New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-26
PRICE FOUR CENTS. h,
THE FOUR YEARS TERN.

BROUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGE.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIDUNE.I
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The brief and spirited
debate in the House Of Representatives the other
day on the bill to tix term of four years for In
ternal Revenue Collectors and to turn out of Office
all collectors who have been there for four years,
has attracted marked degree of attention here as
well as elsewhere. The Administration papers
which defend the bill argue that it is an attempt to
bring the Internal Revenue Collectorshps into har-
mony with the four-years rule governing other posi-
tions in the civil service Of about the same grade,
and loudly charge that the Internal Revenue COL
lectors constitute an "aristocracy" They seek to
convey the impression that these indefinite terms
are in violation of American ideas that tho
fathers of the Republic would not have permitted
them and that the sons ought to bring them TO end.
Probably many not aware that the establish
ment of four years terms for Collectors, Naval
Officers Disrict-AttOrneys, Surveyors etc. was an
innovation upon the law of many years, that it was
made directly in the interest of political manipulation
of the civil service and that denounced at the
time dangerous step by of greatest men.
Now, that the subject Of Civil Service Reform is
receiving larger share of public attention every
day, it seems not an inopporune time TO suggest,
at least a subject for consideration. whether in
stead of passing law to fix four years term for
Internal Revenue Collectors it would not be well,
in the interest of better civil service and surer
tenure for faithful officers to repeal the laws Of 1920
and 1886 which fixed four years term for Collec-
tors of Customs, Dstrict-Attorneys Postmast-
ers etc.
DOrman B. Eaton, in his pamphlet on "The Term
and Tenure of Office" has given a clear history Of
the manner in which these laws came into being.
Probably some of the Congressman and good
many politicians would consider Mr.. Eatons opin-
ions as unworthy of their attention, but they can
hardly dispute his statements of facts and his cita
tons from documents.
Up to 1920, Mr. Eaton shows tho corrupt New
York system, afterward formulated by Marcy in
the famous expression that TO the yictOrs belong
the spols' of the enemy has made little progress in
the Federal Government. From the Inauguration
of Washington, in 1889, to the retirement of Mad-
son, in 1917. there were but sixty-two removals,
and all of them were stated to be for cause. la
1920 William II. Crawford, Secretary of tho Treas
ury, was Presidential candidate, and Van
Buren,, who was to come into the Senate IN
1921 even then an aspirant for the Presi-
dency and a master OF he corrupt New-York system
of politics. Crawford's supporter. They were
unsurpassed for their skllfu of patronage Both
were able to see that if the terms of the inferior
officers were reduced to four years there would be
patronage to dispose of and an easier introduce
tOn of the New York system. On the Goth of April,
1920 about thirty days before Congress adjourned,
there was reported bill (which Mr. Crawford and
Mr.. Van Buren, approved which reduced the con-
stitutonal tenure of DstuctAttorneys, Collectors,
Naval Officers, Navy AGENTS Surveyors Of Customs,
Paymasters, ana of several other less important Off
GERS, to term of four years This was The first fixed
term for any such offices. IL further declared that
the holding of all officers whose commissions
II a.. l..
and month of their date next after September 80,
1920 The expiration Of other holdings fixed fora
year later. The bill was thus retroactive, and it
made these terms expire on tho eve of the Presi-
Dental election. There was to be n Presidential
election in 1924, when Crawford ana Jackson vera
to be leading candidates How largely and promptly
this change would add to the patronage of tho
Treasury where Mr. Crawford presided. need not
be pointed out" ! he law of 1920, il 5 seen, was
IN one respect less Objectionable than the proposed
Internal Revenue Collector law. Though it pro-
vided for four years term 1t turned out of Office
Immediately only those officers who had been in for
SIX years. All others allowed still year more.
The Dunnell bill would turn out Immediately all
Internal Revenue Collectors who had served four
years. and-perhaps little improvement the
Van Buren, law-would leave Others in until they
had served four years.
Mr. Jefferson wrote of this law to Mr.. Madison:
II soua the constitutional and sautarv functions OF tho
President, ana introduces principle Of intrigue and
rptiOn which will leaven the not only OF Sena
tors but of ctzens IL isore baneu than the act which
failed the beginning Of the Government tO make all
officers rremOvabc bus with the consent Of the senate.
their power and even obges them TO aci ou every
nomination Ii Will keep in constant excitement all the
hungry cOrmOrants for office render them. well as
those in place. sycophauts to their senators; engage
these IN eternal intrigue to turn out one and put in
another in cablls work. and make Of them what
and faction; Itmust nave been one Of the idngat sig
natures Of tho PRESIDENT, when he had no time TO con-
siGer or even TO read ne law.
Who will say that this is not pretty correct
prediction of the process of barter and intrigue that
now goes on, and must almost of necessity 20 on
between Presidents and Senators when the four
years terms OF Collectors Postmasters and the like
exore'
There was mo showing of deIinquencies" to
prove the necessity of the law of lS20jGst rs now
there is no claim that the Internal Revenue Service
is not in excellent state of efficiency. There
were mo charges that the President could not or
would not remove Unworthy officials just now
there is no pretext that the President has not ample
power to remove an Internal Revenue Collector
whenever cause arises The reason which Comms-
'sioner Raum has always urged, and doubt sin-
cerely for the passage of the BILL is that good OFF,
GERS do not feel in their places without fixed
term. but an organ OF the Administration has said
that many Collectors have been in Office for
twelve years and upward, and the President cannot
make a change without subjectng himself to tho
charge of being hostile to Civil Service Reform"
There was not Il word of debate and no record Of
votes the passage OF the law of 1870. But others
beside Mr.. letters II denounced il. Mr. Calhoun,
then Secretary of War, heard OF Its sudden passage
only when it had gone through both houses and de-
cared it zone OF the most dangerous ever passed,
and that it would work revolution"
Mr. Eaton continues:
The dangerou consequences OF the new policy h.gan
very appear Five years after the passage he
of 1920 able committee OF the SENATE with Mr.
Macon al the headwhO never aided relative hench-
man 10 an Oiceuadc report fur the tepeal