The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-01-29
RTJULESON HAS BEEN
GIVEN OFFICE AGAIN
LEGAL ERROR OF THE PRESI-
nrNT IS SHOWN BY SENATOR
uARDWIcK OF GEORGIA.

WASHINGTON, ~. Wv lCnOuC
Injection or discussion, senate this
.ftarnoon confirmed the renomina-
+;on Of Albert Sidney Burleson to be
nostmaster general. President Will
SON sent the nomination to the senate
+bis afternoon after his attention had
boen called to the law requiring the
confirmation of the postmaster gen.
avail within thirty days of the expira-
ton Of his term.
Mr.. Burleson's first term expired
m March 4, 1917. Since that time,
according to Senator Hardwick, of
Georgia, the United States has been
legally without a postmaster general.
Senator Hardwick's disclosures
cave rise to opinions about the capt.
fol that the situation may lead to all
sorts of legal complications. Color
was lent the belief because the post
master general has since the war
broke out suppressed many newspa-
pers and other publications.
President Writes Letter.
In sending Mr.. Burleson's nominal
ton to the senate, the president
wrote to Vice President Marshall:
"My Dear Mr.. Vice President: I
an taking the liberty of sending you
4 for submission to the senate a re-
nomination of the present postmaster
general.
81 would be obliged if you would
explain to the senate that my atten-
ton was called only the other day by
= the attorney general to the fact that
! by special statute the postmaster
generals office is put upon a differ
ent footing from that of other men,
bers of the cabinet by an explicit
Imitation of his term of office to four
+ years l regret very much that l did
not know of the existence of this
statute, and take pleasure in submit
Ntng the same"
The proceedings today disclosed
Senator Hardwick's purpose in intro
ducing his resolution calling upon
\ President Wilson to state to the SEN
ate by what authority the members
4 Of his cabinet are holding office. De-
3 yeOpments came thick and fast.
Following Senator Kirby's reply to
Senator Chamberlain's speech on the
cOuntry's war preparations, the ju-
Nor Georgia senator obtained the
floor. He called attention to the res
Oution he introduced some three
#weeks ago and said it had always
been the practice of the presidents to
send the names of their cabinet mem
bers to the senate for confirmation,
land added: "In times like these, when
the congress is granting .extraordi-
shary powers upon the president, it
Is doubly incumbent upon him that
BE observe the provisions of the con-
|Stitution"
Holds Office Only Four Years.
He said that in most of the cases
81 the heads of executive depart
2nents of the government the law pro-
8Flded that they serve until their sue
sfeSsors had qualified, but a specific
exception is made in the case of the
postmaster general, the law reciting
Plat he hold office only for the pres
Rdentlal term for which appointed
Rnd one month thereafter and no
onger, Under the law, as construed
~ the Georgia senator, he said post
gaster general Burleson has not
Reen legally in Office since the 4th of
kSt April.
Senator Hardwick said that he was
dylsed that the majority leader of
Pc senate, Martin, of Virginia, had
ecelyed the presidents denomination
the postmaster general and that
was proposed to hold an executive
PsSlon for the purpose of Immediate
confirming the appointment. He
cded: Il am glad the president has
discovered what the law is on this
8lbiect."
Within few minutes after Hard
lex had concluded his remarks the
Ork OF confirming the reappoint-
lvNt Of the postmaster general was
ompleted.