Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-17
LAYTON HAS VOICE
IN DISTRIBUTION OF
FEDERAL PATRONAGE
Said to be Decidedly in Favor
With the Postoffice De-
partment.
NOT SH0RN OF HIS POWER


Special Dispatch From Every Evening
Washington Correspondent.
Washington, Sept. 17.-Inquiry to-
day at the postoffice Department re-
vealed that Representative Caleb r..
layton is still in favor with those in
authority in that department, es-
pecially with Postmaster General
Hays and First Assistant Postmaster
General Work. as both of these high
officials let il be known that the Della
ware Congressman stands as well with
them and will receive the same con-
sideration as Congressman from other
States in the matter of the recogni-
tion OF recommendations for appoint
ments to office.
In view of the prevailing impression
that Senator du Pont and Senator Ball
had taken over to themselves all the
Federal patronage appcrtioned to
Delaware. inquiry has been made into
the real situation, with the result that
assurances have been given that
Representative Layton. by virtue of
his official station. will have very
large and a commanding voice in the
appointment of postmasters in Della
ware Assurances We're given that his
recommendations, when sustained by
the essential merit on the part Of the
applicant. would not be set aside by
senatorial protest or objection, but
that they would prevail even though
both Senators joined in a veto of the
Congressman's actions.
The general belief seems to have
been that Senator du Pont and Sem
ator Ball formed an alliance immedi-
gtely after the formers recent en-
trance INTO the United States Senate
and that Representative Layton was
left out in the cold insofar as patron
nge is concerned, but recent develop
nents indicate that the lone Congress-
man retains his power and that all he
has to do is to exercise it.
This will not be cheering news tC
some of those who have been awaiting
patronage favors at the hands OF Sen
ator du Pont- and Senator Ball. but il
viii be cheering news 10 those friends
and supporters of Representative Lay
ton. who have been advised that Their
Congressman has been shorn of his
power and that he is a mere figure
head. charged with the duty of re-
spending to the beck and call of those
higher up. 1t will be good news tc
them. for they may now take new
hope and be justified in their aspira-
sions for preferment to some comfort
able Federal job.
When Representative Layton call.
upon the postoffice officials in the mat
ter OF postoffice appointments, ant
asks as TO his standing with them. j
may be assured that he will be tol,
in effect what is embraced in thi
story. He will be told that the polio.
Of the administration is to recogniz
the recommendations Of Congressmel
in the appointment of postmasters an
that their recommendations will pre-
vail even against the protest of Sen
ators unless the protest is based ol
the unfitness of the applicant an
that the claims of unfitness must b
subject to proof. He viii be tol
that the mere objection to an appli
cant on the part of a Senator viii
ineffective.
II has never been thought here tina
Representative Layton ever contem
Hated surrendering his political an
party rights, but that he would per
sistently remain on the job. and in tn
end demonstrate TO his adversarie
that ne represents the State of Della
ware in the lower house of Congress
by virtue OF the commission the peopl
of that State gave him.