Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-30
I BY CLYDE II. TAVENNER, !

L b I CL DE II. i "A v LNNEnI
Washington, D. c., Nov. 29.-Every-
body wants to know about the distribu-
lion OF patronage under the new ad-
ministration Every member Of con-
Eress Of democratic faith is receiving
Inquiries and applications by the hum
dred.
came on to Washington at an
earlier date than l intended, to try
to discover the prospects of what will
be done in a general way, but have
Z found out nothing valuable or tangible.
There is much guessing and news
paper talk; but that is ALL All things
concerning the distribution Of patron
age are up in the air, so to speak.
President Wilson, who is resting
In Bermuda, has not, so far as Is gen
orally known, given any information
Of his intention on this subject.
Nothing definite will be known until
he speaks.
The only things certain at this
writing are: rn
1. President Taft has by executive
order placed all the fourth class post
masters under the civil service, that
ID all postmasters drawing less than
$1,000 per annum This means that
lie present fourth class postmasters
will hold FOR life, or during good be-
havior, unless President Wilson re-
vokes President Taft's order Whether
he will revoke it nobody knows.
2. Most Of the places worth hav-
tng except those which have to be
.,<.a. q ,.v,, 81 1,xy fha &o ho1yo hoou For
some time under civil service. This
greatly lessons the number of post,
Hons formerly available.
5. For twenty years the custom has
been for federal ofacials appointed
for four years, such as postmasters,
United States marshals etc, to serve
put their terms unless they took part
in politics during their terms. Whether
this custom will be continued 1t is i'm
possible to say.
4. President Taft is said to have
declared his intention to fill all vacan-
cies as soon as they occur. But wheth-
or the senate will confirm his ap-
pointees, or hold up their nomina-
ton, it Is impossible to even guess.
s. The custom has been for the
patronage Of any particular. state to
be distributed through the senator's
and representatives thereof who are
Of the same political persuasion as the
administration, II any such there be,
and IL none such, then through the
national committeeman or some de-
pendable friend or friends. Under this
arrangement representatives are de-
pended upon to recommend post
masters in their own districts, while
senators are depended upon to recon-
tricts not represented by congress-
men Of the same political faith as the
president. Senators are also depend
ed upon to recommend for marshal
ship and Offices Of that kind, includ-
Ing departmental positions and places
IN the consular and diplomatic SERVICE
and in fact all offices not local. OF
course, as rule, the senators con-
suit with representatives in these mat
ters, all trying to do the most pos
sible for their constituents.
6. What scheme for selecting post
masters, ETC., President Wilson and his
cabinet may adopt is wholly conjec-
tural. Some advocate one plan and
some another Consequently it might
be best for those intending to be ap-
plicants to let matters rest until the
situation clears up somewhat: but
where one or more aspirants for a
particular place start in to secure
sixners to petitions, recommendations,
etc, 1t might be wise for all aspirants
tosPdo 30 too.
1T has been figured out by some of
The newspaper correspondents in the
national capital that Mr.. Wilson, when
he enters the white house on March 4,
will find that he has the power to fill
directly 10,S39 government positions.