The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-13
ROOSEVELT ANDTHE MAYORALTY.

| 1t is said that Teddy Roosevelt pro-
poses to drop out as National Civil Ser.
vice Commissioner and drop in as Re-
publican candidate for Mayor of New
York. Roosevelt is one of the Mug
wump birds who no longer wumps. He
was honest in his desire for good gov.
ernment and like number of
other intelligent gentlemen he thought
that it could be found only in the Demo-
cratic party. He was an ardent believer
In civil service reform, wrote magazine
articles upon it that betrayed the
scholar. but not the practical man,
whooped her up for Cleveland, and as a
result he became national civil service
commissioner.
During President Clevelands first
term Roosevelt had snap. Mr.. Cleve-
land was after denomination; he had
not at that time observed the many, if
secret. ways by which man in high Of
flee could attain great wealth, and he
preached economical expenditures of
Government funds, greatly to the de-
light OF Mr.. Roosevelt.
Cabinet officers in the interest of
Democratic simplicity did away with
official carriages. Mr.. Cleveland made
public announcement that the law pro-
vided only 30 days leave of absence,
with pay. for public officials, and, as one
of them, he would only avail himself Of
the legal vacation period.
Then appointments to Office were made
in as strictaccordance with the civil SER
vice rules as possible
But change has come over the spirit
of Democratic dreams. The civil SER
vice commission cuts no ice under the
present administration. 1t is only used
to turn down patronage hunters who are
unpopular with the administration or
obnoxious in some way. Then it is that
the civil service commission looms
up big.
Mr.. Roosevelt is wise enough to realize
that such is the fact, in spite Of his sin
cere devotion to what he believes to be
practical civil service
reform. He probably feels that there is
no further prospect of advancing his
cause under existing conditions, and he
would rather retire than be suppressed
or used as a tool.
And Democratic simplicity has also
Now every member of the Cabinet has
n Government carriage at his disposal
night and day for himself and family.
and even assistant secretaries are pro- |
vided with horses and carriages for pub
lie end private USE Some of the assist |
ant secretaries and bureau officers.
who play tennis, may be seen almost
any evening, when they are in Wash
ngton during the tennis season, rolling
10 and from the tennis courts in govern
ment carriages. dressed i'm white fannels
and toying with tennis racquet
Government vessels are used for official
iunkets, the President leading the way.
Trips to Alaska by under secretaries and
'ther expensive excursions are INDUCED
N al iib.
Counting the ducling. fishing and
'niling excursions on Government YES
els. and other jaunts for recreation,
he President has aggregated over two
mouths leave from his official duties
Turing the past fiscal year. Now Csbi-
let officers are permitted to leave their
lesks and 90 on the political stump and
larry on factional fights in Georgia
md elsewhere, and campaign funds are
assessed and collected from Government
'fiicials and employees, consequently
here Is plenty Of reason why Mr.. Roose-
Telt may have grown weary Of we'll
Ioing IN behalf OF civil service reform.
But just why the prominent Repub-
ican leaders in New York should step
ma eils and NAB. D. NJ 1