The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-05
OFFICEHOLOERS
TOO PROMINENT
Report of a Special Committee
of National Civil SerV-
ice Reform League.
MANY FEDERAL PUNCHES"
WELDED GREAT INFLUENCE IN
CHICAGO CONVENTION.

New York, April 4.-The report OF
-1acial committee Of the National Civil
-ery ce Reform league was made pub
re here today. Following is 2 sum-
mary Of the points made,
Reports OF undue political activity on
the part of federal Office holders ap-
rearing in the press Of the country
were gathered together through the aid
ur am efficient clipping bureau. These
were examined and the persons men,
toned in them were written to with
requests for fun information, COTrec-
Juu or denial. The replies were care
fully inspected and the most important
of these cases were followed up by an
#vestiSstiou by an assistant secretary
ar the league, on the spot Final drafts
" our conclusions were submitted TO
MO Office holders and political leaders
rHu were unfavorably involved.
Coercion Charges.
charges of coercion Of office holders
10y tine president TO secure the nomina-
Hou Of particular candidate have
been inquired into. but evidence TO
sustain those charges is wholly lack
fnE. President Roosevelt's apo mt
maut lists for a considerable period
were. with his permission. examined.
From those lists il would appear that
residential appointments prior TO the
convention were made in the usual
manner on the recommended on of sen
arars. congressman and other claiming
tire patronage Of the offices involved.
President Roosevelt took a decided
step in advance toward checking the
evils resulting from the activity Of Of
flee holders i'm politics by his order of
June 8. 1907. amending the civil ser
Wee rules by forbidding employees IN
Tho competitive service from taking
part in political management or in 20
Etcal campaigns. This order was en-
forced i'm the last campaign
The official roll Of delegates to the
ErpuhIican ma tioual convention at en-
.aEu was compa AIRED with the latest
government blue book It was found
that Of the delegates TO the Chicago
convention federal Office holders con-
-tituted one iH ten. and OF the delega-
ton from the southern states nearly
one In three, and Of some southern
states more than half
These Office holders were political,
that is. outside of the jurisdiction of
The civil service act. and in most cases
their anpCintment was subject to con
Hrmation by ne United States senate
The Office holders i'm the south prac-
toaUy control the Republican party or
SANITATION in their respective states
and frequently resort To unfair means
i1 order 20 retain their power.
Their support IS a tremendous po-
Ttical asset 20 any candidate for nom
nation As the southern Democratic
states have a. many votes i'm the Re
publican national convention as the
Republican states OF equal population.
under ordinary circumstances the
southern delegates would control the
balance of power in the national con
.suti0u.
Patronage Sole Object.
These organ 20 lions controlled by Of
T.c holders are mainly interested In
Tho distribution of the patronage and
me naming Of delegates to conventions
70 is not To the interest Of these Office
I0Iding cliques u elect Republican
,ouEressmen OF to bring about party
growth and party success. which would
mean curtailnent OF loss Of the control
rl The patronage.
The conditions IN regard to the ac-
.f.lty of uuclassiied federal office hold
.~- be- politics are at their worst IN the
south. but throughout the country. ir
..eordance with established custom
they are expected To be active I'm pTi-
.rarfos and conventions in the interests
~ those to whom they owe their ap-
r1iurUe0t and by whose favor they are
.HrtinuoG i'm Office. This leads To neg
-art ~ official duty and absenteeism or
. large scale. and the government is
.or paving large sums i'm salaries Il
officials whose main interest and activ-
'-r S. devoted to- politics. while their Of
.-a= are left in the control of subOr-
climates
Menace to Free Choice.
THE active participa ton by person.
who have a personal interest al stalk,
-- raurUses. primaries. conventions ana
elections seriously iuterferes with
sr.s choice Of candidates by the peo-
..a. and IN some parts of the country
actually prevents iJ. The federal Of
fire holders number over 300 coo, o
which number one-third are still out
side t-a civil service rules. These
higher officers. welding wide poitica
influence through their official position.
and subject 20 possible dictation from
Washington viii as long as they are
.-wirted ~ take al active part ID
..#rfnz. r1ustitute a menace TO free in
.----f0.-
As me most effective and immediate
.e-edias FOR existing conditions, tht
-ittee urges ID the extension DJ
-.= president of the classified. compei
-.-a service to the utmost limit that the
law aII1ws- % legislation by congress.
-zru.tting the classification of the Of
t.ars whose appointment is now sub
-.-. 20 confirmation by the senate. bu
who perform purely ministerial func
lions. 80 clearer definition anl
---=ugtne-iuE Of the executive Ordel
e.-a7uing political activity M the un'
7Esidcd service and the Nestlng o
-.r power 20 investigate cases arising
.Eer rhiz order in the civil service
commission or some other body indie
PENDENT Of Governmental dictatOn.
MAGAZINES FOR APRIL.