Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1913 — PRESIDENT WILSON ADOPTS NEW RULE [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT WILSON ADOPTS NEW RULE

Wants to Know About Qualifications as Well as to Have the Senator’s Endorsement. Washington, D. C., April 15.—The Indiana senators have just received a warning that their recommendations as to patronage will not be conclusive with the Wilson administration. Under the old forms-of distributing offices the recommendations of the- Indiana senators would be accepted without question in filling all such offices as district attorney, United States marshal, revenue collectorships, etc. - This rule, under the new dispensation, is set aside and the recommendations of the senators will be accepted only as prima facie - evidence of fitness. This -announcement is authoratative and casts a new and interesting light on tjie patronage policy that will govern President Wilson. After a conversation with Attorney General Mcßeynolds regarding the quailflcations of men'to be appointed, Senator Kern wrote to him asking him whether the recommendations of senators would be accepted without further inquiry, and if not what test would be applied to the solution of the question as to fitness. ' In his answer the attorney general says that he has a very earnest desire to improve the qualifications of the law representatives of the government ahd that they should be trial lawyers of recognized ability, already prepared to take care of the government’s affairs in the courts where it is necessary for them to practice. He adds that the president’s position is that he (President Wilson) will give especial weight to the commendation of senators, but as the responsibility of all appointments must ultimately rest with him, he reserves the right to make such inquiries as will satisfy his o\yn mind.

When Senator Kern was asked if he had received such a letter he admitted that he had, but he declined to discuss what effect it will have as to various candidates for Indiana appointments. It js supposed here that it will eliminate several of -the candidates for district attorneyship. Kern establishes two facts’ of paramount importance. One is that the recommendations of senators and representatives wjll be only prima facie evidence of fitness and in no sense binding upon the president. The other is that jn reference to district attorneyships the president and attorney general have made up their minds that none but lawyers of well-established reputations and entirely familiar with federal court practice need apply. The first proposition has a sweeping application to all government appointments and means that the senators will not be “the whole show” and that if they should recommend men whom 1 the president should deem unfit, he will have no hesitancy in rejecting them.