The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-23
WAGNER, NAMED, DECLINES
NEW YORK POSTMAS7ERSHIP|
President Sends Name tn Sem
ate. Despite Senator's Re-
fusal to Take Post.
WANTS TO BE \ JUSTICE

April 2G. -- PRESIDENT
Wilson sent to the Senate to-day the
long delayed appointment Of a postmas-
ter for New York city. lie named
Robert +. Wagner. state Senator and a
Tammany man. The appointment of
Wagner cane as a surprise to most OF
the New York Democrats in Congress.
Wagner. 1t is understood, was selected
by President Wilson ms "A compromise
between the two warning elements of the
Democracy In New York city. Mr..
Wagner. while a stanch organization
man. is regarded favorably by the in
dependent Democrats.
The name of Joseph johnson. who has
,rsistently sought the appointment for
many months. was withdrawn at the
last moment after IL became apparent
that he had ne chance. The President
on one or two occasions was prepared
to send Johnson's name to the Senate, !
but the opposition of many non-organi- |
cation Democrats deferred the President.
Senator O'Gorman had supported John
son for the post. but had submitted two
other names. 1t was reported tonight
that Wagner was one Of these. /,
In Face NJ DcciinatiOn.
Apparently President Wilson has APP
pointed Mr.. Wagner in the face Of "A
strong Discrimination on the latters part
to accept the post. " was learned here 1
Tonight that Mr.. Wagner declined the
appointment some time ago. but appar-
entity the President has gone ahead with
tec nomination rcsardless of Wagncr's
wishes. The President wrote him "A let
ter yesterday III ging him to accept.
The New York pos,mastership has
been one OF the most troublesome pat !
ronage problems the President has had
I" solve. There il obviously "A DISPOSE
ton at the White House to placatc Tam
many and pull the organization nto line
FOR Mr.. Wilson in the coming election.
but the President has been influenced
by the so-called independents, led bS
Secretary Nc.Adoo. Franklin II. Roose-
welt and others.
senator Wagner declined the offer of
the postmastership conveyed To him by
Col. f.. NJ. House two weeks ago. lie
again declined IL on Friday when Col.
House tried 10 get him to reconsider the
proposal. Mr.. Wagner therefore said
yesterday that he was greatly sur
prised to hear that President Wilson
had decided to send his name to the
Senate.
Greatly az ! appreciate the Compl.-
AAA'fAA nv s"Ni h"' -
tership is outside the line of my ambi-
ton and ! shall positively a Y to re-
fuse the nomination. l have enjoyed
my work In the Senate. 7 have enjoyed
the legislative give and take and the
opportunity to assist In putting through
important legislation. hut routine af-
fairs in such a position as that OF post
master do not appeal to me-
Looks to JudEeship.
II is no secret that Senator Wagner
expects to he nominated 10y the Demo-
crafts this fall for the supreme Court
position held until the end of the year
by John &. Clark by appointment from
Gov. Whitman. 1t was known last fall
tina he felt he had served long enough
at Albany. but that he was sent back
because Al Smith, majority leader IN
the Assembly. was going to run for
Sheriff and Tammany could not think of
being deprived OF the legislative SER
vice OF both Wagner and Smith at the
same time.
Mr.. Wagner therefore was left off the
Supreme Court slate. il being under
stood that II things went we'll with the
organization he would have his nance
in the election his year.
\ supreme Court Justice gets Sl1,50o
n year. The postmaster of New York
receives a salary OF $4,000 and $1,000
more as custodian OF the Federal build
ings. \ Supreme Court Justice serves
fourteen years. the postmaster only four.
one of the Senator's reasons for turn
ing down the Federal joh vas his feeling
that he could not afford to take it in
view of other possibilities. His law
! practice has naturally been interrupted
BY his work at Albany. but there is no
doubt that II has brought him more
than the $4,000 a year which the post
mastership carries.
MY reasons for declining are entirely
professional and personal. They have
no background except my political ainbi-
tons" said MIR. Wagner yesterday.
From the beginning of the deadlock
which has caused the retention of
Postmaster Morgan under a Democratic
regime the Administration has tried
without success TO get Tammany to put
forth a candidate so distinctly its own
that there could be no mistaking the
purpose Of the Wilson followers to make
peace with the New York Democrats,
Bu, Charles F.. Murphy has consistently
refused to recommend anybody.
The candidacy of eX-Fire Commissions
Joseph Johnson. now chlei OF me lubl'
Service COMMISSIONS transit bureau. was
sponsored in Washington by the late
; Thomas J. Pence. secretary OF the Demo-
= cratic National Committee. and by mu'
tual friends of Mr.. Pence and Mr.. John
son. Senator Ottoman backed John
7 son and still is doing so. No one was
more surprised than Senator OGormar
when President Wilson nominated Sena'
, tor Wagner yesterday.
Nr. Murphy's Attitude.
But Mr.. Murphy, although he thinks
. well Of Mr.. Johnson. would not q. X
! him for postmaster. To the Rev. Milo
II. Gates. rector of the Chapel of th'