Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-03
TALK OF PREVENTIVE LAW
Danger of Creating Permanent Of
ficeholding Glass Suggested.
STEAM ROLLER IDEA AGAIN
Issue to Be Sharply Drawn Between
Advocates and Opponents of the
Executive Order.

Congress may thwart the President S
plan to blanket under the civil service the
l., 900 fourth-class postmasters covered III
his recent order y law may be enacted
at the coming session defining the status
Of fourth-cass nostmasters in a way to
keep them out of the civil service.
The impelling motive back of this move
ment is. it is insisted by congressman, not
resentment against the deprivation OF pa
tronage which representatives in Con-
gress suffer under the Presidents order,
but is far more significant and goes
deeper. 1t is the apprehension that this
order contemplatcs building up political
machine of dangerous proportions and
placing in the reach of the executive
political power which could be used in the
future to dictate presidential nominations
and swing presidential elections.
Regarded as a Menace.
The marshaling in one distinct group of
$4,000 federal employees, subject to no
power of removal save executive order.
with practically life tenure of office, de-
pendent solely upon executive favor, is
regarded by many politicians E both
branches of Congress as menace. When
it is taken into consideration that this
organization of federal employees comes
into peculiarly intimate and close touch
with the people all the time it's power
and influence upon the electorate is, it is
suggested, more readily appreciated.
While no one thinks it possible that
the present occupant of the White House,
or man of the temperament of the pros
pective President could use such power
with an ulterior purpose there might
come time it is suggested, when some
INSCRIPTIONS politician might be in the
office and would find ready to his hand
a dangerous weapon against the people in
this ofice-intrenched band of men whose
interests would be Identical with those
of the seeker after prolonged political
power.
Echoes of Campaign Resentment.
The rumblings of resentment against
the alleged use of federal patronage in the
last campaign have not died away, and
recolections of events prior to the nomi-
mating convention are still fresh in the
minds of politicians in Congress.
The claim was insistently made by re-
PODiIIdIS lileil lIiS IlldI SIldllIlS VI lQG leu
eral patronage in the southern states,
which is dispensed by the republican
party when in power in manner almost
despotic and feudal. was factor in the
nomination Of Mr. Taft. "Steam-roller
methods" are still referred to in the dis
cussion of the last campaign.
1t is not overlooked by politicians
Capitol Hill that the prospective Post
master General under the new admnistra-
ion, -sri,
and that he would be the captain of this
army of $1,000 federal employees. That he
would know how to marshal his forces
and deploy them advantageously is ad-
mitted by politicians at large.
Civil Service Cloak.
1t was said by congressman today in
discussing this proposition that the cloak
of reform in the name of civil service.
which is thrown over this order will not
deceive any one, but will serve to ac-
centuate the menace of what is alleged to
be Trojan stalking-horse trotted out
in the name of Righteousness and upl,ft
1t is adding insult to injury, reproach
upon the intelligence of Congress, it is in
sisted. to claim that this is beneficent
movement in the best interest of the
public service
Congressman expect to hear a growl
from the country about the order. Rota-
ton in post offices is a political tradition
in many sections of the country, and it is
not supposed that the ''outs' will con-
template with equanimity the prospects
of the ins'' being in forever. But that
is minor consideration.
Permanent Oficeholders.
The main point, they intimate is that
the new policy will be resisted on the
higher ground of the menace to popular
institutions by this building up of a per-
manent body of officeholders of a class so
distinctly identified with militant politics
as to he a power always assembled and
ready to be welded from the source of
highest political power in Washington.
One objection which has been raised
against postal savings banks is that the
esta blishment of the proposed system
would create an additional class of office
holders. brought into peculiarly intimate
relations with che people while at The
same time dependent upon d single head
at Washing ION. 1t is suggested on Capitol
Hill that this danger will be emphasized
by the new relations of the 1900 post
ma sters assembled into coterie all an
imated by the same motive of holding on
to their offices indefinitely and looking to
Washington for sustenance.
Preventive Proposition Still Tenta-
tive.
Up to this time the proposition for con-
gressonal legislation has not taken def
mite shape. 1t is tentative and under dis
cussion, but it is thought that as the sub
ject is further discussed and as members
of the House arrive and confer with each
other plan of action will be worked out
The advocates of the order denounce its
opponents as disappointed and eXasper-
ated ''spoi!smen.' The congressional crit
les of the order denounce it as executive
prostitution Of fed raj patronage for po-
Ii ical purposes. The issues are joined.
The battle is on.
S1lfan'S Former Official Assassinated