The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-12
THE IVIL-SERVICE LAW.
The Injustice Worked by Its ADpIica-
ton in the Vincennes Postomce.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
1t is evident that the workings and the
results of the civil-service law are not as
satisfactory as even the most sanguine at
first anticipated. The chief cornerstone
principle upon which the act is based, ac-
cording to the decision of Justice Cox. of
the District of Columbia, and other deci-
sions rendered, seems to be more auto
cratic and less democratic than the princi-
pie of ito the victors belong the spoils."
1t is a one-man power affair. Everything
depends on the President. The law is full
of absolutism, inconsistency and injustice,
and woefully out of harmony, not only
with true Republicanism, but with the
spirit of true Americanism as well. The
inconsistent features of the law is this: 1t
permits, or does not prevent, the removal
of postmaster regardless of charges, but
before carriers can be removed charges
must be preferred and proven. Cabinet Of
ficers and other officers are removed, and
men of the same party as the President
are installed promptly, but the subordinate
ofticeholder or those in the private ranks
of the party, are kept out. In short, the
law is discriminating and therefore unjust.
1t is doubly unjust for that reason, because
places and against those in low places. 1
am speaking now of it's operations on the
party in power. Both in theory and prac-
tlce the civil-service law says to the spoils
system law or custom, this: Whenever
a new party is elected to power we will re-
move all officeholders in high places who
were against said party coming in, and put
in men who were for us; but in minor
places we will retain those who are in and
keep out our humble friends" The en-
barrassing feature of the law is that under
the present administration, for example, it
places a Republican postmaster in charge
of an office and makes him and his party
responsible for the success of the Office,
and yet places under him as his assistants
his political enemies-the very men who did
all they could against him and his party,
and who will do all they can by their
votes the first opportunity they have to
have their employer removed. Waving
the question of politics, this theory and
practice is antagonistic to business princi-
pies. And yet the civil-service law is sup
posed to be based on business principles.
But, to further and more clearly show
the unfairness and injustice, as well as the
Inconsistency of the law. l will take a case
In point that came up in the postoftice here
in VlncenneS. When the last Democratic
postmaster was appointed under Cleveland
the minor offices were all filled with Re-
publican letter carriers. The first Repub-
Ican carrier he removed, about six months
after he was in, was a soldier, the only one
on the force. He asked the Democratic
postmaster what the charges were against
him, but received no answer, and had no
opportunity to defend himself, but was re-
moved and a Democrat given his place.
There is no particular objection to this pro-
ceeding so far. But since our present post
master was appointed by President Mcxin-
ley this removed soldier carrier placed his
who made a thorough investigation of the
so-called charges against the bounced"
soldier Republican carrier, sifted the mat
ter to the bottom, proved to the satiSfac-
ton of the department at Washington that
the charges were false, spurious and I'M
grounded and that the soldier carrier had
ment acknowledged that he had been thus
wrongfully removed. Then the question of
his reins statement came up, and it was
learned that the only thing in the way of
MS reinstatement was an order issued by
the President, which is as follows:
mo removal shall be made from any po-
sition subject to competitive examination
except for just cause and upon written
charges filed with the head of the depart
n1 Sini OF other appointing olncer, ana OF
and an opportunity to make Defense
So that in this case (and there are thou
sands of others like it, the situation under
this broad and expansive civil-service act
is about as follows: A soldier letter carrier
was wrongfully and unjustly removed by a
carrier wrongfully. given his place, which
is 50 filled during the entire Democratic adj
ministration. Republican President is
elected and a Republican postmaster ap-
pointed The soldier carrier asks for his
place, from which he was wrongfully de-
posed and to which he is entitled under the
civil-seryice law, or If not under said law,
he is entitled to it by virtue of the law
of justice and common fairness and equity
He voted and worked hard for Mr. McKin-
leyS election. The man who has his place
worked and voted against him. Yet Mr..
Mckinley, by his own order, prevents the
righting of that wrong committed by his
predecessor. Or, looking at the President
as President merely and not as Demo-
cratic or Republican President. the situa-
ton in this case would be this: One Presi-
dent wrOngfully throws faithful servant
out of office. and his successor stands in
the door and prevents the ousted servant
from coming in again, by issuing an order
tying his own hands and preventing him
he keeps in the man who was wrongfully
placed there. Strange to say, but not very
strange either the next faithful servant
dismissed by the late Cleveland Democratic
postmaster here was the son of q. soldier,
and the only son of a veteran on the force.
The only excuse given for his discharge was
that he was not needed; that there were
enough carriers without him. But he had
not been removed long till the economic
Cleveland postmaster suddenly discovered
that he must have another carrier and so
appointed one of his Democratic friends.
When the next presidential election rolls
round, should Mr.. Mckinley be renomi-
mated it will be expected that these wrong
fully discharged soldiers and sons of vet
Grams will vote, for him. and doubtless they
will stand by their comrade. and the DEM
ocratlc carriers will vote against Mr.. Nc
klnley. one set of men work and win a
victory, their enemies reap the rewards of
their labor, and they set back and saw
wood.
Any civil-service act or any other law
that is based on such policy and brings
about such state of affairs Is unjust, I'M
sound. unsafe and defeats the very pur-
pose which 1t was intended to serve. The
act poses as a broad and liberal law and
purports to be based on the merit system.
But, judging from its workings and the
cold facts in the case, President carry
ing out the law is supposed to be broad
and liberal to the extent that he keeps his
enemies in and his friends out. The Repub-
lican party is the only party that has ever
carried on the affairs of this government
successfully, and surely the party that re-
deemed a nation is amply able to take care
of its economic interests and internal well
fare. 1t is not so much a question of ITO
the victor belongs the spoils,'' as a question
of to the trustee belongs the trust.
JONATHAN KEITH.
Vincennes, Ind. Oct. H.