The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-05
TIE sPOlLS SYSTEM AND The
SPOKESMAN.

The Washington correspondent Of the
Baltimore Sun writes this case to his
paper.
German has heretofore posed as the
especial friend of the new navy, and the
Navy Department has counted on him as
one Of its mainstays for getting the bill
through Congress making the additions
to the navy that have been asked for by
1t. To its surprise when the liberal bill
passed by the House reached the Senate.
German was the most active senator of
all in seeking to cut down it's provisions.
and by his influence with the Committee
on Appropriations, of which he is men,
Der, he succeeded in pinching 1t to- the
extent Of 100000. The Navy Depart
ment was as much surprised as chagrin-
ed at this.
The Suns correspondent has ferreted
out the secret of this change of front
on Germans part, and 1t gives this ex-
PLANTATION of It, While Mr. Whitney
was Secretary of the Navy he got Con-
gress to provide for establishing a great
gun plant at the navy yard in Wash
ington. and this is right at the border of
Maryland, Mr.. Germans field of politics
The plant has been fostered by the
government until it has become an i'm
mense thing, employing more than 1900
of the most skilled operatives, and it is
now one of the finest establishments of
the sort in the world.
Lying at Marylands door, it is a splen-
did haven for Maryland "heelers," who
might not be the best operatives in max
ing first-class high-powered cannon, but
who could nevertheless draw the pay of
such operatives as well as the best me-
chanics and could also manipulate Mary
land elections for German in return for
his securing them the jobs.
During Mr.. Harrisons administration
his Secretary of the Navy, Gen'l Tracy,
made an order for the government of
this plant which excludes the influence
of politicians is securing it its employees,
and thus gets the Government the bene-
fit of the best mechanics that the world
affords. and Mr.. Herbert keeps the order
in force. OF course. an administration
Of the concern upon any such principle
as this is just the reverse of what
German wants. He wants it as a poor
house to support his heelers. He got the
Committee on Appropriations. therefore.
as means of forcing the revocation of
this order, 10 cut down the appropriation
for this plant to a point that will force
it to close by August the LIST. and re-
main closed until the next Congress
makes an appropriation for it-certain-
ly year-during which the Govern
ment will be deprived of its use, and
the two thousand first-class men that
it now has VIII be thrown out of en-
ployment Tine Suns correspondent
makes these remarks in the case:
Captain Sampson, the chief of the ord
nance bureau, contemplates the defeat
of the House bills provisions for ord
nance work with profound regret, and
points out that the ordnance department
will suffer incalculable harm from the
entire suspension OF gun mandatory.
which now looks inevitable. For seven
years the factory has been in full blast,
turning out guns of all calbers for the
new navy. 1t is now one of the most
complete plants of its kind in existence.
and has capacity for making guns and
their parts with greater facility and
with more assurance of successful trials
than other factories longer in existence
and with greater experience. The blow
20 the two thousand or more men would
be severe
There are mechanics at the yard who
gave up lucrative and important posi-
tons elsewhere TO come TO Washington
and accept a government place. In these
instances they were informed that ord
nance work would continue indefinitely,
and the chances of a shutdown had hard |
ly been considered. Not only will the |
close of these shops bring about much |
injury 10 the men. but IT will deprive |
the Navy Department of the services Of |
valuable workingmen and experienced |
Gun makers when the shops are again |
ready for continuing work. one officer |
regards the closing of the shops as prac-
tcally meaning that political considera- |
tons must again rise superior to those OF |
efficiency.
We can say with entire tandor that |
we think this man German has done |
and is doing more TO debauch public |
morals and defraud the public service /
in these United States than any man
that has ever figured in the administrat-
ton of affairs in this country. If our
institutions are lost it will be through |
the influence of the kind OF politics of
which he is the, high priest and eXemplar.
Nor do we make any considerable ad-
vance towards getting rid of the evil by
simply getting rid OF German. All men
must set their faces against the idea OF
politics that he represents before we can
ever hope for any real relief from the
system. lie represents the idea in politics
that Government and its salaried places
are the spoils OF those who can secure
the control of government, and that
these have the right to bargain before
an election that they will give so much
of government spells for so much SER
vice in the election. Whilst this idea has
any considerable place in our polity we
are in perpetual danger of being under
mined, CORRUPTED. and destroyed Ii be-
comes all good citizens TO set thar faces
resolutely against all Germans and the
German idea In politics.
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