The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-01
REPUBLICANS ADOPT
THE SPOILS SYSTEM

l ClNH stINACe ltlp1iiCIS VI lIDSe VIII Dt-
lieve in sustaining the merit system at all
believe that the time has come when some
thing ought to be DONE The old order is
ended. The present civil service reform
fabric is practically worthless.
The order reads harmlessy enough, but
some of its most innocent lines provide
for the complete undoing of civil service re-
form except In SO far as individual cabi-
net ministers, division chiefs, etc, see fit to
enforce it. 1t as really been on that basis
for some time. For example Rule X, in
regard to transfer, puts to the blush the
statement that has been going the rounds
of tho press that only four thousand places
out Of sixty-five thousand were to be ex-
cepted by the terms of this amended rule
as to transfers-there is no limitation. A
harness maker can be transferred to a po-
sition of physician or a laborer to the work
and salary of high grade clerk. The only
restriction is that the man so transferred
must stand a non-competitive examination
for his new post. This, of course, may
mean, and usually does mean, absolutely
nothing.
Thus the way is open for the filing up
of the departments with outside materials,
Proctor Of the civil service commission,
when asked what he thought in regard to
the new rules said: "As the civil service
commission has not been consulted in re-
gard to them, I cannot give any opinion
of them until 1 have had more time to study
them. do not mind saying that if I had
been consulted 1 would have strongly pro-
tested against most of them"
A short survey will suffice TO point out
what has been left:
!. We have a civil service commission
which the president does not even consult
in making far reaching changes in its own
province.
q We have the spoils plan, as applied by
congress to the census, the temporary
clerks and every new branch of the public
service.
3. We have in T'racewells decision the
principle established that any department
head may do as he pleases in the matter
Of enforcing the law.
4. We have in the Nashville case the pre-
cedent established that alleged frauds il
examinations do not vftiate appointments.
s. We have the civil service commission
recommending as it did the exceptions Of
two large classes of public servants, medi-
cal examiners and deputy collectors of in
ternal revenue, not because the commission
believed that such classes should be ex-
cepted, but because it is reluctantly forced
to the conclusion that the existing law will
not be enforced, and so for public morals
it recommended its abrogation. There is
left as much of the law as high-minded
officials choose to give the people, but the
,,4a+f
dermined. For this congress is more or
less responsible. The majority of its mem
bers have been afraid to repeal the law,
but they have silently supported every one
who has violated it. They have also en-
couraged the president to think that this
recent order would prove popular Had
Bryan been elected and enforced the spoils
plank of the --licago platform he could not
have gone much further than President
Mckinley has done. When the democratic
party in 1896 went over to the spoils system
it left but one civil service reform party.
The republicans were without competitor
in the field. 1t has now weakened it's po-
s!tion, the more so for the reason that il
has adopted the hypocritical course Of
leaving the law on the statute book but
completely emasculating it; leaving it
without force save in the uprigh tneSS Of
the individual officer who may of his own
volbion enforce certain sections of it. But
as far as giving any guarantee to the
clerk OF the government that he will not
be removed save for cause, it is practically
null and void, much SO as il it had been
repealed altogether and a resolution pass
ed to the effect that any clerk in the SER
vice can be removed for political offences.
gTs,o friapdS Of the prasida11h f,refesrd n
be very much afraid less some accident
may happen to him in driving at the reck-
less pace he does when he leaves the
asphalt behind and takes to the dirt roads.
1t affords him much amusement to invite
those who give him advice to drive with
him. Tho fact OF the matter is, there Is
rot as much danger as one would think
from simply seeing the president driving
The horses he drives are SNOWY; they
prance a great deal without being wild in
any degree. They step high and put on u
lot of airs IL they knew who had hold
of the reins. The president drives a
Spider with very black "darlie'' seated
in the rear. He handles the lines like a
veteran, taking great pride how he holds
them, leaving his right hand perfectly free
to lift his hat to those who recognize him.
The president is perfectly at home when
driving, having been accustomed to do
much driving during his campaigns for the
house of representatives. He would some
times spend the entire day driving from
one point in his district to another max
ing speeches The president has absolutely
forbidden any detective service during his
driving about Washington, and as far as
it can be learned he is obeyed No one -
ever seen riding or driving either behind
or in front of him. There is no telling
what precautions are taken to preserve
him from the crank; for, even the ways oe
the secret service bureau are dark and
past finding out. He is seldom seen walk
ing now, as he says driving is more en-
toyable, and with the lines in his own
hands more diverting.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has re-
turned from his trip through the south
west, and expresses great pleasure from
his jaupt, which was both diverting and
instructive.
Il talked with every farmer I came
across and tried to persuade him from the
one-crop idea, which has taken such hold
on the southern farmers he said. THE
experiment stations we have established
throughout the south gives to the people