The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-12-05
Washington Letter.
(By CLYDE n. Tavenner.)

(By CLYDE n. Tavenner.)
Washington, Nov. 30.-'Everybody
wants 70 know about the distribution
of Patronage under the new admins
tration. Every member OF Congress
of Democratic faith is receiving in
quires and applications by the hun
dred.
came on to Washington at an earlier
date than intended, to try to discover
the prospects of what will be done in a
general way, but have found out moth
ing valuable or tangible. There is
much guessing and newspaper talk; but
that is all. All things concerning the
distribution of patronage are up in the
air. so to speak. President-Elect Will
son, who is resting in Bermuda, has
not, so far as is generally known, given
any information of his intention on
this subject. Nothing definite will be
known until he speaks.
The only things certain at this writ
ing are:
President Taft has by executive or
der placed all the 4th class postmasters
under the Civil Service, that is all
postmasters drawing less than 81 1000
per annum. This means that the
present 4th class psstmasters will hold
for life, or during good behavior, I'M
less President Wilson revokes Presl-
dent Taft's order. Whether he will
revoke it nobody knows.
Most of the places worth having eX-
cept those which have to be confirmed
by the Senate have been for some time
under civil service. This greatly les
sens the number of positions formerly
available.
For twenty years the custom has been
for federal officials appointed for four
years, such as postmasaers, u. 5. Mar
shals, etc, to serve out their terms
unless they took part in politics dur
ing their terms. Whether this custom
will be continued it is impossible to
say.
The custom has been for the patron
age Of any particular state to be dis
tributed through the Senator's and
Representatives thereof who are of the
same political persuasion as the adj
ministration, if any such there be, and
If none such, then through the nation
al committeeman or some dependable
friends. Under that arrangement
Representatives are depended upon to
recommend postmasters in their own
districts while Senators are depended
upon to recommend postmasters in
Congressional districts not represent
ed by Congressman of the same politlc-
al faith as the President. Senators
are also depended upon to recommend
for marshalships and offices OF that
kind, including departmental positions
and places in the consular and diplo-
matte service, and in fact all offices not
local.
What scheme for selecting post
masters, etc, President Wilson and
his Cabinet may adopt is wholly con-
iectural. Some advocate one plan and
some another. Consequently it might
be best for those intending to be appli-
cants TO let matters rest until the sit
uation clears up somewhat; but where
one or more aspirants for particular
place start in TO secure signers to pc
titions, recommendations etc, it might
be wise for all aspirants to do so
too.
1t has been figured out by some of
the newspaper correspondents in the
nationa! capital that Mr.. Wilson, when
he enters the White House on March
4, will find that he has the power to
fill directly 1883 government posi-
tions. They declare the appointive
places requiring confirmation are di-
vided as follows:
Departments Ste.e, al; Treasury,
1873; War excluding army 6; Justice,
1888; Pastotlice, 1858; Navy Excluding
oflicers) IL; Interior, PIP: Agriculture,
3; Commerce and Labor Excluding
census) %; Civil Service Commission,
4; Government Printing Office, /; In.
terstate Commerce Commission, :, and
Library of Congress, |,
The places not requiring conhrma'
ton by the Senate are thus divided.
Departments: State, 81; Justice,
$40; Interior, A; Commerce, 8; Civil
| Service Commission, |.