The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-25
EVAD|AG THE LAW
Democratic Civil Service Clerks
Are Being Ousted.
PRACTISE VS.. PROFESSION
THE PEOPLE LIKE A STRAIGHT
~ FORWARD POLICY. 49,"
NO SOUTHERN MAN APPCiN re D
d. ao5 {t'e't% As AL----l--------s4--~A- Ht t
Even When Forced to Appoint a Sou;h-
ern Man. Carpe,baggers Are Given
o the Preference Over Native
~. Southern RepubIicansr-The sq
Ohio Women Racket
NO SOUTHERN MAN APPOINTED
Is Settled.

civil service so as to make it include all
chiefs of divisions, messengers, watch
men,, employees ian Internal Revenue. Of
fees. and like positions. MIR. Harrison
had, during his term. issned orders from
time to time embracing certain other
classes of public officials. In every in
stance the Cleveland administration res
pected the orders and no man was re-
moved who had been sheltered under the
wings of this great modern bird, under
whose protection government clerks are
wont to fly to escape political storms.
There were many Democrats who were
severe in their criticism of the President
because he would not turn out Republl-
cans, protected by the civil service. and
give the places to Democratic workers.
I confess to having much sympathy with
that feeling as an abstract question. But
Mr.. Cleveland had promised the people
that. if elected. he would carry out the
civil service law in good faith. livery
man who voted for him, voted with the
knowledge that he would disappoint ev-
cry opponent of civil service. And he did
disappoint them-and grievously.
Yesterday the eyes of those who had
been trusting to Mr.. McKinley's prom
Uses ito enforce and extend the civil
service were opened wide. In the pen
sion office FIVE of the most capable chiefs
Of divisions. who were protected by the
civil service, were peremptorily dismiss
ed. There were no charges against them
EXCEPT that they were Dmocrats and
tn places were wanted for Republicans.
No President who believed in the en-
forcement of civil service regulations
would permit such a notorious and want
on abandonment of the system, not to
say hypocritical sneaking method of get
ting around it. BY every sacred obliga-
ton that party pledge can make to bind
a party, the Republicans are compelled
"to enforce and extend the civil service"
Mr.. Mckinley, in his letter of acceptance
and in sundry speeches, declared it to be
his purpose to advance 1.-The merit sys-
tenn" and the Bryanites were denounced
everywhere on the stump as enemies OF
civil service because they declared against
''life tenure in Office
Less than two months of the new adj
ministration has passed, and, as to re-
moyals> the civil service regulations are
regarded as of no binding force what
ever. In the State Department, Mr..
Sherman prostituted the law to get in an
Ohio favorite as the head of the Bureau
of American Republics, though circui-
tous method of pretense of an examina-
ton had to be resorted to before it was
accomplished. In the Treasury Depart
ment the Chief Clerk, protected by the
civil service, was unceremOnlously
bounced, and an old ex-employe, a sol
4hn alan wit N
open violation of the law because. old sol
diers are exempt from the provisions OF
the law, being a privileged class here in
all things But the removal is a palpa-
BILE violation of the pledge to enforce
and extend the civil service" Now the
Interior Department is the storm centre
Of wholesale removals of efficient men
who have a right to the protection of the
civil service blanket at the hands Of those
who have boldly declared themselves its
special friends and champions. In addi-
ton ito the removal of chiefs in the pen
sion office, they have removed number
of watchmen who are also under the civil
service protection. In the case of these
humber positions, the authorities have
also, in defiance of the law, assumed to
appoint their successors. In the case Of
, a removal, the cabinet officer can remove
for inefficiency or partisanship, without
alleging any specific act. This practical
" gives him autocratic power to remove
officials under the civil service, but there
is no law that permits him to make APP
pointments except from the list furnished
through the Civil Service Commission. If
the report that he has dismissed Mr..
John III. Hinnant, Waterman, OF
Wayne county, North Carolina, and APP
pointed the negro Crews in his place, is
true, the Secretary of the Interior has
violated the law. But the Republicans
can put their thumbs in their vest pockets
! and ask: "What are you going to do about
/ it?" A cabinet officer, backed by Pres
| ident. can do most anything and if there
! is any law to punish a violation nobody
/ can enforce it. Practically, therefore,
! if cabinet officer has the backing of the
/ President, he can annul the civil service
law, though any.appointment made ex-
cept from those who have passed the
civil service examination is Illegal,
! | do not doubt that some subterfuge
will be resorted to make it appear that
the law has not been violated. In the
case of those placed under the civil service
by Mr.. Cleveland it will probably be held
that the examinat tons for those places
are defective, or that no parties who
were examined were fully qualified, and
new examinations will be requested
Pending this, the places will be filed
with strong Republicans who will be
covered into the civil service" There
are ways in which a President and his
cabinet can nullify the civil service in GER
tain places, but there is no way to do it
legally Certainly there is no way for the
Republicans to do it even decently after
their loud protestations of faith in the
law and the regulations.
There is one side to the evasion that
is not without humor Some few Demo-
Gratis here, who were anxious to hold on
10 their jois, voted for TcE:n'cy or
Palmer. thinking thus u protect them
selves ard -, keapea firm. scat en- the
saddle. ag.dr3 dat 'arp getting it,
~, tfc necI,' iust rs bad as Tie Straight.
forward Democrats who voted the ticket