The Washington times., 1901-11-16
CLAMOR OF OFFIJESEEKERS.
Alleged Promises of Mr.. Mckinley
Urged on the President.

The general subject OF Federal appoint
ments has engaged more of President
Roosevelt's attention since he entered
upon the duties of his office than any
other matter not connected with the
preparation of his annual message. The
great pressure for places Is not alone re-
sponsible inD this although the number OF
ofiiccseekers who have visited the Nhite
House in the last few weeks has been al
most as great as If The President mad
Just been elected to office, instead of sue
ceeding to it through the death Of his
predecessor.
Mr.. Roosevelt took up the question of
Federal appointments Immediately as a
matter of principle, for he had been COM
mitted for years to the merit system and
the views advocated by the most en-
lightened civil service reformers, and he
desired TO set a high standard in this re-
gard at the very outset of his administra-
tion. He has discussed the question of
place giving with many persons, but the
subject was talked of more exhaustively
than ever before by Mr.. Roosevelt at the
meeting of the Cabinet yesterday. He
told his official advisers of some of the
troubles he has been having in regard
to various appointments and the difficulty
of selecting men, however great care he
exercises, who are satisfactory to all in
terests.
The discussion yesterday was import
ant in the fact that the President en-
phatically expressed his wish to continue
present officials in office so far as they
have proven their faithfulness and eff
cheney. He made 1t known that he wishes
to resist political pressure in favor of
new candidates for office so far as may
be found eXpedient.
The large ante-room adjoining the Pres
idents office has been crowded for sew
eral hours each day for several weeks
with persons who wish to see the Presi-
dent In the majority of cases, the Wis
itors want office either for themselves or
their friends. Nearly every Senator and
Representative who has called on the
President has had some recommendation
tor office to make
Hundreds, of persons have told Mr.,
Roosevelt that President Mckinley prom
ised them thus and so, and they ask him
to do for them as Mr.. Mckinley would
have done. President Roosevelt some time
ago adopted the rule. and told his visit
oTs so in plain words, that he could not
accept statements of what his predeces-
sor had promised unless these statements
were re-enforced by written evidence on
file in some one of 9theNsXecutiVe Depart
ments. Still the pressure from this class
of officeseeekers has not ceased.
\ great number of the applications for
office arise from the fact that the places
of hundreds of Federal officers who were
appointed by President Mckinley early in
his term and who, therefore, have served
four years. are regarded as fair prey by
new applicants for favor. Certain classes
of Federal officers are appointed for
term of four years. and others for an in
definite period. President Roosevelt is es-
pecially opposed TO appointing new men
to places of this latter class, except in
cases in which the incumbents have
proved TO be unfit He is also inclined TO
reappoint men whose four-year terms are
expiring, if these men have made notably
good records.