The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-01
MCKINLEY AND THE CIVIL SER
VICE.

The Republicans are very anxious 10
know whether Mr.. Mckinley is going to
enforce the civil service regulations when
he goes into the White House Those
who are prominent enough to expect
positions that have to be confirmed by
the Senate know that their hope of Sc
curing a position depends upon the vio-
lation of civil service regulations. 1t
seems that the desire TO have Mckinley
violate civil service regulations exists
elsewhere as well az in North Carolina,
for the Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun writes:
Major Mckinley will scarcely be
warm in his seat before the strongest
pressure will be brought to bear to
induce him to modify or rescind some
of the civil service orders Of Presi-
dent Cleveland. 1t will take
some nerve for him to resist the APP
peals which will be showered upon
him. 1t will be remembered that
General Harrison soon after he came
in Office postponed the execution of
Mr. Cleveland's order regarding the
railway mail service until all the
Dlaces had been filled with Republi-
cans. He showed himself incapable
of resisting the solicitations of the
party hacks The same game will be
attempted with Major Mckinley;
whether with similar success is yet
to be seen.
Our recollection in regard to Mr..
Cleveland's order, to which reference is
made. is that about December before his
term was to expire in March, Mr.. Cleve-
land issued an order preparatory to CLASH
flying the railway mail service. In Feb
ruary he promulgated his order directing
that after certain given date, which
was subsequent to the Inauguration of
Mr.. Harrison, the law should be opera
tive. After Mr.. Harrison came in he
extended the time within which the law
should be operative some thirty days
longer. and in the meantime did fill the
service with Republican "heelers," many
of whom were dropped after very short
probationary period, during which their
incapacity was demonstrated. Even if
disposed to violate the regulations, Mr..
Mckinley will not have the excuse which
availed Mr. Harrison, for when he be-
comes President, all of Mr. Cleveland's
orders win have become operative. He
cannot make removal of any official COW
cred by Mr.. Cleveland's orders except by
an open violation of the spirit and pur-
pose of the civil service regulations. Will
Mr. Mckinley wantonly repudiate his
own record, the platform Of his party,
and his own letter of acceptance 1t
will be remembered that when he was in
Congress Mr.. Mckinley voted for every
proposition that looked to strengthening
the civil service, his party in its national
convention pledged itself to maintain the
system, and he promised in his letter of
acceptance to be true to his party's de-
claration. If he carries out these pledges
in good faith there will be weeping and
waiIing and gnashing of teeth among the
expectant ofiice-holders.
Here i'm North Carolina there will not
be any positions except the fourth class
postmasters apart from those requiring
confirmation by the Senate. All the
clerks and mail carriers in the large post
offices such as Raleigh Charlotte, Will
mington. AsheviIle and Durham are
protected by the civil service regulations.
Heretofore the main positions that could
be given to party workers were in the
internal revenue service. Now there
are only two positions within the gift Of
the two collectors in this State, to wit:
The disbursing officer in each district.
All the others are protected by civil SER
vice. 1t is true that the incoming col
lectors might secure the removal Of the
present incumbents on the as
sumed charge of incompetency,
but they could not fill the
vacancies by appointments of their own
choosing. They would have to go to the
eligibles on the civil service roster and
select from the three passing the best
examinations. There is no incentive to
remove good clerk when the officer
empowered to remove cannot fill the va
cancy he creates.
In this internal revenue district the
following officers are within the classified
service: 40 store-keepers and gaugers;
IS gaugers, 10 division deputies, ) field
deputies under revenue agent. 6 office de-
j
6 clerks. In the western internal revenue
district, so we learn from the Asheville
Citizen, there are 400 commissioned
store-keepers and gaugers, ii division de-
putty collectors, stamp deputies and ID
office daputies-making in all 800 posi-
tions, heretofore in the gift of the col
lectors, that will hereafter be filed only
after competitive examination. This is
one reason why the Republicans are try
ing to grab all the State places. They
know there will be few pickings for them
under the Federal government, and they
want to monopolize the State places
The Populists, knowing for certainty
that they cannot get any Federal offices
charm never so wisely may Pritchard
and his henchmen with many promises
and they will claim nearly all the State
patronage for themselves, and if they are
wise they win get it.
McKinley's devotion to civil service is
the fly in the ointment for North Carolina
| Republicans just at this time.