Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-06
a RECOMMENDED BY POST.
MASTER JOHNSON TO SUCCEED
M. 8. MCFARLAND.
FORMAL APPOINTMENT
EXPECTED THIS WEEK
Aetion Marks End of Long Political
Controversy Over Local Pestoffios-
Mcfarland May Have Clerkship, But
is a. Yet Undecided What He Viii
Do. tao taoi

Unless there is a slip betwiNt the
cu1 and the lip, which in this case will
be between the postodice department
and the civil service commission, ?. A
Hawley, democrat Will be assistant
to Postmaster A. G. Johnson.
This has been decided SO far as the
postcffice department is concerned, and
the appointment Is expected officially
this week.
There have been months OF uncer-
tainty and delay in democratic circles
as TO the appointment from the fact
that Mr.. Mcfarland firmly believed
that he was protected under the ciVil
service rules IL his right 10 the assist
ants position. or at least TO the as
sistanr's salary Of $500 per anT1uIn.
Position Vacated. Department Holds.
When he performed the duties OF
postmaster he took q leave OF absence
from the assistants POSITION. winch
was provided for under the rules, and
which ne had been assured by depart
ment officials was permissible. Later
he was appointed postmaster by Pres
ident Taft, which ne accepted, but was
never confirmed by the senate. Since
then the department officials have
changed and the department now holds
that when Mr.. Mcfarland accepted APP
pointment as postmaster, fled his
bonds and drew postT3aste-'s pay. he
thereby resigned from or vacated his
position of assistant.
Upon this ruling Postmaster John
son, democrat, recommended ?. a.
HaWley, democrat. for assistant
n nd
entitled under civil service rules 10 a
leave of absence one year from the
civil service, he might retain clerk
ship at $1,000 per aanurn, but his claim
to the assistants salary of $500 per
annum has been denied on the ground
that $50 days of absence from the po
s.ticn held is all that Is allowed where
as he has actually been absent from
the assistants pay roll for 24S days.
Netherlands Friends Displeased.
Mr. McFarIand's friends ara not
pleased, and have appealed 10 the civil
service commission. and the commits
sion has upheld their claims 10 the
assistants salary for Mcfarland, but
the democrats of the department are
determined to conduct the postoface
business upon their own Interpretation
OF the rules. hence Mr. HaNley's ap-
pointment is expected this week. or as
soon as his bond can be received and
approved
Ends Long Controversy.
Thus ends, probably, long political
controversy over the local postofdce.
DR.. W. S. Devine, county republican
chairman, was once appointed post
master by President Taft. Upon oppo-
sition from local politicians MS appoint
ment was held up in the presidents
political managers office IN the hope
that Marshall county's delegation co.:d
he secured for Taft. Later Mr.. Nc
FarIand was appointed by President
Taft, and his appointment, along with
many others made by the president al!
over the country, was refused conarrra-
ton by the senate Then the democrats
came into Office and the piums are now
for new set Of pickers. Dr.. Devine is
still pract!cing medicine and Mr.. Nc
Farland loses both the postmaster's
position and that Of assistant. TIE
democrats. like the lawyer, walk of
with the oyster. Such is the game OF
politics.
Mcfarland Undecided as to Plans.
Both the department and the post
master are willing that Mr. Mcfarland
should return 70 the civil service which
would mean q clerkship at $500 pel
annum. but Mr. Mcfarland is con-
sidering other employment and say:
that his plans for the future are a
present undecided.