The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-30
POST OFFICE DEPT.
IS TO Be PROBEO
Political Machine of Hitch
cock Is to Be Thorough
ly Inspected.
Ov RopGRIcK CLIFFORD


~ RoogRick CLIFFORD
Washington. April 29.-The politi.
cal machine that Postmaster-General
Hitchcock il building up by means OF
his authority at the head of the post
office department Is in line for an In
vestigation by the Democratic house.
Behind the apparently routine resoiu-
ton Of Representatives Saunders. a
Virginia Democrat. calling for an in
vcstigation OF the methods of this de-
partment. Is a well.laid plan to probe
deep into the machine building acu-
vities OF the postmaster.general.
The Democratic house has determin.
ed upon number of Investigations OF
the various departments. but Is Is ad-
mitted that there Is no one depart.
lment In the Government service
where the searchlight will be turned
on with more pleasure than In the
lpost office department. presided over
by the former chairman OF the Ma
tional Republican campaign commit
tee.
For many months there have been
reports that Mr.. Hitchcock, with an
eye to 1912. has been quietly laying
his plans for the capture of delegates.
particularly in the south. That the
Democrats are aware that the post
office department may well be put
under the probe IL indicated by the
sweeping terms OF the Saunders reso-
tuition. which the Virginia member has
introduced only after q careful investi-
cation of conditions in his own state.
and q conference with other Demo
Gratis who have seen the growth OF
the machine in their own sections.
Goes to the Root
The Saunders resolution which is
different from all other resolutions
asking for investigation. goes to the
root Of the question by asking:
Whether postmasters throughout
the country, first-class and otherwise.
are giving the proper attention to
their offices?
Whether II Is not fact that many
Of these postmasters accept their
trust from the Government as side
line" to be conducted In connection
with private business!
Whether II 10 true that many post.
masters spend much OF their time
campaigning for the eRpublican cause
70 the detriment of their official bus
mess?
For what reason various postoffices
have been discontinued. or moved,
upon orders from Washington. without
consulting the wishes Of the patrons
Of the office.
The Saunders resolution authorizes
the house committee III postoffices
and postroads to bsg,.. an investiga.
ton Of these and number Of kindred
matters. The investigation Of this
committee will be conducted indepen-
dent Of others that concern the ad-
ministration Of Postmaster General
Hitchcock now under fire because
postoffice employees have been re.
fused permission to organize into un-
ions, or to affiliate themselves with
the American Federation OF Labor.
Mr.. Saunders and other Democrats
fee; that, right under the eye Of the
Democrat house, the willy postmaster
general II putting In order political
machine. the full force Of which will
be felt when the Republicans come to
nominate q candidate for president
two years hence.
Not only that, but It 10 claimed that
lthe service Is being crippled. It ID
claimed that In many towns, men are
named for postmasters who have pri
vate business that required all their
time. Il II openly charged by Mr.
Saunders that, In his own state, Vir
ginia. there are men holding commits
koions ~ postmasters at important OF
peices. whe spend practically no time
at their governmental duties. The
real work. II 10 alleged, Is left to su
bordinates. while the politician.post
masters. secure In the knowledge that
delegates when the time arrives. con
int themselves with looking after 9th
Or matters.
Nance Politicians.
II 10 claimed that the postmaster
general has named for the office o
postmaster. bankers. lawyers, mer
chants. and other who regard theil
allegiance to the postal service as
secondary to their own private inter
ests. Il 10 claimed that these politi
cian-postmasters show great activit,
In organizing their friends In suppor
Of the Republican cause. that they are
chairmen OF county or city Republican
committees. and that much Of thu
time 10 spent In campaigning.
How much time do these postmas
tiers spen upon personal vacations
and how much In speechmaking ant
campaign arguments?" II one Of thu
questions which the hosue postoffict
committee IL asked to determine II
its sweeping Investigation.
II the committee should find tina
the political machine which the post
master general Is supposed to be per
fccting 10 such that It interferes will
the duties Of public servants. then thu
committee has the jurisdiction to rec
ommend suitable reforms. and. II the!
are not forthcoming. the Democratic
house will be In no mood to counte
nance increased appropriations 10
the postofficc department. or to hav'
patience with postal deficit.
The Saunders resolution Is destine'
A. yl.w IN-