Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-24

whom he Is to succeed, gave splendid
satisfaction when he was postmaster of |
Bratteboro, It might be inferred that
superior qualification for the best service
was the criterion, but assuming this 20
be the case the question naturally arises
how the State committee happened to
adopt some other basis. If that was the
case Both selections manifestly could
not have been put on the same basis.
Moreover, the fact that the State com
the case of the Brattleboro postoffice.
will cause uncertainty to prevail In con-
nection with some Of the other selec-
tons made by that committee, and there
is some wonder why the Burlington
postoffice was not included In the list
with Rutland, where p. NJ. Meldon, tho
state committees choice, was ap-
pointed, as well as Brattleboro and other
towns, unless It was due to the fact that
Postmaster Derby's term has not yet ex-
PRED.
If the principle Of home rule were
to be allowed to prevail, then instead of
letting Washington select postmasters,
we would go to the other extreme and
let the patrons Of postoffices decide the
choice by vote. thus following the ex-
ample set In connection with the Brat
tleboro postoffce once upon a time by
. ~, Vt xthar on.
gressmen were charged with the duty
of handling this troublesome question Of
the distribution OF this particular kind
of spoils of victory.
One exception to this rule Of congress
sional control Of postmasters below the
presidential grade which has survived,
or was supposed to have survived until
the recent ruction In Washington began,
was that a United States senator should
have determining voice in the selec-
ton of a postmaster in his own town,
unless he were of the opposite party
from that of the executive, and even in
such cases senator's have been given a
somewhat free hand.
President Wilson has now zone to the
other extreme by ignoring democsatlc
senators as well as state committees IN
connection with some Of his appoint
ments, or those with which he is &C
credited We called attention the other
day to the unanimous rejection by the
Senate of President Wilson'S nomination
Of John r. Lynn of Rochester to be fed
eral district attorney for the western
district OF New York because the APP
pointment did not have the approval OF
Senator OGorman, the democratic sena-
tor from the Empire State; and other
cases are multiplying.
Undeterred by the rejection OF Lynr
President Wilson sent to the senate an
other batch of appointments opposed BY
democratic senators from the States con
; cerned including that OF w. y. Collins
to be postmaster Of Kansas City, who
lacked the Endorsement of Senator Reec
: of Missouri. The Senate committee OF
postoffices and postroads without leav
ing the chamber reported adversely tn
nomination of Collins. and on motion
of Senator Reed the adverse report or
the appointment was rejected without
single voice being raised in the Pres1
dents behalf
The fact that the President had Siver
Mr. Collins a recess appointment shortl!
before Congress reconvened Is believed
to have added to the resentment Of sen
ators who have been increasingly,
- alarmed over the Presidents assumption
of complete authority over nominations
This experience of President Wilson |
especially noteworthy In view of the fac
that few executives have had the contro
- over their party In Congress in bot
branches of Congress he has exercised
and the detection may be far-reachins.