The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-11-28
PATRIOTS NEED NOT APPLY.
President Cleveland Has Taken &c.
600 Offices Out of Politics.

Times nave changed since March 4,
1892. The spoils which now belong to
the victors are not such as to agitate
the nation. During the past four
years. or since he entered upon his
second term, President Cleveland has
put under the operation and protection
/ OF the civil service law SO, 600. places
which. up to the time of such action,
we're open for the reward of party
: loyalty and party labor. Now these
$4,000 places, as vacancies occur, must
Re filled from candidates who pass en-
aminations. and q candidates poll
ties does not enter into considera ion
In a general way it may be said that
almost every office worth having.
which does not require confirmation
by The Senate. has been taken out of
politics. The $4,000 Offices which
President Cleveland and his subordi-
mates could dispose of at will are now
held by officials who can remain so
long as they are efficient. And as
vacancies occur neither the President
nor the Cabinet has power to fill them.
How far the civil service law now
extends may be best illustrated local
ly. In the st. Louis Post Office, with
its hundreds of employees. there are
to-day only three places which will he
open to Republican candidates after
the 4th of March. These are the post
master. the assistant postmaster and
the cashier. Those now in possession
OF the remaining positions are secure
in that possession during good be-
haviOr. In the Office of the Collector
of the Port the situation is the same.
The patronage of the Collector of
Internal Revenue is similarly restrict
ed under the executive orders issued
since Mr.. Cleveland became President
The second time. Deputies. clerks,
attaches and laborers above the most
menial grade in all the Federal Offices
in St. Louis can be removed for cause.
| only. When removed their places
must be filled from those who pass an
examination in which politics plays
no part.
Here are scme of the branches of
Government employment TO which APP
poinhnents can no longer be made on
political merit, as was the condition
four years ago. and from which re-
movais can not now take place to give
Gi.icc to partisans:
The steamboat inspection service.
The marine hospital service.
The light house service.
The several miIts and assay affices. |
The revenue cutter service.
The force employed under custodi-
a0s of public buildings.
The several Sub-Trea suries.
The engineer department at large
The ordnance department at large. |
The internal revenue service.
In Washington an order has re- |
moved what was once an attractive |
field for the reward of the faithful !
country editor. The great Govern
ment Printing Office is now under the
civil service law. Appointments to
place under the Public Printer are no
longer dependent upon congressional
pull. This means that Places upon
the Printing Committees ofboth House
and Senate will not be so desirable in
the eyes of statesmen as they have
been.
That bulwark of party patriotism.
the fourth-class post Office. still re-
mains. Various plans to take the
country post Office out of politics have
been considered. None Of them has
been found satisfactory. The Senator
or Representative still has the post
Office candidate with him. There are
$4,000 fourth-class post Offices. Upon
these the office-seellers must concen-
rate, for President Cleveland has left
very little else for the rank and file {
o3 party workers.
It used to be possible for patriot t
Tho came to Washington seeking a I
mission. an assistant scrctaryship. or ;
equally as good to com
promise on . job as watchman or mes 5
.en@ar. Men of note in their commu-
3ities have become messengers in = t
rather than 90 home with
'ut any recognition from the party
or which they had done so much. Bnt
'ow. even these compromise are bar !
ed. IN order OF president Cleveland q
.as put the places Of messengers and y
7atchman OF the departments in the .
classified service. There is scarcely 7
my place, the compensation of which 4
5 over $500, left out. For alrnost ,
verything but door scrubbing and
pittoOn cleaning an examination and :
-on-partisan qualifications are re- Q
uired.
i dose nf Dp Pa1l.- Di,o-r'o. TI.-.l