Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10
FOLLY OF THE Spells SYSTEM.


New Yorl; Evening l'u-'
Republican politicians in Nermrnt
are Interested ia the announcement
that Comptroller OF the Currency
Dawea hus picked out William A. lord
of Montpelier for bank examiner for
that State. II Ia explained Ivy tho
Washington correspondent OF the
Springfield Republican that Mr.. Dawes
has not yet taken up the applications
for changes IN thu eSaminerships in
various parts of tho country, but the
fay orable impression which Mr.. Lord
made upon him upon his recent visit
has convinced the members of tbs Yer
mont delegation that there will be no
trouble about tho appointment ut the
proper time Tho correspondent adds
Tho comptroller dues not visit to
make changes in haste, however, and
will not announced a change in Yer
mout for some weeks anu perhaps for
longer interval. The reports which
hs has received regarding the present
examiner are so satisfactory that no
does not wish to relieve him of his
duties until no has himself become
mare familiar with tho Office and Mr..
Lord has had an opportunity to study
somewhat the methods of bank OK
animation.
q IL wonld be difficult TO present the
folly Of the spells system more forcihly
thnn in tho last sentence of this dis
patch. Whom Mr. Mckinley was in
Rngurated a year ago this week, he
found the comptrollerHhip Of the cur
rency filled by man Of great ability,
who had served fur four years with
high distinction. Mr.. James ii. Eckles
was respected aud trusted by the husi-
neHs community. Any business establish
mont which had 10 Responsible posi-
tion u iuan OF such proved acceptability
would never think for a moment of
turning him out, while the event has
shown that one Of the strongest national
banks in Chicago was ready 10 jump at
the chance Of getting him for presi
dent. There was absolutely nothing OF
political nature about the office
which no filled; thsre 10 no such thing
as Republican supervision of the bank
ing system, as distinguished from
Democratic. ln shurt, every consiiera-
tion of the public interest demanded
tho retention of Mr.. Eckles in the
Gomptrollership If he could be induced
to remain.
Under the spoils system, however,
the comptrulership III not a public
trust, but a political plum" to be
pissed from one man to another every
four years. Mr.. Charles G. Dawes,
Chicagoan, who had strong "claims"
upon Mr.. Mckinley for personal ser
vices, picked out this place, and Mr..
Eclsels had to go. The new man knew
nothing about the duties Of the Office.
Even now, some months after his acces
sion. it is explained that he does not
wish to take any important action
until he has himself become more
familiar with the Office. ="
This absurdlty of turning out the OK
perienCed and satisfactory head of an
office for no other reason than to give
another man "place" Is repeated
among the subordinates. The present
bank examiner of Vermont IL perfectly
satisfactory. Indeed, it is admitted by
Mr.. Dawes that the reports which he
has received about this official "are 30
satisfactory that he does not wish to
relieve him of his duties until Mr..
Lord this successor) has had an OPP
portunity to study somewhat the
methods OF bank examination. In
other words, the trained incumbent of
purely business position. which has
nothing whatever to do with politics,
after having proved his fitness to hold
| the place indefinitely, must now 60 to
work training greenhorn to succeed
him, simply in order to give this green
horn salary for the next four years.
IL the nation were not hardened to
such peformanc as these, it would
Heen Incredible that they could occur.
We are II people who pride ourselves
upon our common sense, and yet we
Btill endure the treatment of business
| places in the civil service upon princi-
4 pies SO devoid of common sense that
everybody would admit them to be
| idiotic in private affairs. mr. Dawes
| induced many business men of Chicago
TO sign his application for Mr.. Eckels'
| place, but not one of these business
men would ever think of turning out uf
his own employ an entirely satisfactory
| subordinate for no other reason than
that some ''good fellow" would like
| the plaGs. The same thing is equally
true OF the business men in Vermont
who endorsed Mr.. Lord, and of the bust
ness men 10 many other States who
have signed the papere OF other appli-
cants for examinerships where no
change is demanded or can be for the
public advantage.
How long will the people fail to
recognize the abhurdity of all thisH
There are beginning 10 be signs that
men will apply the common sense which
they display in their private affairs 10
their treatment OF public Offices. A
few weeks ago tho term of the post
master in Shelburne Falls, Mass, ex-
pired lie was Democrat, who had
heen appointed by Cleveland, in 1893,
but he had never been an Offensive
partisan" anu he had been thor
oughiy satisfactory official. When peuple
hogan to talk over ths matter of a sue
cessor, somebody raised the query why
there should he any successor, why the
Democratic incumbent SHOULD not be
retained. There was no answer TO this
question, and the absurtiity of turning
out good postmaster for no cause be-
cause SO obvious upon reflection that
no Republican hal the assurance TO get
up petition, and Mr. Mckinley re-
Gently sent on a new commission TO the
old man. with the endorsement of the
whole community. The example of
Shelhurne Falls seemed so sensible that
a number Of Republican business men
in Turner's Falls, a town IN tho same
county, have started movement to
retain an equally satisfactory post
master there. There are doubtless
scores of places whore all thct is needed
10 accomplish The Ranie result ia the
taking of the initiative by home clear
headed and sensible business man.
This disaster to tine Maine has served
incidentally to illustrate the great al
vantage TO the public service of disre-
garding spoils politics. So bitterly
partisan a Republican organ as the
Boston Journal was moved tho other
Inv IN a,In,;t TINT ''unn nf fne unod