The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-06
A rnr Renohinr RfIi.

Far Reaching Btli.
 The bill at present before the cham Der, the statut des fonctionnaires, which: has already been so Fudely shak- en inSprincIpIe, has for Its one great object to set state workers in class apart, with special privileges Indeed, but with special disabilities. which cut them of definitely and completely from all industrial organizations. Even while this famous "Statut" was under the consideration of parliamentary commission, which had agreed at last on one thing, that the right to strike was to- be strictly. forbidden to state workers under the direct penalties the postal staffs came out on strike and carried the first stage of of their movement to successful is- sue. The first step in the recrudes- ceT,ce of the trouble has been the ac- tion of the federated postal societies in forming a syndicate claiming Tor Themselves "the benefit of the common law" of 1884, which authorized the formation of such syndicates, and ais claiming any special privileges which, will set them apart from thelr preth- ren in the industrial world.
 Some of the clements of the present Government place 1t In an unusually weak position for struggle asaihse such proceedings. Quite apart rom
 
 general industrial confiagratton, the inc present Radioal-Socianst coalition ia too much committed in favor of the very moVenfent 1t would stay to put very strong fight.
 The significance of the present trou- ble lies in the fact that the barrier which divided the State workers from his industrial mate has brok en down, inc black coated functionary has open iy fraternized with the bloused work man. has adopted his methods, and found points of common interest. The Confederation Generale du Travial, that thorn in the side of all French poli-' tical parties, Socialist and Radical alike has been quick to seize It's onportunity, and has offered the assis- tance of its orators and It's organiza- ton to the State employees. The dis cipline of the functionaries, that ap- parently solid constituent of the bur Reois stronghold has been gravely compromised, their spirit of devotion to duty has been seriously undermin- ed, and the Government has lost pres tiRe by its defeat.
 Political FavOritism.
 The whole structure of administra- tive machinery is honeycombed with political favoritism. The men at the head of the great public Departments and their immediate staffs' have been, Almost without cACcpNlOus bJ political influence. Efficiency and merit have been passed over for the selections of powerful deputies or senators. The chiefs themselves, promoted by these means are unable to stand against the pressure of political influence. while the rank and file of the un- favored are in a constant ebullltion of discontent and indignation. Tn the pettiest details there Is political inter- ference. We cannot move a chair without a deputy's permission" is the assertion of the postal administration Complaints unbacked by such influence, are disregarded. and trivialities with powerful support assume the dimen- sions of great principles In one Department when the Government is in search of support on a doubtful divi- sion lists are made out of the out standing requests and complaints of deputies and senators, and, so far as possible, complete satisfaction is given to them on the eve of the vote
 Tn the Army persecution and fav- orftism on account of political and re-