Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-03
PRESIDENT TAKES FROM SEN
ATE GOODS STOLEN FROM
THE HOUSE.
CENSUS APPOINTMENTS
VALUABLE POLITICAL ASSET
House Members Maneuverins to Con-
troll Appointments Nipped by Senate,
and Upper House is Cheated Of Its
spoiIs-scheme May he of Far
Reaching Effect.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Aug. 3.-The disposition
to make a football Of the patronage
related to the census bureau is causing
a great amount of criticism and much
disaffection among members of both
houses of congress. 1t looks now as If
the house, which originally expected
to get the political benefits of the
patronage. had had them wrested from
it by the senate and the senate, in
turn. had had them calmly taken away
by President Taft.
The indignation of the senators, as
they realize that they are to lose this
comfortable supply of pap, is some
thing wonderful to look upon When
they cheerfully took it away from the
house. the senators did not seem much
impressed with the Nervousness of their
little project in expansion; but now
that the president has framed up ar
engagements ito do to the senate lust
exactly what the senate did to the
! house, there is firm conviction that a
new menace confronts all true patriots.
Enumerators as Political Workers.
1t was this way. The census bill
! originated in the house. It's best poll
teal patronage consists of the super
visors-one for each congress district
and the enumerators, who will be very
numerous. The ehumerators will be
doing their work just about the time
OF the congressional primaries next
year, and, actuated by a lively sense of
gratitude for their appointments, it has
been calculated that they would be very
useful as political pluggers for repre-
sentatives confronted by opposition for
denomination. The supervisor in each
district will choose his own enumer-
ators, and presumably with respect to
their political efficiency.
| So the house, in order to make sure
that it would have control Of the sup
ervisors, inserted in its bill no provi-
sion for the supervisors being confirm
ed by the senate. Leaving them with :
out this requirement, 1T was expected
the representatives would be privileged
to name supervisors for their respec-
tive districts to suit themselves.
Senate Spells the Game.
But when the bill got to the senate
that body took another view 1t fell
sure that the supervisors nominations
ought to be made by the president and
confirmed by the senate. The only mar
who stood out against this grange
ment was La Toilette, chairman of the
census committee; but he was over.
ruled In committee and on the floor
BY putting in the provision that the
supervisors must be confirmed by the
senate, the upper house practically
made them senate patronage. If &
member of the house recommends g
supervisor whom the senators dom
approve, the senators hold up con-
firmation. Therefore the representa-.
tives are compelled to confer with the
senators as to every appointment ant
this gives the latter the power, for al
practical purposes, to dictate.
Senate Beaten at Own Game.
But after the senate had amended
the bill to require confirmation, and
had compelled the house, In confer
ence. to accept the amendment the
presidents political advisers decide
that that was a good bunch of patron
age for the administration to control
The business of building Taft ma
chine is going merrily along these
times, and some of the keen politicians
of the administration figured out way
to beat the senate at its own game
That is, to have the supervisors APP
pointed by the president during the re-
cess of congress. after the present ex.
traordinary session.
A recess appointment, unless it il
rejected by the senate, continues ir
force turnout the recess of congress
; and then until the end of the next sue.
ceeding session. Thus, if congress ad
, journs Aug. 10, the president coult
appoint all the supervisors the mex
day, and the appointments would rul
; TIL the end of the session which be
gins in December. That means the.
; would be good Nor about a year, I'M
less affirmatively rejected, which sci
dom happens in political matters.
Now, that year just about half GOV
ers the life of the supervisors jobs
They will ~be done with their worl
somewhere about the close of 1910.
will be practically impossible to den:
combinations to them when their worl
, is half finished in their hands; no sue
cessor could take 1T pat such a poin
} without great loss of time and expense
To Make Recess Appointments.
BY making recess appointments
, then, the president will practically ro
the senate Of its privilege of confirma
rion or rejection. 1t is current under
standing at the senate end of the cap
itol that this lis just what the pres
ident is planning to do. The member
of the lower house are getting a lot @
, SLY cl1uckles out of the situation, blu
the senators are In a number of case
{ at least mad all the way thru.
' Just how this patronage is bein
! used for political purposes, in certai
D cases at least, is illustrated by the re
: cent experiences of Representative
Fisherman, of Wisconsin. He laa
J. two applicants for the supervfsorslail
and went to Senator Stephenson wit
a proposition.
"There are two candidates for tn
postoffice in your home town." sal
the representative to the senator 90
you will tell me which one you inten
to make postmaster. will name tn
other for supervisor, and they wi
both be taken care Of
I'm afraid that can't be DONE" r.
piled Senator Stephenson with prop,
delicacy. "You see, the president h;
larranpnd thar fhncA OAnsa1a nnnoip.