Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-02-25

service inspectors (See note). The in
spectors reported those who we're
alleged to have helped the congress-
man as not having been pern1c1ously
active, ana those against whom the
congressman complained for other
reasons were reported as derelict and
a couple we're removed. Thereafter,
in that district, many postmasters
took their cue from these occurrences,
and did their best to reflect thu con-
gresham but by that time the voters
surm1sed political trickery, andthe con-.
gessman was retired at the geneal elec-
tion to private life. Another thing
that happened in the primary contest
was the enrty of another candidate IN
tho congressman's own party; butt
the senators got an appoantive Office
for him, and he withdrew to take that
Office. Hardly mad he been taken care
left to the fate Of defeat at the
primaries. There wero many other
ways in which the public officials took
part IN that contest. Enough has been
called attention to- 10 show the methods
employed behind the scenes before
election. The reai political games,
however, take place after election. and
these will be considered later.
Note L The nationals congressional
committees are elected by members of
congress from their number in the
parties: Though SO elected,
the committees are not public in any
official sense; they are purely party
creations, and are supplied with no
pubic funds, but supported BY private
subscription. 50 far as Know,
members of congress do not aid them
in q financial way These committees
are principally maa1tained by funds
furnished by the special interests, and
the lnducement is the implied good
will Of the political organizations
towards the interests these expecting
consideration for their money. A
certain amount of money can
judlciously be expended in furnishing
the public with information, but all in
excess OF that IS graft Therefore it is
important that the public should be
informed before election, as far as
possible, as to. who contributes, In
order that it may be known to whom
the candidate is under implied obllga.
tions I doubt the wisdom of allow
ing large contributions.
Note II. The rule of the postofhce
department forhds the postmasters
from being pernlciously active in
politics. Another new rule provides
that all postmasters filling the duties
of their Office in full compliance with
the rules and regulations, are not sub
ject to removal by the congressman.
Both rules are good, but in the
ononoro1 nvo Asno ~ sonliki "a thou ora nv
no means safe.
Rule III The posto:ice department
employs inspectors, who examine post
Offices and investigate complaints.
They are under the civil service
system, but many Of them get their
start through senators and congress-
men. The civil service IS not as
t1awless in its operations as in theory.
Many of the inspectors are shrewd
politicians, and without the slightest
hint from senators or congressman,
do the things most favorable to such
Of these gentlemen as they wish to
grant favors for part or prospective
! influence in promotion, so that it
frequently happens that they report an
efficient postmaster as unqualified and
an unqualified postmater as Efficient
There is no appeal. This may all be,
and frequently is, done without the
postmasters being informed of the
cause of their removal; they are just
arbitrarily removed. The people have
no voice IN the selection of these in
spectors. Most of them are honest, but
not all are; and those that are unfair
sometimes, and in some way, get on
the job. They can and sometimes do
come into our towns and remove good
postmasters to make place for some
who do not give as good satisfaction.
The system is one of the most
arbitrary and suited to q country like
Russia. It is, however, to the credit
of the p. O. department that the
system is, as, q rule, not abused.
There are, however, noticeable OK
ooy,%,one