The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-15
NOT MUCH TO GIVE OUT
Senator Lucien Baker Writes a
Letter on Federal Patronage.
Says the Supply of Offices to Be
Distributed
Has Been Greatly Limited by Civil
Service the Opinion
That Civil Service Has Been
Carried Too Far

In a letter to the editor of the Leav-
enworth Times, Senator Baker has CIV
en- expression of his opinions regarding
Federal patronage and its effect upon
the Republican party in Kansas:
Washington, D. c.. Feb. 8, 1897.
My attention has just been called to
an editorial in the Times of the 3rd in
slant, relating to the Republican party
of Kansas and to the distribution of pa
tronage under the Mckinley admins
tration.
In so far as patronage is concerned
am inclined to the opinion that very
grave misrepresentation exists in the
minds of many relative thereto.
The conditions are not the same as
they were some five or 10 years ago.
Senators and congressman have been
reliVed of much power, if civil service is
to be further extended or even contin-
ued. When ingalls, and Plumb came
to the senate, civil service was an I'M
known quantity. In 1883 our present
civil service law was enacted and from
that date to the expiration of President
HarrisOn's term of office less than 49,
coo persons were in the classified list
Since then civil service has been ex-
tended 50 as to cover nearly one hum
dred thousand places in the public bus
mess.
The positions not covered by civil SER
vice at this time are about 900 fourth
class post offices and some % 900 pres
idential post offices. Also six or seven
hundred other places in the public ser
vice.
1 have not given the exact figures
but they are near enough for all prac-
| teal purposes.
President Mckinley is a firm believer
! in civil service. He so assured the
! public in his letter accepting the nomi-
nation of the st. Louis convention for
the presidency; and it is reasonably
| safe to predict that he will take no
/ backward step regarding so-called
| civil service"
Such being the case, how is the ques-
| ton of patronage to cut very much fig
ure in building up Republicanism in
| Kansas?
1t has always been the boast of our
| party-and rightly I think-that it is
held together by principle rather than
! by the cohesive power of plumber. 1t
seems to me that principle, not selfish
ness or pelf, should control.
Outside of the post office appoint
/ ments, which are source of weakness
! rather than strength to the party, the
patronage in Kansas consists of dis
trict attorney, United States marshal,
| internal revenue collector, two or three
| minor conSulates, six or eight receivers
| and registers of land offices, one or two
bank examiners, perhaps and Indian
inspector or so, and if anything else
remains it is of minor Importance.
1t seems to me that some of the news
/
! the present conditions relative to fed
| eral patronage. They have eXaggrer-
ated the amount of patronage which
| must be distributed by senators and
| congressman beyond all reasonable
| bounds to the detriTnent of the people
as we'll as those whose duty 1t is to
recommend others for position.
! From the above statement it is quite
| apparent that the filing of these posi-
! lions alone, with competent and proper
| persons will not revolutionize politics in
| Kansas to any great extent.
! 1t is wrong to lead the people to be-
! lieve that senators and congressman
| are loaded down with offices ready for
| distribution for the mere asking where
a dozen or two offices, other than in the
| postal service, are all that remain.
| Ours is not yet entirely an office
holding government and will not be-
! come such until the form of it is chang
! ed, that generally all business shall be
| transacted and managed by govern
ment officials instead of by individual
! ability and enterprise.
| Civil service has been in my opinion
extended far beyond reasonable bounds
| Even pension examiners, deputy as
| sistant TnarShalS, assistant revenue col
! Iectors, etc. are under civil service.
! And in some departments it is carried
to such an extent that the drivers OF
! two-horse wagons in government ser
| vice have to pass an examination in
| polite literature before they can OBJ
| tain employment
In the QlSI1lDullOn VI IAC PdlAO
which devolves upon me by virtue OF
my official position I shall endeavor to
recommend only capable, honest and
worthy persons. After investigation
shall be controlled by my own Judg-
| ment. 1 expect to make some mistakes,
who does not? 49,
l have no ambition to be political
''autocrat" or "dictator''-such terms
| are very offensive to mel am just as
much opposed to a senatorial boss as
to any other kind. This is govern
ment by the people and every one, if
he so desires, should have chance to
ascend the rickety ladder of political
fame.
Mr.. Mckinley has given it out cold
and fiat, that but very few appoint
ments will be made until after the eX-
/ niration of the special session which
will probably begin in March and end
in July.
with kind regards, remain as ever,
IJJCIEN BAKER