Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1912 — NEWS FROM NATIONAL CAPITOL [ARTICLE]

NEWS FROM NATIONAL CAPITOL

Everyone has seen what happeru when a man takes a fit on the sidewalk. People tor blocks around rush up, crowd about him, stand on hands and feet and shout in unison: "Stand back there and give him air.” That’s precisely the fix in which the republican party in Indiana finds itself todaiy. Cold anjrunconscious, it lies prostrate in ghastly pallor, gasping for a’r like the fellow with the fit. Ranged around it is a mixed and miscellaneous posse of persons who are loudly proclaiming that they are going to revive it —if everybody else will go away and leave each individual to attend to this job. Collating its proclaimed troubles and gathering the proposed remedies it would appear from a general survey that it needs about as much repairing as the old farmer’s wagon. All this vehicle required was a new set of running gear, a new body and a new tongue au.i singletrees. With a little touching up with paint, the old man said the blamed thing would be as good as the day it lef the factory.—Tippecanoe County Democrat. -

(By Clyde H. Tavener, Special Washington Correspondent for The Democrat.) Washington, Dec. 3.—Everybody wants to know about the distribution of patronage under the new administration. Every member of Congress of Democratic faith is receiving inquiries and applications by the hundred. I came to Washington at an, earlier date than I intended, to try to discover the prospects of what will be done in a general way, but have found out nothing valuable or tangible. There Is much guessing and

newspaper talk, but that is all. All things concerning the distribution of patrorage are up in the air, so to speak. President-Elect Wilson, who is resting in Bermuda, has not, so iar as is generally known, giver, any information of his intention on this subject. Nothing definite will be known until he speaks. The only things certain at this writing are:

1. President Taft has by executive order placed the 4th class postmasters under the Civil Service, that is all postmasters drawing less than SI,OOO a year. This means that the present 4th class postmasters will hold for life,’or during good behavior, unless President Wilson revokes President Taft’s order. As to whether or not he will revoke it nobody knows.

2. Most of the places worth having, except those which have to be confirmed by the Senate, have been for some time under the civil service. This greatly lessens the, number of positions formerly available.

3. For twenty years the custom has been for federal officials appointed for four years, such as postmasters, U. S. marshals, etc., to serve out their terms unless they took part in politics during their terms. Whether this custom will be continued it is ini]>ossible to saiy.

4. President Taft is said to have declared his intention to fill all vacancies as soon as they occur. But whether or not the senate will confirm his appointees, or hold up their nominations, it is impossible to even guess.

5. The custom has been for the patronage of any particular state to be distributed through the Senators and Representatives thereof who are of the same political persuasion as the administration, if any such there be, and if none such, then through the national committedman or some dependable friends. Under that arrangement Representatives are depended upon to recommend postmasters in their own districts while Senators are depended upon to recommend postmasters in Congressional districts not represented by Congressmen of the same political faith as the president. Senators are also depended upop to recommend for marshalships and offices of that kind, including departmental positions and places on the consular and diplomatic service, and in fact all offices not local. Of course, as a rule, the Senators consult with the Representatives in this matter, all try-

ing to do the most possible for their constituents. 6. What scheme for selecting postmasters, etc., President Wilson and hi s Cabinet may adopt is wholly conjectural. Some advocate one plan and some another. Consequently it might be best for those intending to be applicants to let matters rest until the situation is cleared up somewhat: but where one or more aspirants .for a particular place start in to secure signers to petitiors, recommendations, etc., it might be wise for all aspirants to do so.

It has been figured out by some of the newspaper correspondents at the National capital that Mr. Wilson when he enters the White House, on March 4, will find that he has the power to fill directly 10,839 government positions. They declare the appointive places requiring confirmation are divided as follows:

Departments: State, 441; Treasury, 736; War, excluding army, 6; Justice, 383; Postoffice, 7,953; Navy, excluding officers, 11; Interior, 272; Agriculture, 3; Commerce and Labor, excluding census, 28; Civil Service commission, 4; Government Printing Office, 1; Interstate Commerce Commission, 7; Library of Congress, 1.

The places not requiring confirmation by the Senate are thus divided:

Departments—State, 94; Justice, 84 6; Interior, 44; Commerce. 8; Civil Service Commission, 1.