The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1886-05-06
THE "SPOILS" SYSTEM.
How Jefferson Disposed Of His Ex-
eCutivO Patronage.
Mr.. ADAMS AND THE OFFICES
Tho Partisan Principle Recognized Mt
Very Early Day.

AT the evening session on Wednesday
last of the American lIistor ical So
ciety paper of great interest was read
by Mr., j. M. Merriam of Harvard
University on "Jefrerson's Use of Ex-
ccutive Patronage" 1t contains
number of facts and statistics relative
to the subject matter with which the
general public is unfamiliar and which
will command attention in these days
of civilservice reform The Critic
therefore takes pleasure in reproduc.
ing some of the more salient and in.
structive points of this carefully col
lated contribution to the history of
the "spoils system" Mr.. Merriam
says
"1he importance OF the question Of civil
service in the days when there were but
few hundred offices was but slightly
perceived. Prudence dictated the selec-
ton Of clean, capable men, but party
feeling also dictated the choice OF politi-
cal adherents. 1t was but natural then
that at the end of Mr.. Adams admins
tration the business of the Government
was executed by men who were Of the
ruling party opinion. Mr.. Jefferson's
statement that such was the case strength
ems our ready belief. The passive side Of
the spoils theory had thus gained favor
by the simple influence of natural prefer
cnee. The prospect Of q change in the
political color of the Executive brought
still more plainly to the front the exis-
tence Of the feeling that partisan adj
vantage should be promoted through the
possession Of the Offices, and shows a
lurking fear in the minds of the Federal
lists that the power Of patronage would be
turned against them.
| "All possible vacancies were filled, and
on February 10, 1901 new act--the Judi
ciary act-was passed, In order that the fail
ing grasp should still be sustained. This
act was worthy Of the spirit of Van Buren,.
BY 1t, seven artificial circuits were estab-
lished, each under the jurisdiction Of three
judges, the judges of one court, however,
supplying the places of district judges.
Places were also created by sub.dividing the
districts for five additional attorneys
and maishals. The President was en-
powered to appoint as many justices OF the
peace In the counties Of the District of Col
umbia as he deemed fit. This one act gave
Adams power to make seventy-four new APP
pointments. They were crowded in, as
Jefferson says, with spur and whip up to
nine O'Clock Of the night Of March 3.
Occupied with the articles Of enlarge
ment of the Judiciary was one designed to
contract It. 1t was enacted that the next
vacancy on the Supreme Bench should not
lie filled, but that the permanent number
Of judges should be reduced by one. The
| spirit of this article makes 1t consistent
with the whole. 1t was designed simply
| to prevent the growth of the influence OF
| Republicanism. All of these new positions
were for life or for five years, a term that
| would carry the appointees over the coming
| Presidential election These positions were
| filled with Federalists, many Of whom, in
| Congress and out of 1t, it was charged had
been active supporters of the Administra-
| ton.
Summing up Mr.. Adams Administration
we may safely say that one principle OF the
| spoils system was firmly established
principle that executive patronage should
| be bestowed on partisan followers. We
must look to the next Administration for
the development Of that other principle
which, though not less logical, is more vio-
lentothe creation of vacancies by removals.
"In one of Mr.. Jefrerson's first messages
| to the Senate he sets AZ naught twenty-four
| Of Mr.. Adams appointments that had been
made in the preceding February, January,
and even in December, all OF which had
been confirmed, while in nearly every case
| commissions had been issued. These re-
movals were in the judiciary, the customs
service AID the Diplomatic service. They
| were but beginning.
"Others followed in quick succession,
until at the end of his first administration
| ninety-nine removals had been made. Seven
teen of these removals were in the interest
| OF retrenchment, but eighty-two of the va
| cancies caused thereby were filled with Re-
| publicans. The figures here presented have
| been carefully compiled from the executive
| journal of the Senate. An analysts of these
| removals shows the following distribution
| among the different classes of ofllcers Dis
trict attorneys, 10; marshals, l3; judge OF
| Orphans Court, | register of wills, |; col
lectors of customs, 20; naval officers, B.;
| surveyors, 5; commissioner of loans, /; SUI
pervisors of revenue, A; surveyor-general,
/; minister, !; consuls, 8; commercial
agents, 10; justices of the peace, II;
| total, 50.
| "To this number must also be added
those whose tenure of Office was limited to
| term Of years-thc marshals and territorial
| officers and who were not reappointed-
making total OF 105 cases of forced retire
| ment. These removals and non-reappoint-
ments, with the exception Of three non.reap-
pointments, were all made before the end
| of 1904 and most Of them were confined to
ls01-2. Within this same period Jefferson
was enabled to appoint five district judges
and two judges of territories, four district
attorneys, two marshals, fifteen collectors,
one naval officer, thirteen surveyors aud
thirty-One other officers to I'll vacancies
caused by death, resignation and non-ex-
planned causes. We therefore see that
there were the following changes in the
civil service during Jefferson's first admin
tration
IA District attorneyships out Of ..,...,., Q.
10 Marshalships out of. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ~
District judgeshps out of,..,,........ II