The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-08
The regular circulation of THE sun for the
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Will II Work

It Is ono Of the most highly valued prvi-
lcges OF the American citizen to try to insert
himself into a Government Office when his
party gets atop; and very happy he is il he
succeeds, and not permanently miserable
usually, IL he fails. But whether he succeeds
or fails. he Is pretty sure to give considera-
bic bother to the President of the United
States, who has to sit In Judgment upon
myriads OF applications and in execution
upon myriads of appliers. Though he have
the patience OF JOB of w, the podding in
dustry OF n treadmill OK, and the auditory
long suffering OF a telephone. yet will the
office seekers be too much for him. Even a
Presidents day is not forty-eight hours
long, and As he has a few other things to do
besides reading and hearing petitions for
office, he is led to seek some means of screen
Ing himself from the enthusiasm OF the good
people and bad who want to talk him or
write him into an appreciation of their fit
ness or tho fitness Of somebody else to do
the state some service for a salary
Probably no President ever stayed in the
White House long enough to find his way to
bed in the dark who did not devise some in
vention to keep Office seekers out OF the way
without making them angry. But the do
vices fail to work. The President suffers for
time from their opportunities, but the ag-
Ony is soon over. The offices get filled, and
the President gets needed respite.
We learn from the PHILADELPHIA Press that
President CLEVELAND has already taken
measures to protect himself. According to
that Journal, he has refused to make an ap-
pointment for an interview in regard to an
application for Office All such business. he
announces, must be carried on with the head
of each department. To this revolutionary
step he has added the order that all applica-
tionS for Office, and the papers relating to
them which are sent to him, shall be referred
without examination, recommendation, or
endorsement to the appropriate department.
The President-the Governor, as his rnmedi-
ate following still call him-is very much in
earnest on this point, and IL logged resolu-
ton can carry out this much-needcd reform
II will be accomplished. No one can ques-
ton its need who is familiar with the pres
sure upon Presidents time, strength. and
ability in settling questions OF patronage"
Now, this Is not new rule or revolution
AIRY measure. as our contemporary supposes.
Other Presidents have tried it, notably to our
knowledge Mr.. LINCOLN. In fact, it is so much
necessity that applicants should first be re-
ferred to the head Of the proper department,
that we may say every President has more
or less insisted on that method. But as for
SO long time all Presidents have been Re-
publican. there have been very few changes,
and.no occasion has been felt for insisting on
any rule at all.
or the need OF such step in Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS case. there can be no doubt, but its
efficiency is not beyond question. The
great obstacle to it is the fact that appli-
cants for Office will expect their member of
Congress or their Senator, at least il he is
Democrat, to say good word for them.
And if the member of Congress or the Senator
Is not satisfied with the way in which his
constituents application is treated at the de-
partment to which it is referred. he will seek
the good Offices OF tho President or appeal
TO him to use his authority and influence to
get more favorable hearing at the depart
ment. The President cannot afford to snub
all the Representatives and Senators in Con-
gress. Hc cannot refuse to listen to their
recommendations of their constituents with
out converting men whose hearty co6pera-
ton is necessary to him into open enemies
Moreover, Office seekers in the several
States will get influential Democrats from
their towns and counties and States to press
be difficult for him to put these gentlemen
of, even if they know that he has established
u rule against considering requests for Office.
So it will need extraordinary tact as well
as iirmncss. to stick TO the rule. Exceptional
cases will arise, and when the bars are once
down the whole herd may break in. Still,
President CLEVELAND Is on the right track.
His Cabinet is composed OF trustworthy men,
"A
of their subordinates, and be responsible to
the President for them. All the important
places. OF course, should DO disposed of by the
President personally. but he ought not to be
troubled with the disposal OF the great mass
OF subordinate places. He can trust the
heads OF the departments as to these.
But desirable as the rule is in many re-
spects, 1t will be mighty hard job to enforce
p. H..t IA L..