The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-04-01


Washington, March s1.-Accordins
to statements made m North Dakota
congressional circles, twelve appoint
ments may be expected i'm the postal
service shortly. Representatives Gron-
ma and Hanna have practically agreed
on a slate and 1t will now be only q
matter OF a few days before President
/ Taft viii send the names 10 the senate
for confirmation. The utmost har-
mony exists In the delegation and this
should go a long way i'm facilitating
the confirmation Of all Norths Dakota
4 appointments In the future. In this
connection IL should be stated that the
slight breach existing tween Sena-
tor McCumber and Representative
Gronna dating back to the senior
senators support of Johnson during
the recent north state primaries, has
been healed and that Mr.. Gronna Is
now cooperating with the delegation
in every way.
James Bunker of Eiledale has been
appointed postmaster after long
| drawn out fight 1t is understood that
one of the last official acts of former
Representative Tom Marshall was the
endorsement of Bunker.
The appointment of Ormsby Nc
Harg of jamestown as assistant sec
rotary of commerce and labor came in
the nature of surprise to the North
Dakota congressional delegation. Mr..
McHarg, 1t is understood, had fully
made UP his mind to quit politics and
enter upon the practice of law in New
York This he calculated would elm
mate him from the political game and
provide for that inevitable rainy
day. But wnen urged by Postmaster
General Hitchcock to defer his action
for the present, Mr.. McHarg was not
slow to respond. He and Frank Hitch
cock had gone through the recent
campaign with much credit to them
selves, especially in the conduct of Mr..
Taft's pre- convention campaign which
necessitated some mighty shrewd poll
tics in the south and which after all
was the real battle ground, for it was
conceded that the candidate who sue
succeeding in getting the southern dele
gates would be the choice of the Chi
cago convention for president. To
Ormsby McHarg of North Dakota was
entrusted this delicate piece OF work
and how we'll he carried out the Taft
programme in dixieland is now mat
ter of history.
Now good many promises were
made during the campaign Just closed
and a good many men are to receive
recognition for services rendered. 1t
was therefore only natural that Mr.
Hitchcock should wish to have near
him the man who played so important
part in the steam roller" days.
Those promises are to be kept and
the jobs and patronage will come
largely under theeimmediate control OF
the, department of the postoff1ce and
commerce and labor. The latter de-
partment will have charge of the 1910
census and the thousands of appoint
ments incident thereto. With Mr.. Nc
Harg as assistant secretary of the
department of commerce and labor it
is safe to say that he Is pretty sure of
having the enormous patronage that
will be part of the census.
The appointment was purely person
al with the administration and will not
be charged to North Dakota. The
unusual compliment, namely the con-
firmation of MIR. McHarg by the senate
the same day, his appointment was
received by that body is also worthy
of mention.
Senator McCnmber is father of a
bill which If enacted into law will re-
tire x-presidents on a pension of
$4,000 a year and as retired COM
mander in chiefs of the army and
navy. This retirement would give ex-
presidents the same pension status as
enjoyed by retired army and navy Of
ficers.
The bill has met with great deal
of favor and although there Is no
chance for it's consideration during the
extra session 1t doubtless will receive.
serious consideration at vie hands
of congress next winter.
Washington, April Now that ex-
Senator Hansbrough has explained
his attitude toward the McCumber
federal grain inspection bill and also
his connection with the grading pro-
vision in the agricultural appropria-
ton bill. friends of Senator McCumber
are giving their version Of the history
of the two measures and 1t may be
adden that the Hansborough and So
called McCumber positions are as d.
vergent as the poles.
''Ex- Senator Hansbrough, when
chairman of the committe on agricul-
ture. introduced an amendment into
the agricultural appropriation bin
which anyone acquainted with the
subject of grain grading would imme
diately see was calculated, If not abb
solutely designed, to prevent legisla-
ton along this line which has so long
been demanded by the northwestern
farmer" said G. A. Lounsberry, a Nc
Cumber adherent.
1T is well known among senator's, =
continued Mr.. Lounsberry, that Sena-
tor Hansbrough has ben unfavorable
to any substantial grain grading bill,
not that he is opposed to the principle,
but his wen known jealousies always
placed in opposition 20 anything that