The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-06
VETO MESSAGE
OF PRESIDENT 4
HOT NUMBER
Congress Scored for Provisions
Contained in Bill Provid-
ing for Census.
GENERAL LAUGHTER
PROVOKED IN HOUSE
REFERENCE TO personal PER-
oUIsITEs OF PROFESSIONAL
POLITICIANS" is CAUSE.

Washington, Feb. 5.-"The evil Ct
fects Of the spoils system and of the
custom Of treating appointments to the
public ser'ice as personal perqu;sites
Of professional politicians arc pecu-
LARRY evident in the case Of a great
public work like the taking of the cen
sus. a work which should emphaticalIy
he done for the whole people and with
an eve single to their interests"
IL these words President Roosevelt
today summed up q message to the
house OF representatives returning.
without his approval, the bill providing
for the taking of the next census, be
cause Of the provision prescribing that
appointments shall be made on the
basis of nOn-competitive examination
AS passed by congress. the bill per-
mits representatives and senator's to
designate persons for positions after
they had undergone a simple examina-
lion.
The references of the president to a
division Of the SpOils without a fight
by the professional politicians on both
sides provoked general laughter.
After providing for a reprint of the
census bill as it passed the house, the
house adjourned. thus postpon ng ac-
Presidents Message.
The president says he vetoes the bill
with extreme reluctance. realizing the
value of time in beginning the census,
but declares it is of high consequence
that It shall be conducted with extreme
accuracy, that It shall not be open to
suspicion of bias on personal and polit-
cal grounds nor to bring q waste of
the peoples money and a fraud.
Section Of the act" he says. pro
Vides. in effect, that appointments TO
the census shall be under the spoils
system. for this j. the real meaning of
the provision that they shall be subject
only 70 non-competitive examination
The prOvis0 is added tllat they shall be
selected without regard 10 political
party affiliations But there is only one
way to guarantee that they shall be se-
lected without regard to politics and on
mfrit, and that is by choosing them
after competitive examination from the
list OF eligihles provided by the civil
service commission
Psrquisites of Politicians.
Continuing. the message says:
To provide that the clerks and
other emplsyes shall be appointed after
Don-Competitive examination. and vet
20 provide that they shall be selected
without regard to political party afiH-
alton. means merely that the appoint
menis shall be treated as the peruui-
sites of the politicians of both parties.
instead of as the perqusites of the poll
texans of one party. I don't believe in
the doctrine that to the victor belongs
the spoils: but I think even less Of the
Doctrine that the spoils shall be divided
without a fight by the professional poll
texans on both sides; and this would be
The result OF permitting the bill. I'm its
present shape, to become a law Both
OF the last CensUses. the eleventh and
me twelfth. were taken under a pro-
vision Of law excluding competition.
That is, neCeSSitating the appointments
being made under the spoils system. /
livery man competent TO speak with
authority because OF his knowledge Of
and familiarity with the work OF those
censuses has stated that the result was
20 produce extravaganza and demorali- /
zatiOn"
After quoting from officials reports in
lie support of his position, the presi- |
dent continues:
Fraud Upon the. Public.
In view of the temporary character /
or the work, it would be well TO waive |
.He requirements OF the civil service /
Jaw as regards geographical apportion- |
llents, but the appointees should be /
.0osf by competitive examination 1
rom the lists provided by the civil ser
wee commission. The non-competitive
ANIMATION in a case like this is not /
only vicious, but is in effect a fraud /
upon the public. No essential change /
: erected by providing that it be con- 1
uue'eo by the civil service commission;
ana to provide that the employees shall /
ne selected without regard to political .
party affiliations is empty and mislead- i
'i.S unless, at the same time. IL is made 1
eHective in the only way in which il is /
possible 10 make II effective that is. 4
eF providing that the examination shall /
oe made competitive.
also recommend that If provision 1
: made that the census printing work 4
re uone outside the government print /!
Pr : Office, it shall be explicitly provided /
l'at the government authorities shall |,
Continued on Page 2.