The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-24
Rumor Says Referee System Will Not Be Employed
 In the Future
p. D, BARKER OF MOBILE
 GOING TO WASHINGTON
chairmen of Congressional Commit tees Will Be Asked to Make Recom- mendations On Appointments
 In Their Districts.

There is something doing in republican circles in Alabama, but the men most
 interested are as silent as the tomb.
 Early in President Taft's administra-
 tion it was practically announced that
 the. referee system as it existed in the
 south was not entirely satisfactory to the chief executive as a means of keeping up with the federal appointments in the south and there is every indication that this attitude has been crystalizing in
 the past few days.
 National Committeeman P. D. Barker
 of Mobile was in Birmingham last night en route to Washington and while MT.
 Barker is ostensibly going on as one of the Mobile delegation to invite the Pres
 ident to the Gulf City and although MT.
 Barker is silent on the subject it is gem
 orally believed that his visit has some
 connection with the displacement of the
 referee system in Alabama. There are hints among local republicans
 that there have been some sensational
 incidents recently in connection with the
 proposed change, but it is next to i'm
 possible to get behind the rumors and
 get at the truth
 This much, however is known The
 chairmen of the republican congression- al district committees of Alabama have
 been given lists of proposed minor ap- pointments and they are asked for their
 recommendation for the men to fill the places This Is. of course, interpreted to
 mean that general policy of this kind
 is to be pursued by the President in
 making his appointments, As to the
 means that will be employed to secure recommendations on the more important offices nothing can be learned, but a
 prominent republican who is known to
 be close to the President stated last
 night that there is every indication that
 the policy that had been pursued under
 the former administration will be aban- doned in the future.
 There was a good deal of animated
 conversation going on at the clubs and at the Hotel Hillman last night about some of the sensational developments in the near future, but nothing could
 be learned as to just what is to take place.
 Since the settlement of the federal ] judgeship matter in which the referee s
 recommendation was ignored by the Pres ident there are two really important off, fees in the state to be filled. One Is the postmastership at Birmingham and the other is collectorship of the port of Mobile. For the local postmastership the candidates are J. Rivers Carter, who seeks to succeed himself, and J. H. Mont gomery, who Is at present assistant dis trict attorney of the northern district. Surface indications fail to disclose which candidate has the best of it, although
 Judge Montgomery has been in the past closely identified with the so-called ad- minstration side of the party
 For the collectorship of the Mobile port H. G. Ashley, chief deputy United States marshal, is the candidate from this end of the state, while Maj w. F. Tebbetts is a candidate to succeed himself. Taken altogether some important de- velopments In republican circles can be expected in the next few days.