New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-20

ANOTHER MARES NEST DISCOVERY.
In their endeavor to expose the Presidents
unsafe" and unsteady character Democratic
critics are now attacking his record rs Civil
Service refOrmer. In n recent speech in the
House OF Representatives Mr. Hay. OF Virginia,
charged the President with making larger
number q irregular appointments 10 the classi-
fled service than any OF his predecessors"
The inference 10 be drawn from this statement
was that the present Executive, though strongly
committed to the examination system OF ap-
pontments, did not hesitate 70 suspend the
examination requirement whenever It suited
him 10 do so. Under Presidents Harrison and
Cleveland Mr.. Hay said, there were no appoint
ments by suspension. President Mckinley had
waived examination IN only three instances.
But President Roosevelt had waived ii in sixty.
And this apparent disposition 10 set aside the
rules has been seized on and exploited as an
other evidence Of the Presidents essentially
"lawless" temper.
Such backsnding on Mr. Roosevelt's part must
cause the average Democratic statesman ex-
qUlsite anguish. Representative Hay and other
yirtuOus supporters Of the merit system are
overcome with horror at the thought that
great reform has apparently been stricken in
the house Of one OF its most earnest and faith
fnl friends Yet If the facts are looked into no
basis viii be found for all this panic and outcry.
In letter 10 Representative Gillett Of Massa-
chusetts. ex-Civil Service Commissioner William
Dudley FOulke makes it entirely clear that
there has been no "lawlessness' in the present
administrations application Of the Civil Service
statutes. Mr.. Hays parallel IS grossly mIsead-
ing. His trepidation IS wholly without reason.
The facts be cites, instead OF convicting Presi-
dent Roosevelt Of dislOyalty 10 the merit sys-
TEN, demonstrate his genuine devotion TO 1t and
effective and common sense way.
By other Presidents ii is true, few appoint
ments were made under n suspension Of the
rules. But that was because other Presidents
chose to modify or abolish the rule, instead OF
suspending il. If # was desired 20 make an up
pointIrent without subjecting the appointee 10
examination, a Redistribution was effected. and
similar posts everywhere in the service were
put on the excepted list. By q single order IN
President McKinley's first term SO47 places
were excepted from competitive examination
Similar general orders were issued by Presi-
dents Harrison and Cleveland. But under the
present administration the wiser practice has
been introduced OF treating each exceptional
case on its own merits, and Of merely suspend
ing the competitive rule instead OF altering or
resembling It. 1t is a well known fact as Mt.
Foulke Justly says, that there have been fewer
appointments without competitive examination
under President Roosevelt than under any
other President and there has been no ad-
ADMINISTRATION IN which the competitive system
"has advanced with greater rapidity and Ger
"tainty."
Ii seems almost time wasted TO defend the
Presidents character and record as a Civil Ser
vice reformer. No American statesman is more
conspIcuously and honorably identified with the
effort to substitute the merit system Of appoint
{. 4aa n co
ing and so desperate are the Presidents critics
that they grasp at every misrepresentation,
however shallow or fantastic. To imaginations
capable Of denouncing his Panama policy rs
.'usurpation" there would, perhaps, seem moth
ing irrational in picturing him as a spokesman
IN disguise, impatiently inventng means to
nullify the competitive system.