Ann Arbor Postoffice

A Washington dispatch to one of the Detroit dailies purports to give the situation of the postoffice appointment for Ann Arbor, in the following paragraph: " The most interesting thing in Second district politics is the Ann Arbor postmastership. Postmaster Dufify has made a good record in the office and there seems to be no reason for removing him. At the same time,, his term will not be up for a year to come, and that would bring the new appointment very close to the time of nominating Capt. Allen's successor in congress. There are several candidates for the office and the struggle will be a warm one. Capt. Allen will name the man who has the strongest backing, and he is an old enough head in politics to understand that the Ann Arbor postoffice has made and unmade congressmen and is likely to do so again unless great care is takeD. Meanwhile Mr. Duffy will probably serve out his f all term ; for the president has shut down on making remováis except for business canses." In an interview with Congresemsn Allen, who returned from Washington on the 3rd, he was shown the above dispatch and commented quite freely upon it. "That dispatch," said the congressman, "ie a mistake from beginning to end. I have not understood, nor has President Harrison, that Mr. Duffy's term of service has a year yet to run. I consider that his term is out any time after he has served for four years, tbere is no idea that he will keep it another year. By saying this, I don't mean to say that Mr. Dufiy will be summinarily "bounced." When the proper time comes, he will receive his notice in a gentlemanly manner, giving him plenty of time thereafter to close up his business properly." "Hsve I decided upon the man to name for Duffy's successor ? No, I have not," continued Captain Allen, "but I will know within the next fifteen days. I am not the one who will make the choice. The republican patrons of the Ann Arbor postoffice are the ones to do this, I simply sitting as a judge in chancery to decide the case on its merits. The arguments have been made, the evidence is in and all there is for me to do is to look it over and decide. I gave both candidates a chance to get petition8, and I have a long list of names, over 1300, I think. I am going through these, carefully cutting off the names of all democrats, parties who do not get their mail at that office, men who are dead or removed from that vicinity, and those who have signed both petitions. When this is done, the man having the largest number of petitioners left will receive my recommendation for the place I do not know whether it will be Beal or Sumner, but I will say that this appean to me the right way to do it, and I had rather be right than be president."' "I understand," he continued, " tha there has been considerable talk at Ann Arbor about my having promised the place to J. E. Beal for his uncle, before election I want to say that I never promised either that or any other office, to anybod; before election or after. I have told J. E Beal, as I have told others, that if 'ui uncle received the support of a larger num ber of the republican patrons of the office than Mr. Sumner, he would receive the appointment, and if he did not receive thi support he would not receive the appoint ment. There will be no outside influenc that will have any effect on my action in the matter. The petitions and letters tha I now have in my hands will be all that shall take into consideration. I expec that I will make some enemies whicheve way I decide, but if I take the measure that I have laid down, I am sure that th fair-minded men of Ann Arbor will stam by me if they think that I am doing wha I think is right." " I am considerable of a civil service re former and don't go entirely on the tol ackson doctrine. In the minor offices nd boards, I believe in giving the demorats a representaron. On the pension oard at Ann Arbor, I shall appoint two epublicans and oue democrat, keeping Dr. ohn Kapp as the democratie member if ie will accept it. I am in favor of keepng two or three of the democratie mail arriera on. Duffy has made this a Iittle ïard for us to do, as he seemed to forget he republicans altogether, but I think that t is the right thicg to do." "No," concluded the congressman, "the appointment of postmaster at Ann Arbor will not be made at the end of 15 days' By that time, I will have finished the count on the petitions and know whom the people have chosen. After that it won't be very long before the appointment will be made, but the present incumbent will have plenty of notice of the event."