Evening journal., 1903-09-11
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER II, 1903.
pAYNe,s TsNuRE uNcgRTAIN.

crime in removing from office Huldah
b. Todd; other removals have hccn
made with as little justification. The
merit system Is not rigidly applied and
is certainly not extended TO those grades
not specifically placed under H. But
the reason for Miss Todd's removal as
given by Mr.. Payne make # cviden'
that our postal affairs are in the hands
Of man who regards the demands Of
politics above the demands Of the SER
vice. They indicate that Mr.. Payne
when a question arises involving the
public service on one hand and the
wishes Of Addicks Csena'or Allee) on
the other chooses 20 please the latter.
and hasn't the grace TO conceal the
motive. Mr.. Payne is frankly pollti-
clan and q spokesman, and by this time
the President must be aware OF IT, But
there is occasion for the belief that
the country Is not satisfied with Mr..
Payne and there Is dissatisfaction
which Is likely TO make his tenure OF
Office problematioal Criticism OF his
peculiar motives is not confined to the
opposition press. but the most search
ing articles have come from Republi-
can journals. The following from the
able and conservative New York Tri-
bune shows the trend Of this criticism.
Postmaster General Payne Explains
that there was no deception pracGsed
upon him In the Todd Gaze. No rule
OF the department gave Miss Todd a
settled claim 20 serve out q new term
Of four years. she was technically a
holdover, and iysacrihcing her TO the
greed Of Senetor Alice he did moth
ing exceptional; he merely recognized
the "rlght6' of Senator's which wer,
respected In the distribution Of pa.
uonage In other states.
lt(is doubtless true that fourtl
class postmaster has no fixed tonur
after entering upon second foui
years OF service. Neither tor tina
matter, has he at any time I'm the frs
four years. flc holds office at the mer,
pleasure Of the Postmaster General
Mr.. Payne would have tho same riohi
to remove every fourth class post.
master in Southern Delaware, to en-.
able Senator Alice to exercise hi:
right TO name successors, that hs
had TO remove Miss Todd. IL is also
true that as matter OF practical pol
itics, no administration can ignore the
claims Of Senators 10 voice in ap-
poinments, though it recalls fatal days
OF Senatorial usurpation TO speak of
O senator's right" 20 name officers
under the terms of priva.e agree
ment. Except by the hypercritical. nc
fault win be found with an administra-
ton for taking the advice OF Senators
concerning appointments IN their
states when the interest OF the service
calls for new appointments. But II 1,
not unreasonable to ask that removal,
shall not be arbitrarily made simply to
create vacancies for spoils mongers.
The sad thing about the Postmaster
Generals utterances on the subject I.
the utter imperviousness 20 ideas oi
progress and lack Of conception Of the
higher standards Of political life de
nanded by public opinion which the,
reveal. The view so calmly taken that
Offices are the legitimate prey Of poll.
tlcians, that vacancies arc to be createe
on their demand so long as tho lettei
Of the law allows IT, belongs 10 the era
OF Andrew Jackson and William L
Marcy, whose diotum, "to the. victor:
belong the spoils,' sums up all that
can be said for such an administra
tive policy. II does not belong TO tn,
era Of Theodore Roosevelt and civi
Service reform. II Is not in harmon,
with the spirit which is makina tenure
In the consular service dependent or
merit and elsewhere refusinu TO de.
liver faithful offieeholders, men Of
women to the hungry spoils dragons
however much It may be necessary ans
proper to consult politicians wher
vacancies have to be filled. Il is a sur
ViVal which with growing enlighten.
ment ought TO become extinct.