Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-07
z POSTMASTERS
MAY BE AIDED
BY STIFF Fight
Senator Townsend and Asso-
ciates Proposed to Work
for Taft Apprentices
Bq C. S. ALBERT

: WASHINGTON, D. c., March "a
Two Hawaiian postmasters may be
taken under the protecting wings of
Senator Townsend and his Republi-
can associates who propose to make
q stiff fight for all Of President
Taftts appointments which we're made
in good faith and not for political
purposes. There is bare chance that
they may remain on the payrolls in
definitely because their successors
may fail of confirmation. III
The officials involved are Charles
A. De Cew, postmaster at Waialua.
He was reappointed. His commission
expired February Is, 1913; NJ. T..
Lyons, postmaster at Waikiki. He
was also reappointed. His commits
sion expired December 16, 1912. 4
Senator Townsend is on the war
path. 1t is his firm intention to bit
terly oppose the confirmation of all
postmasters appointed to, succeed
those whose nominations were sent
to the senate by President Taft be-
tween December 2 and March g. APP
proximately 1900 names were sent in.
But one was confirmed. He was the
postmaster at Concord, New Hamp-
shire, the home town of Senator Gal
linger. ..,.-... Ill.,. p. I'll. -.
According to Mr.. Townsend nc will
sift out all those whose places were
held open for an unreasonable period
or where changes were made purely
for political reasons. But where the
appointment was made in the usual
manner and no reasonable objection
could have been made to confirmation,
Mr. Townsend will resist to the ut
most the filling of such places by
Democrats. He will maintain that
Republicans are entitled to those DO
sitions. -. ......".. .:..
1t is said a number of other Re
publicans will rally to the assistance
of Mr.. Townsend Some real lively
sessions are anticipated when Mr..
Wilson fills the places covered by the
legitimate nominations of President
Taft. T., ~,
Washington Topics ...-. H..
No current legislation or any other
subject will be taken up by the extra
session till congress disposes of the
tariff. This is the position which
President Wilson practically agreed
upon, according to Representative A.
Mitchell Palmer. of Pennsylvania,
chairman Of the Democratic caucus,
who discussed legislation with, him
Representative Palmer told the presi-
dent of the progress of the tariff bill
being drawn by the ways and means
committee. He said he had no doubt
that everything would be ready when
the session opened on April z. -. !.
& j.
The suggestion that President Will
son may shoot another precedent of
long standing by doing away with
regular cabinet meetings may prove
to have more foundation than is gen.
orally believed -. ..... 49,. l..
Cabinet sessions, as rule, are de-
voted to little more than the pre-
sentation of department business to
the president. According to the
precedents of many years, the presi-
dent listens to cabinet officers, in the
order of their official status. present
matters in their respective depart
ments, beginning with the secretary
of state and going on down the line
While the president is occupied
with the state department the heads
of other departments do nothing and
await their turn. 1t often happens
that some of the cabinet officers
never get to their turn and spend
an hour and a half or two hours of
yalIlahlp time morc1v waiting II
would be just as easy. according to
the view of many, to have these mat
tiers settled between the president
and each cabinet officer as necessity
arises and without taking the time of
other officials not concerned in. the
least as to what is going on in other
departments. -.
On important matters of policy the
president would, Of course, wish the
advice of all the members Of his cab
met. That would necessitate his call
in gall his advisers together and he
would be the best judge of the time
for this. 49,.
Many hours of valuable time are
wasted by cabinet officers going to
cabinet meetings at which only rou-
tine department matters are consider
ed and when nine men are waiting
for one man to get through his turn
with the president
No official announcement has been
made from the White House On the
subject and what is in the presidents
mind on the subject is not known.
l., ...