Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-19
preonnt nnd prnotloe.

In his address 10 the National Civil
Service Reform League, in Washington
on Tuesday last, President Roosevelt
gave evidence, so far a. mere words are
concerned. Of all his former ardor in the
cause Of Civil Service Reform. He was
particularly strong in his depreciation Of
purely political appointments to the public
service.
"After considerable experience in almost
every kind Of government work" said
the President, II have never yet found
any position or any branch Of the service
as regards which the intrusion of political
reasons in making appointments does not
do damage The result is always bad
when the appointment has to be compli-
Gated with the question Of politics. It
is true at present that Il is impossible to
dissoeiate certain classes Of appointments
from such considerations and as yet no
way has been devised to secure such dis
sociation. Yet il remains true that
whether avoidable or unavoidable, the
intrusion of political considerations into
the choice Of men whose duties are purely
ministerial is always detrimental to the
service"
And yet il has been but few months
dnce President Roosevelt, in making
appointments TO Federal Offices in Della
ware, acted Ia manner Numerically
opposite 10 tho sentiments expressed in
tho above extract from his Civil Service
address. He made a lot Of appointments
from partisan considerations only. In
fact, he virtually surrendered the appoint
ing power to place-hunting, spoils-
mongering politician, who used Il for the
purpose Of strengthening his own faction
Of a political party and thereby advanc-
ing his own political ends. This poll
tician made the selections for the places
and President Roosevelt formally ap-
pointed them without the slightest hesi-
tation.
In relation TO two Of these appoint
ments, the very backbone Of the Civil
Service was nidely fractured. The Office
Of collector Of the port Of Wilmington was
held by a capable official, whose adminis-
tration had proved so efficient that his
appointment was asked for by all the
business interests associated with the
Office, as well as by citizens generally.
Manifestly, his reappointment was do
manded by both the spirit and tho letter
Of the Civil Service but the President
permitted the incumbent TO be deposod
and the place given TO personal friend
and co-worker Of the spoilsmongering
politician to whom he had surrendered
his appointing functions. The same
conditions pevailed with respect TO the
Office Of postmaster Of Wilmington. A
capable official whose retention was
pleaded for by the solid business interests
Of the city, was set aside in order that q
partisan selection might be made for the
purpose Of strengthening the political
power Of the leader Of a political faction
In these matters President Roosevelt
gave no heed 10 the Civil Service. II,
made these and other appointments sub
iect 70 purely partisan considerations
The Republican party in Delaware wa
bitterly divided, and the President CAV,
over this official patronage to the dispose
Of Senator Alice, for the purpose Of dis.
tributing Il in such manner as 10 pro
mote party harmony and the election Of q
United States Senator 10 IN the existing
vacancy, the result Of Republican dis
sension. The intent Of the President, II
will be admitted, was less disreput-
able than the course pursued by Senator
Alice, as the President surrendered the
patronage to help a party, while the sena.
tor distributed it among faction. But Il
was none the less perversion Of ofIicia
prerogative to partisan purposes, and q
harsh attack upan the principles Of th,
Civil Service.
The suggestion becomes pertinent, there
fore, that il viii be well for President
Roosevelt 20 either talk less about tn,
Civil Service, or make his practice con
form to his precepts. His words sounS
well and look well in print; but compare,
with his practices they are moclSe7
and a fraud. AS he has done in Della
ware so has he done in other places. Tn
Civil Service mover restrained him whei
he desired to make a political appoint
ment. But would il not be well for hin
to stop preaching about the enormity O
his offending so long as he gives no prac
tical evidence of reform ?