The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-01
THE SPOILS
OF OFFICE.
Those at President Nc
Kinley's Disposal.
ALIST OF THE FINE PLUMS.
Those Protected by the Civil
Service. e
4 LIST OF THE FINE PLUMS.


NEake-MOst of the Clerical Places Are
CIosed-Fourth Class Postnasters Fill
66,725 of the Exempted Plaees-Oficers
Confirmed by the Senate Are 4,s15.
Good Consulships and Other PIuns to
Be Distributed.
just before the incoming of a new adj
ministration usually there is printed by
private enterprise "blue book, - in which
are set forth the offices which are at the
disposal of the president. This book has
large sale among the patriots who are al
ways ready to sacrifice their own interests
and serve their country-for a cOnsidera-
ton.
There are always many desirable offices
which drop into the patronage list unex-
pectedly-vacancies on the bench, etc.
But most of the spoils which are to fall to
the lot of the new president are his TO dis
tribute from the moment he takes the oath
of Office.
1t is well known that President McKin-
ley's administration will not have SO many
Offices to distribute as President Cleve-
lands had and still fewer than fell to tho
lot of President Harrison. Mir. Harrison
put large mum Der OF clerskhips under the
civil service commission just before he
went out of Office thus confirming great
many Republicans in Office Mr.. Cleve-
land has been equally partial to civil serv-
ice reform Of late, and goodness knows
what he will do before the 4th of March.
he offices he and his predecessors have
protected of course, are the clerkships and
messengerships and other minor positions
which were not really the presidents, but
were among the perquisites of his cabinet
officers. The man who wants to be min
lister to Dahomey under the next admins
tration will have a hard time finding
clerkship to fall into.
In only one respect has the presidents
own power of rewarding his friends been
curtailed-in the matter of cOnsulships-
and that was done by an order which
President Mckinney can rescind.
All the other presidential offices are still
open. Some of the men who hold them
have been appointed for an indefinite term,
presumably for life, but the president can
remove them if he likes. Some are serving
four or five year terms, but the president
can replace them when he pleases, always
By and with the advice and consent of the
senate. The presidential officers confirmed
by the senate are 4,S15. In addition to
these officers there are c, O51 employees of
the government excluded from classical
ton, 1888 laborers or workmen below
classi hcation and II, 993 offices not yet
classified, including 66, 725 fourth class
postofices and some clerks in small offices,
making a total of 81, 297 Offices in the IN
classified service.
The whole executive service includes
IVA, 596 people, drawing $9S, 936, 167 % a
year from the public treasury.
In giving a list of appointments which
are in the presidents hands-a list subject
to change between this time and the 4th of
next March-i6 is not assumed that all tho
places will be considered patronage by
the new administration. There are many
hundreds of mon in the public service not
nv the civil aerviro T11pS n
have been in office through Republican and
Democratic admin tra tions. The commits
sioner of education, for recent example,
was an appointee of President Harrison
and was kept in Office by President Cleve-
land. Many officials date back to Arthur,
Garfield, Hayes and even Grant.
The places in the executive mansion
which are at the free disposal of the presi-
dent are: Private secretary, So, 600; assist
ant secretary, 50, 500; executive clerks ~,
81, coo; clerks (2), 81 800, (2) 81, 900; usher,
81 800; steward, 81, 800; chief doorkeeper.
81, 500; doorkeepers a. 81, 200; messengers
(4), $1,000; engineer, 81, 000; Waterman,
5000
The Offices which the president has to
fill in the executive service ''by and with
the advice and consent of the senate are
these:
State Department.
Secretary So. 900; assistant secretaries,
81, 500, So. 500, So, 500.
Engineer Mexican water boundary COM
missioner, So, 600.
Nicaragua canal commissioner, So, 600.
Director bureau American republics,
80, 600.
In the foreign service an ordsr of Pres
tdent Cleveland makes it necessary for the
president to choose for positions paying
from 81, 600 to 81, 500 persons who are or
who have been in the employ of the state
department in such capacity as would fit
them for the service or persons who can
pass an examination showing their fit
ness. All consuls having salaries of $2,-
900 receive more than that amount be-
cause they are entitled to fees received
through subordinate agencies The names
OF consulates paying 81, 500 or mora in
salaries have been grouped by themselves.
These are as much "spoils'' as thoy ever
were. Inc other salaried offices are grouped
together. President Mckinley can nut ont
any Cleveland appiontee from these to re-
store to Office the Republican whom Cleve-
land removed or who went out of office
Tor any ether reason.
Diplomatic and Consular Corps.
ambassador to Great Britain, 500.
Franco, $1,000; Germany. SIT. 500; Italy
e12 500
Minister to Russia ST, 500; Spain,
&l2, 600; China, $12, 0O0 a ustria- Hun
gary, 1900; Sweden and Norway, 81
500; Mexico, ST., 500; Switzerland, ST.
500; Turkey, $4,000; japan, S12, 600;
Greece and Roumania IS, 500; Portugal,
81, 500; Belgium, $40, 600; Colombia, S1o.-
600; Ecuador, So, 600; Argentina, $40, coo;
Denmark, $500; Chile. SO, 600; Brazil,
$4,000; Bolivia, SIS, 900; Nicaragua, Costa
Rlca and Salvador, $40 600; Netherlands
$500; Paraguay and Uruguay, 81 500;
Peru, So 900; Venezuela, 1900; Guats-
mala, $4,000; Honduras, 81, 500; Hawaii
$500. -'
Minister and consul general to Siam.
80, 900; Haiti and Santo Domingo, So
goo; PeHaia, $1,000; Korea, $500; Lii