The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-12-11
DECLINE Of PATRONAGE
Civil Service Takes Away
Influence Of Congressman.
FOURTH CLASS POSTMASTERS
Are Now to be Chosen by Com
petitive Examination.

Washington, ID. G., December
7, I9o8.-Little by little during
the last twenty FIVE years or more
since the civil service law has
been enforced, congress has seen
its patronage disappearing. 1t
went rapidly under Cleveland's ad
ministration and during the pres
ent administration many thousands
of Offices have been put under the
protection of the civil service law.
The President has just issued an
other order which effects more
than fifteen thousand employees.
They are postmasters of the fourth
class and they are about all that
has been left to members of con-
gress in the, way of patronage.
Thirty or thirty-five years ago the
member of congress of the domin-
ant party was rich in patronage
'.'influence" as it is called here.
Not only were the postmasters Of
his district his dependents and
henchmen but many clerks in
Washington in the postal service
and in the consular service were
appointed to lucrative places by
him. That these appointees we're
frequently members of his own
family, his son or his daughter,
his neice or his cousin or his
mother-in law was too universally
the case to excite comment or
criticism. "They all did it", and
the more influential the politician
the greater his encourage at the
public crib. This condition has
been gradually changed through
appointment by competitive ex
animation until the Offices in the
civil service in Washington and
throughout the country are filled
by better class of fairly compe-
tent people. The placing of over
+, fifteen thousand postmasters in a
class where their tenure of office
will continue, whether they are
favored by their congressman OF
not, cannot but have a salutary
effect on the postal service while
to deprive member of congres:
of these appointments will conduct
70 freer and fairer expression 0
opinion at the polls.
There was a change in the cabi
net last week by the retirement OF
the first of December, Of Mr.. Met
calf, secretary of the navy, ane
the appointment OF Mr.. Newberr.
the assistant secretary to th'
vacant cabinet office. Mr.. Her
bert Satterlee of New York, a sol
in law of the multi millionaire
John Pierpont Morgan, was ap
pointed assistant secretary OF th'
navy to succeed Mr.. Newberry.
1t is rumored that secretary o
state Root who, it is now known
will be elected Senator from New
York after March the fourth, viii
resign the state portfolio in th'
next few days and be succeeded b,
the first assistant secretary o
state, Mr.. Bacon. Mr.. Satterle'
the assistant secretary of the navy
just appointed, is like Mr.. Bacol
, a very rich man and everything
: indicates that the Rooseveltial
5 regime in its closing days of oficia
life will corruscate in social splen
dor and brilliancy.
1t is learned from the Treasur
1 Department that receipts fror
customs, internal revenue an
+ other sources continue 10 show in
o creases Indicating return {
D prosperity but there are also cor
'e siderable increases in expenditur
), and the year will close showing
81 very large financial deficit.