Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-01-06
Congressman Must Expect to Tote
Fair with Administration.
NORRIS OF NEBRASKA EXPLAINS
Tells Story of Holding Up of the
Orleans Appointment
IS ONLY FIGHTING CANNONIsM
Asserts "InSurgents" Are Loyal to the
Party, but Demand Reform in
Rules Under which the
House Works.
tFrom a staff Correspondent

Vrom a staff Correspoudent)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-(Specal Telc-
gram)-Victor Rosewater, editor of The
Bee and national committeeman for Ne
braska, had an interview by appointment
with the president with reference to poll
tical matters in Nebraska. After seeing the
president, Mr.. Rosewater said
The president said to me: l want Won
to help correct the reports that are being
circulated to the effect that / am using the
patronage club to whip so-called insurgents
into line. There is a well founded custom
that has become almost a rule that in
making certain appointments such as to
tpostoffices, the president should act on
recommendation of the members of con
gress in whose district they lie. IL repre-
sented by a member of the same political
party This obligation resting on the presi-
dent, however, is reciprocal The repub-
lican congressman is under similar obliga-
tion to support administration measures
recommended by the president to carry out
platform pledges on which both of US were
elected. / have not turned down recon-
mendations Of insurgent congressman, but
am simply preserving the status quo to
impress them with their obligation"
Question Interests All.
Are the so-cailed insurgents in the house
to be punished for their attacks on Cannon
ism and rules by depriving them OF their
patronage?" was the only question heard
about the capital today. But one subject
was Observation-Disclosures the administration
was really at the bottom of holding up the
appointment OF postmasters, as alleged by
certain of the insurgents, or whether the
rules of the Postoffice department had
brought about a most unusual state of
affairs.
Miller of Minnesota was the first to feel
the heavy hand of the administration In his
failure to get his postoffice appointments
past the arguseyed first assistant post
master general DIR. Granfield, and he
raised might "holler." Hubbard of Sioux
! City was the next victim of withheld pa
tronage, then came Lenroot ana Cooper of
| Wisconsin, who openly charge Postmaster
General Hitchcock with all kinds of devil
| try in connection with their postoffice
recommendations. Now comes Judge
George Norris Of the Fifth Nebraska dis
trict who, while not making direct charges
against the Postoffice department, says
that things look mighty Suspicious" and
unless something drops mighty soon he
will come to the conclusion that he is be-
ing punished because he had courage to
/ SNoHu w anu pIOleSL dBdln5I rules OF the
house of representatives.
| One of Norris Cases.
Three weeks ago Norris attention was
called to the fact that a recommendation
he had made for postmaster at Orleans was
up in the air." Early in October last the
/ postmaster at Orleans died and, in the
usual course, notice came from the Post
office department of the death of the post
|
successor, which he did in the person of
Mr.. Olmstead, a miller at that place.
Thinking nothing more Of the matter,
| Judge Norris went about his business sup
posing that Olmstead had taken over the
office. Just before the holidays he learned
that the Postoffice department had done
nothing in the way of the appointment OF
| Olmstead and he got busy. He wrote DR.
! Granfeld first assistant postmaster gem
! eral, asking as to the status of the Orleans
| case but received no answer. Another let
ter was written, with no better result and
| then third letter was sent to Granfleld,
/ insisting that some attention be paid his
| several communications, which brought
forth the reply that the matter was under
consideration.
Norris had a personal interview with
| Granfield, in which the latter told Norris
| in so many words that the matter had
! been held up at the instance OF the post
master general" Norris was amazed and
at once sought an interview with the post
master general but without success, not
being able to see Mr.. Hitchcock, and there
| the matter rests. What makes Judge Nor
ris particularly bitter is the impression
which has been sent forth in some of the
newspapers that he is being disciplined be-
/ Of his a11ppad n
Of the administration.
Not Fighting the President.
THE facts are" said Mr.. Norris, that
so-called insurgents of the house are as
a body standing for one principle only
and that is TO bring about a change in
the house rules so that some Of the power
of the speaker may be taken away There
has been no attempt or suggestion among
the insurgents to fight any Of the so-caled
policies Of the president
THE statement issued apparently from
the White House, that the insurgents Of
the house were to be punished because
they were fighting the policies OF tho ad-
ministration is an attempt to befog the
real Issue In reality they are being pun
ished because they have fought Cannon
ism, but the reason given to the public Is
entirely different They viii not be en-
tlced from this course by the promise OF
patronage nor driven therefrom by threats
| to withhold IT,
"As a matter Of fact the insurgents as
! a body will be nearer unanimous In favor
Of the faithful carrying out Of the pledges
OF the republican party than any eqral
number Of members Of the house. When
they have no agreement or understanding
1t will be found that they will be prac-
| tlcally unanimous for corrective railroad
! legislation and increased power to the
Interstate Commerce commission, for phys
ical valuation OF railroad properties, for
postal savings banks, for publicity OF cam
paign contributions, for the redemption OF
platform pledges on injunction legislation
and for reform In judicial procedure
Says Cannon il TreacherOus.
"The regular Organization In the house
| headed by the speaker, now posing as the