The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Bye. Y. Taylnaes.

PAT oEagc u der tie new .dr.,n
IS T:;'cn L cry mcn.her ,t
Congress T Dcn Crate fa.th Is
receiving inquiries and applica.
tons by the hundred.
| 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 nothing
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 Wilson.
who is resting in Bermuda, has
not, so far as is generally known,
given any indication of his inten-
ton on this subject. Nothing
definiter will be known until he
speaks.
The only things certain at this
writing are:
l. President Taft has by eX-
ecutiye order placed all the 4th
class poStmaSters under the Civ.
il Service, that is all postmasters
drawing less than 1000 per an
mum. This means that the pres
ent 4th class postmaster will
hold for life, or during good be
havior, unless President Wilson
revokes President Taft's order.
Whether he revoke it nobody
knows.
2: Most of the places worth
having except 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 for
merly available.
3. For twenty years the GUS
tom has been for federal officials
appointed for four years, such as
postmasterS, u. S. MarShaIlS,
etc, to serve out their terms I'M
less they took part in politics dur
ing their terms. Whether this
custom Will be continued it is i'm
possible to say.
4. President Taft is said to
have declared his intention to fill
all vacancies as soon as they oc-
cur, but whether the Senate
will confirm his appointees, or
hold up their nominations, it is
impossible to even guess.
5. The custom has been for
the patronage Of any particular
state to be distributed through
the Senators and Representatives
| thereof who are of the same po-
litical persuasion as tie admins
tration, if any such there be, and
if none such, then through the
national committeeman or some
dependable friend or friends.
| Under this arrangement Repre-
rentatives are depended upon to
recommend postmasters in their
own districts while Senators are
! depended upon to recommend
postmasters in Congressional dis
tricts not represented by Con
| grtssmen of the same politica
| faith as the President. Senators
are also depended upon to recon-
mend for marshallships and of.
fees Of that kind, including de-
Ipartmental positions AMI places
in the consular and diplomatic
service, and in fact all Offices not
local. Of course, as a rule, the
Senators consult with Represen.
tativts in these matters, all try
ing to do the most possible fol
| their constituents
6. What schemes for SELECTING
po3tmasters, etc, President w 4
son and his Cabinet may adopt i.
wholly conjectural. Some adyo.
cate one plan and come another
Consequently it might be best foi
those intending to be app icants
to let matters rest until the stu
alton clears up somewhat. but
where one or more aspiran's foi
a particular place start in to s.,
cure signers to petition. rscom
mendations, etc, it IN ght b.
wise for all ospir1nts to do s,
too.
, 1t has been figured on. b,
some Of the newspaper co re