Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-12-06
WASHINGTON NEWS

Everybody wants to know about
the distribution of patronage under
the new administration. Every mem
Der of Congress of Democratic faith
is receiving inquiries and applications
by the hundred.
The only things certain at this
writing are:
L. President Taft has by executive
order placed all the 9TH class post
masters under the civil service who
draw as much as $1,000 per annum.
This means that the present 9TH class
postmesters will hold for life or dur
ing good behavior unless President
Wilson revokes President Taft order
Whether he will revoke it nobody
knows.
Most of the places worth while
having, except those which have obe
confirmed by the Senate have been
for sometime under civil service.
This greatly lessons the number of
positions formerly available.
3. For twenty years the cutsom
has been for federal officials appoint
ed for four years, such rs postmas-
ters, u. s. Marshals, etc, to serve
out their terms unless they took part
in politics during their terms.
Whether this custom will be continued
it is impossible to say
a. President Taft Is said to have
declared his intention to fill all
vacancies M soon us they occur. But
whether the Senate will confirm his
nppointces, or hold up their nomina-
lions. IL il impossible to even guess.
s.. The custom has been for tho
patronage of any particular state to
he distributed through the Senator'S
and Representatives thereof who are
of the same political persuasion MS
the administration, if any such there
he. and IL none such, then through
the national committeeman or some
dependable friend or friends. Under
this arrangement Representatives are
depended upon TO recommend post
masters in their own districts while
Senator's ara depended upon to recon-
mcnd postmasters in Congressional
districts not represented by Con.
gressmnn Of the same political faith
~ the President. Senators are also
depended upon To recommend for mar
shalships and Offices of this kind,
including departmental positions and
pnces in the consular and diplomatic
service. and in fact all Offices not
local. OF course, as rule, the
Senator's consult with Representatives
in these matters. all trying To do the
most possible for their constituents.
6. What scheme for selecting post
masters, etc, President Wilson and
his cabinet may adopt il wholly con-
jcetural. Some advocate one plan and
some another. Consequently it might
be best for those intending to be APP
plicants to let matters rest until tho
situation clears up somewhat, but
where one or more applicants for a
particular place start in to secure
signers to petitions. recommendations
etc, 1t might he wise for all as
pirants to do so too.
1t has been figured out by some of
the newspaper correspondents in the
national capitol that Mr.. Wilson,
when he enters the White III ouse on
March 9TH. will find that he has the
power to fill directly 1.OS9 govern
ment positions. They declare the ap-
pointive places requiring confirmation
are divided as follows:
Departments S a c, dbl;
Treasury. 1876; War, excluding
army, 6; Justice. 1888; Postoffice,
z 953; Navy, excluding officers. II;
Interior. 272; Agriculture, 3; Com
merce and Labor, excluding census,
%; Civil Service Commission. 4;
Government Printing office. L; In
terstate Commerce Commission, Il;
and Library of Congress, L.