Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-10
nauY pOSI.INTEluIGENcER.
TaE sPoILs SYSTEM.

The New Orleans Post OHice has iust
been the subject OF investigation At the
hands of a commission appointed Os
the Postmaster General. Grave irrsRu-
larities we're discovered. Men were
borne upon the pay rolls who rendered
M s.reice. others Who hired their duties
n.rformed by substitutes for less com
nensa.icn than they were paid. Letters
addressed to the manager OF the new
Orleans Lottery, which are forbidden !"
he delivered, were mysterionsiy 40
stracted, apparently by the postmaster
son. who was employed in the ONCE
and numerous evidences Of mismanage-
mept. il not crime, were discovered.
The postmaster has prepared ana Tor
varded to the Postmaster-Gensrai a
statement and explanation relative 70
the matter. He claims that these irree-
ularities have resulted because OF the
poor material employed as suoordinates'
whom he has been compelled 70 a great
extent TO appoin. for political reasons.
Hare in a chance for reform. What IL
IN. Civil Service Commission doineF
The county has been led to believe
that no appointments were nov being
made TO clerical positions in ine larger
post Offices and custom houses except
under the rules of the Civil Service Law
Yet the New Orleans postmaster DE-
clares that he has been compelled 70
appoiut persons evidently incompetent
and unfit for their duties because the
politicians demanded il. Such illusira-
tions are proof of the need OF reform IN
the methods Of appointments 70 the
Civil Service of the Government. Inc
spoils system has been and is Zoe 20
r,ooer selection of official subordinates
Fvsyv candidate for Senator, kepresen-
ta.ive Or other high Office has his
friends and strikers. They work Tor MS
election, and IL he is successful claiu
their reward in the form of some Gov
srnment Office at his disposal, or 10 Do
procured by his endorsement. Inc
question of the fitness of such men Tor
the position sought is hardly considered
Il in deemed ample qualification to have
voted. worked for the party nsm-
inees, and, suppositiously at least aided
the successful candidate.
The result is that the various Govern
men. Offices throughout the country Dc
come filed with men who obtain ana
ra.ain them. not on account Of fitness,
lint nv virtue of the favor Of powerful
political friends. When election time
eomes around these men desert their
deaks. neglect their duties, and engage
themselves in tho arduous work oil
whooping up" their patron for re-eieo'
ton. Before the late Presidential nom
nation at Chicago, hosts OF these FAC
tors in politics perambulated the ooan-
try fixing " conventions in the interest
Of tina ms, " and at Chicago they we're
In force to further the aspirations OF
said Sins" and perpetuate their hold
upon their several offices, Meanwhile
the official duties devolving upon them
were neglected yet their salaries con-
tinued. We have had IN this Territory
local illustrations of this state OF facts
THAR names need not be given. The
whole business il wrong. tits democrat
izing and degrading 10 an in'eiiieen'
man to be compelled TO ally himself TO
the fortunes of some second rate politi-
clan in order to obtain position under
the Government for which by habit OF
thought, mode of life, experience, ability
and integrity he is fully qualified Yet
to obtain any very important position
this 10 al yet about the only successful
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