The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-26
CHEST OF BRIBERY.
Commissioner Roosevelt Talks
About Civil Service.
He Urges It's Extension to All
Offices.
FULL OF CORRUPTION.
The SpOils System is Iniquitous
in the Extreme.
The Law Should be Made More
Strict He Says.
FULL OF CORRUPTION.

WASHINGTON, Oct 26.-The extension
of civil service and the general political
assessment cases we're discussed today by
Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt in
an an interview with an Associated
Press reporter. Mr.. Roosevelt said:
Every fall as the election comes the
need of radical and sweeping extension
of the classified service becomes more
and more apparent. All of the govern
ment service not under the provisions Of
: the civil service law forms q vast bribery
chest by means OF which Is gained an
+ unhealthy stimulus to political activity
Of that very class in community which
we should be most sorry 10 see inter
s ested IN politics.
The enormous bulk of officers have
really no connection whatever with
politics. Their duties are in no respect
political and they should be appointed
wholly without regard to political situa-
tions and kept just as long they do
their duty we'll 1t is mere nonsense and
dishonest nonsense to say that better ser
vice can be obtained by having in subor-
dInate positions. men who are of the
same political party as the head of an ad-
ministratiOn.
The railway mail service can be cited
as proof for this. No department Of the
government gives greater satisfaction to
the public at large, yet the great bulk
meu who we're appointed during
A1r. Harrison's presidency in
Mr. Cleveland's first term. All of
these of the present administration were
drawn from our lists, as has been the
case during the last five years. Those
entering the service under the civil ser
vice form the bulk of employees, includ-
ing Republicans, Democrats. Prohibi-
tionists, Populists and Mug jumps, all
wholly without regard TO politics, and
,11 lrc.r, f1ear
fcient service.
''It is not OF the least consequence
which of the employees believe in pro-
lection and which in free trade; which
for free coinage and which against free
coinage of silver. As matter of fact,
nobody can tell anything about their
views on the subject From the perform
ance of their duties, no one could tell
Republican from a Democrat. The
rigid enforcement of the civil service
law is the reason why there has been no
deterioration IL the service in the
changes of administration.
''The rest of the government service
should be treated in just the same way.
Not only all postoffice employees, but
postmasters themselves, should be ap-
pointed without the least regard to poll
tics. The internal revenue Office should
be classified and all its men appointed
regardless Of politics. The Indian
school service is another object lesson of
bipartisan service. Heretofore every
administration change has caused
sweeping changes in the school service
at Indian agencies for purely political
consideration.
"But this has not been so in the last ten
years, because the civil service law has
been enforced in that service, and be-
cause recently that law was administered
by Superintendent Hailman with a desire
to also bring the spirit we'll as the let
ter.
"What has been done recently in Pitts
burg shows the iniquity of the spoils
system. There one Of the con ngressional
candidates has actually sought to levy
political assessment amounting to a
months salary. the employees of the
internal revenue office Similar efforts
have been made to assess postofice en-
ployes. The money was sought wholly
without regard to the political affiliations
of employees.
"It is a mere piece of blackmail and
Just as if gained by knocking down
clerks on the highway. It seems hard
to understand why an intelligent com
munity will tolerate so gross an abuse.
where a man deliberately plumbers a set
of public servants that he may get funds
wherewith TO debauch voters The COM
mission recently had before it the case
of the recorder of deeds, Taylor, and dur
ing the investigation it proved that
wherever the civil service law did not
obtain in Washington, a condition Of &C
tual terror existed in the public service
and the janitors, porters and all other
employees were forced to pay politicians
for places aud pay to retain them Any
thing more servile, more vicious cannot
be imagined
"We have had great many public men
attack the merit system, bur there has
never yet been any argument advanced
against if, or in favor Of the spoils sys-
tenn that was both honest aud intelligent
There are honest men who are yet too
preiudIced. too ignorant, or too unob-
serving to understand the fruitful evils
of d corrupt public service administered
in a spirit of base partisanship. There
are plenty of dishonest politicians. both
shrewd and unprincipled who for their
own base ends clamor against the merit
system and seek to excite pref udlce
against It But there is not a single
American, honestly desiring the welfare
Of the country who can look for a mo-
menI at the two systems and consider the
principles for which they stand without
becoming a hearty ally OF and believer
IN the new methods.
'Tne law is steadily making Roadway.
The classified service is extending all
he time. The commission. however, Is
necessarily required to be active in su-
pervising the extension of the law. This
Ill -