The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-08-21
MIR. RooseveIt's Civil Service Report.
WILLIAM T. CLARK.

Mr. k0OS6VelGS C1TlI Serflco hopOTt.
The political sensation of the week is the re-
port of Civil Service Commissioner Theodore
Roosevelt concerning the violation of civil
service rules by Federal officialsi in Baltimore,
He recommends to the President for dismiss
al about twenty five office holders in the mar
shal's Office, the custom house and the post
office, for violating the civil service law.
MIR. Roosevelt witnessed the Republican
primaries on the Both of last March, when
the party was rent in twain by two factions.
One of them, headed by Postmaster johnson
and United States Marshal Airey, represent
ed the administration, or rather the office
holders. The other faction was headed by
VIM. T. Henderson, an unsuccessful appli-
cant for postmaster, and Mr.. Stone, another
unsuccessful candidate.
No principle was at stake said Mr.. Roose-
welt, but one ofoff1ces merely. The most in
temperate zeal was shown and fraud and vio-
lence were resorted to by both sides. Elec-
ton judges were dragged from their seats,
ballot-boxes were broken open and pudding"
ballots removed by the handful; charges
were openly made of bribery by money and
drinks. Indeed, the cheating seemed to be
30 much q matter of course that no conceal
ment was made and no sense of shame re-
strained the partisans on either side.
Commenting upon the view of the spoils
politician that politics is "a dirty game" in
which anything may be done to win, Mr..
Roosevelt says "the government office hold
er must be taught in one way or another that
his duty is to do the work of the government
for the whole people and not to pervert his
Office for the use of any party or faction
Mr.. Roosevelt does the Collector of Inter
nal Revenue the justice to say that his Off
ce was not used in the interest of either
faction and also exonerates Hon. VIM. M
Marine, Collector OF the Port, from any par
ticipation in the wrangle. About so per
cent. of the classified employees of the Custom
House, he says, are Democrats appointed
under Cleveland and still holding over, He
adds: apparently no appointee, Democrat
or Republican, in the classified service, who
does his duty under Mr. Marine, need fear be-
ing turned out for political reasons"
The report is made to the President by the
full commission, consisting of Charles Lyman,
Theodore Roosevelt and Hugh S. Thompson.
If President Harrison does his duty and dis
misses the men from Office, as recommended by
the Civil Service Commission, it will doubt
less weaken the hold he has upon the Repub-
lican party in this State, but perhaps strength
en- him in quarters where additional strength
might serve him good purpose. The polit-
ical effect of Mr.. Rooseyelt's scorching report
would appear to be hurtful to the Republican
party in Maryland. Mr.. VIM. T. Hender-
son has been led to observe: 81 fear this
year that the Democratic majority will be so
great that we will not know whether there is
Republican party in the State or not"
The exposure, by a high Republican Off
cial of the way in which Republican primaries
are conducted in the city and the complaint
throughout the State generally of the man
agement of primaries by both parties
strengthens the demand that primary cleo
tions should be held under legal restraints
and with severe penalties for bribery, corrup-
ton or fraud. What has occurred in the Re-
publican party may occur in the Democratic
party, and the warning should be needed.
The next Legislature must legalize the pri-
maries.