The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-12


vices. l have seen them rendered = or
years. but l have never seen them 50
necessary or so well rendered as on Inc
victorious side in the late campaign An
Intelligent and sleeplesS county cfalr-
man was a most comforting assurance
Nevertheless, the question O. campaign
service is easily settled.
Much o. It has always been done. ana
always viii ami ought TO be done, without
hope or expectation of reward. All which
cannot for good reason be done, and II ere
ly out of the campaign fund; mucn is al
ready paid for. The close OF the cam
paign should leave the account between
the workers and the party balanced IL
i is not now regarded as balanced. ana
every place not within the civil service
rules will be demanded of Mr.. Mckinney
to complete the payment. The cemand
VIII Re made in entire confidence that Il
will be acceded to on the ground that the
incumbeEts have been in four years. ana
where the law does not so limit the term,
it VIII be claimed that custom amply uoes.
DIVIDING SPOILS.
I cannot md that in dividing spoils any
distinction has been made between ofiiceS
where the commissions run four years and
where they run indefinitely. The -ourtn-
class postEaasters are an overwhelming
evidence; with every change OF party 5U-
eco OF them have gone in and out. II IS
most desirable that congress repeal the
Jaws which seem 10 fix the tenure AZ -FOUR
years. II would show that congress mas az
least come up even with the progress oL
the reform. But 1t would be a serious
mistake to admit that rapid and STEADY
progress can be interrupted by the failure
of congress to perform its duty. me COM
pletioa of the reform in the federal
service must not be made to depend upon
this repeal Congressman DO not nave Us
in their eyes: that space IS enurely &C
cu2ied by party managers and workers at
home. There is no longer doubt but that
congressman are glad to see the rest
taken II it could be done without tner
seeming TO have hand in H. But the!
know that primaries and conventions are
still managed by q mere fraction OF the
party ara that that fraction never Tor
gives a. shrinking in patronage II IS Wen
to, remember, also, that the repeal, IL ac-
comp .shed. would not stand in the way
OF q president or party intent upon oe-
stroying the merit system.
The reform can be completed in spite
of the four year laws. In all the years
OF this agitation, l have believed that
the one unfai!ing source of progress ana
success was the WEI of the president,
acting under the powers conferred upon
him bv the constitution. That is now our
ample resource. Once inaugurated, the
president has but to take his stand, ana
the thing is done. The rock bottom OF
that stand is conscientious nrmneSs on the
part of the appointing power. There was
a time when custom furnished some
shadow of excuse. but in the light winch
accomplished reform in the tederai s ssl,eI
ice shows, any attempt by Individual
congrssSYnen to name" persons Tor
places, is a presumptUous and imperu-
nent interference with the duties OF the
president Time has been when presl-
dents were afraid of congressman ana
felt that they must yield 10 them Such
yielding now. in face of the general con-
te.-ot in which Office brokers are heiu'
could not plead any kind OF necessity.
A FRAUD ON THE PUBLIC.
It does not make any difference how
many times or how many years II IS
sold that you can with propriety go upon
the street and pick up politician ana
make him the head of an office filled with
skilled and experienced employees, num-
hers of, them more lifted Tor the -place
than himself. II IS not true and II never
VII .ba !ffue. Such a practice would
wreck any private business il is Il fraud
upon the puttie and 1t IS gross lnJIstice
in dspriving under-employees Of chance
OF promotion. The practl,b, VIII not con-
tinuy, because the interests OF business
and good sense and fairness cry out
against it. Mr.. Mckinley is not free IN
the matter He is bound by his platform
ard by his own repeated utterances- 1t
VII not 90 for him TO leave his sincerity
TO be questioned; he must take up the
work where his predecessor leaves II,
and 80 forward 10 the end. To urge that
four-year commissions or four year Gus
toms stand in the way would be a child
ish excuse The first principle to be laid
down by President Mckinley IS that
there are no ofIces to be divided as SPOTS
The second principle is the same and the
last is like unto IL.
There are some 5000 fourth7class post
Offices These are destined 20 pass away
as little political centers ana eXcept N
spaIsely settled districts their places VIII
be taken by sub-staions under the con-
trCl of a ueighborlng general authOfity
which will bring the benefits OF free de-
livery and good service 10 nearly al OF
the people, and the employees Will be
within the classified service. The plan
has been developed under the present ad-
rainistraIion, and the new administration
has but 10 occupy the Srount II II IS
sad that legislation IS needed, the ad-
n1.n:stration should answer that II VIII
leave things as they are until such iegls-
lat.cn is had If the gross injustice OF
transferring so many positions OF one
rarty to the classified service should be
1,Teed il should be answered that no
such transfer is 10 be made, but that me
present incunbents have only the right
Of competition for the new places
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICES.
TIE presidential Offices are a much
easier problem. The president may
nominate whom he will to be postmaster
He has but to direct the civil service
commission to prepare scheme OF pro-
motion, which. under, competitive tests
shall bring to him out OF the postal serN-
ice names of men fit TO be Fstmasters.
and from these names send us nomlna-
lions to the senate. This practice may
be applied to every non-political office.
1t is not new, for it IS applied in some
portions OF the consular service
| desire to add that | am not welded
to d plan for any branch of the service.
Where there is a will there is no difficuity
about a way. We cannot expect con-
gressrnen to take the lead Already the
folIr-vear signs which have been familiar
20 Us for a lifetime are re-d9Oearlng.
The platform of the place-seeker IS on rs
rounds and careful calculations are beng
made as 10 what patronage the repre-
sentative of the right party stripe VIII
control and what senator or party leader
win name men for places in districts
of the wrong stripe Men are working
with members-elect of legislatures 10 Sc
cure their votes for senatorial candidates
and the federal Offices which the success
ful candidate will control are having
their usual weight in the contest Con-
c-rassnen willing or unwilling, seem 10
acouiesce and participate in this old
fashioned movement for a division OF
sDCil and in such ways as deciding
whether or not elections shall be had
fc.- postmasters have assumed the air OF
ownership. Ii is unsafe to rely upon
their voluntarily voting themselves to be
lawmakers and nothing more. It WEI be
President McKinley's duty 10 break this
,,rsctice up There would be some oppo-
sition; the opposition would be NOISY,
hat after all il would only Embrace
small fraction of the presidents party'
and would be helpless against the Dresl-
dent sustained b. the ample power OF the
constitution and by the approval OF the
--sst body of the people
Other papers were: Civil Service
Reform in the Constitution of New
York State Hon. Sherman 5. Rogers,
Buffalo; civil Service Commission Es-
sential to Civil Service Reform Hon.
Dornan s. Easton, New York.
After the reading of the papers the
meeting adjourned sine die.