this adj
miEistration."
Ordinary Procedure.
The ordinary procedure in the Senate IN
dealing with case such as the nomination.
of postmaster for this city will be TO
have it at once referred to the committee
on post offices and post roads, of which
Senator Penrose is the chairman. In that
committee Senator Penrose himself is a
subcommittee on District of Columbia ap-
pontments, and the appointment would go
to him for action. If no protest Is FLED
against an appointment the ordinary course
would be to have ii reported favorabiy 10
the Senate in The next executive session,
and it would then go the calendar or
the executive session. In the absence or
any protest it would come up for action
in the following executive session of the
Senate
In every case in which an appointment is
regarded purely a personu matter with
the President the custom has been TO eS-
pedite action In confirming ii. But that
would not hold in case OF nomination
that eXcites widespread disapproval and
causes protests to be sent TO the committee
having ii in charge.
There is little doubt from very many eX-
pressions in the Senate this afternoon that
senators very largely will favor adverse
action on Mr.. Barnes nomination. Whether
they viii care to come out openly and vote
in hal
were very free today in expressing their
sympathy for the people of the District OF
Colu nbia who they recognize are In a
nosition making it difficult for them to give
effective protest in a matter or TINS kind
Were the District represented In the senate
1t would be a very simple mater ma ,s TOT
senator to make such a protest as would
guarantee that Mr. Barnes appointment
would not be confirmed. Such cases are
coming up all the time, ana espeelans
self in a matter of this kind his protest Is
regarded as almost sure to defeat con-
Grmation.
Merritt Expected Back Tomorrow.
John g. Merritt. postmaster of Washing
ton. who has been appointed by President
Roosevelt to the post of collector at the
mort of Suspension Bridge. n. Y. has not
vet returned to this city from New York
state whittier he went last week to attend
the funeral services over the remains Of
j..
Bridge. Mai. Lowe close personal
friend OF Postmaster Merritt, and their
homes were both In the district in which
the post is located
1t Is expected that Mr.. Merritt will be at
his desk In this city tomorrow morning.
and VII begin at once to arrange the neces-
sary details incident to the transfer of the
business OF the post Office to his successor.
1t is customary for the accounts of the Of
fee in such cases to be carefully gone over
snd audited. The retiring postmaster is
then given receipt for all stamps and