La Junta tribune., 1912-12-28
posroFFIce OUT OF POLITICS
Hi introduced in United States Sen
ate Would Let Pe-ple eist
pcstmasters.

ate p!pflllNs lpi inc 'lFtiA'H W ~
masters by the direct votes - u
people whom they serve II wouI
hav been declared by politicians 4
BE- demagogic, hairbraincd, popllisu
fanatical. impractical. visionary an
out OF harmony with our traditions
There would nave been also thing
tn. matter with IT.
Yet when Senator Bristow intro
duced such a measure IN the United
States Senat. In. other day II was
taken seriously. and II the Immortal
doctrin. OF Andrew Jackson, which u
naturally pretty strong In Washington
Just now, doesn't interfere the bill
may pass. II made "A distinctly faN-
orable Impression and no one ltrsh"d
at It. On the other hand. senator's
and congressman spoke Of II as a
coming arrangement. the supposition
that II may pass either In this or IN"
next session is not at all nnr"ason-
able. Its friendly reception is a
striking proof OF the rapidiy with
which the doctrine OF taking people
into active partnership In the man.
agcmcnt Of federal government is Le'
coming recognized as sane and reason
able.
The bill provides that when here
after any vacancy shall occur IN the
office Of any postmaster in any state
the salary Of which office Is $500 OF
more year. nominating election
shall b. held for the purpose Of
rhonsinE a postmaster 10 nll the va
ranry. The Pu tmaster General
shall appoint A. postmaster Of such
office m. eandidat. who receives m"
largest number Of votes iu the nomi,
mating election In case Of vacancy
iu a pDstnfnre. The salary Of n"
postmaster Of which Is 5000 a
year. or more. the bin provides that
m. nominating election may b" held
a. the time Of the county. state, 10
cal or municipal election held next
preceding the expiration Of th"
term of no, postmaster az the iiscr".
tipu Of the Postmaster General
A dupHrat. roll Of IN" resih"n, pa.
irons of each pustoffis' iH m" United
states Is 20 be- prepared within MIN"
~ days after the passaf" n m"
act one Of the rolls will be filed
with the county clerk Of M" county
In which the office is situated. III"
other with the Postmaster General,
aud thos. rolls shall b" revised and
corrected on july Of each year
The registration lists of cities OF
IN. first and second class. supple
ment,d by the names Of patrons UN'
ing outside Of the corporate limits
oi each otflr". are 20 b" considered
A. tho rolls Of the patrons Of such
pos'officrs
In cas-, Of fraud At any nominat-
ing election 10 choos" a postmaster,
after the Postmaster General has
determined there has been fraud, IA"
Is autboriged 10 call another election
on d date fixed by him, and if h."
deems if 10 be- necessary m. Sec
oud election may be- supervised hy
federal officials Election officials
of the county township or city Will
hr Iu charge of ordinary elections 10
choose ppstmastcrs The actual me-
ccssary expenses incurred under m"
act in conducting nominating "l"o,
tions shall be- paid out OF the appro
prlatIon from ih" treasury ~ the
United States tnr the support aud
maintenance ot the postofnrr de-
parim"nt md tho compensation Of
tho necessary election officials such
as judges and clerks shall be- as
fixed hy tha lprd au'bori'Ioa ~ th.
county. fuNu or J'y boz ahila such
election De- heii
Eyey postmaster shah b. appoint
cd fuf q term ~ five years. bIt NAV
be- removed FOR r1us" by the Post
master General after full hearing uu
written charges Aftsr such rcmoy
nj The postmaster H not eligible or
reconciliation
The hin thus socks 10 take the
office Of postmaster out of partisan
politics aud would remove from ma
,ioual lifc a fruitful source of polti
cal scandal The authority %. m.
federal government over the postmas
tor Ia not weakened In any way
since the Postmaster General woul,
.till hay. power Ia remove foi
cause any postmaster who whci
ono. removed. could not be sgaii
= candidate Tn" postmaster thu
elected would feel .ha, his first oh
1l.setav a.. 80. -. ~. -.