Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-09

solutely from politics, but one merely
making their connection with the ad-
ministration more dutiful to II pollti-
cally as we'll as officially.
| n all classes of postmasters in the
country were placed under civil serv-
ice II would not take them out of pol
itics any more than they are so en-
gagged today 1t would merely mean
that their positions would not be in
terfered with periodically and that
their retention would entirely depend
| on their efficiency and good behavior
politically and otherwise in office
All this talk about postoffice Off
cials and employees being taken out OF
politics when placed under civil serv-
| ice is pure nonsense-nothing more
than deception. They have been used
| politically by every administration
republican and democratic-and VIII
always continue to be used in future
years.
The placing of assistant postmasters
under civil service is beyond question
splendid reform. a reform which the
people of the country heartily approve.
1t means that continued service VIII
produce efficiency. This class OF gov
ernment officials today represent the
real business heads of postoffices'
that is, they are charged with the act
uaI official duties of the postmaster.
whose time is largely taken up on the
outside in politics.
The blanketing of postmasters of all
classes would effect a great improve
ment in the postal service. 1t would
restrict their activities in politics, and
force to certain degree a closer at
tention to their official duties; and
with uninterrupted tenure of service,
grow to be efficient public servants
The conduct OF the postoffice would
then be run on more business like
basis than 1t is now, and it would un-
doubtedly produce more receipts
An idea of the good effect of pfac~
ing postmasters of all classes under
civil service may best be gained by a
study of the results of presidential
order which took some 1,200 consuls
out of politics. The consular service
was completely reorganized after this
order went into effect. The evils OF
the old system have been corrected,
and the motto of the consular service
of today is, efficiency"
The government now picks com
paratively young men who still have
energy, ambition, and the
power of making career, and let's
them learn the consular business then.
instead of taking men who have lived
through the greater part of their lives
and who have reached time they
want rest" A United States consul
is now commissioned like naval or
army officer; that is, he must demon
strate his fitness by standing a stiff
mental and physical examination.
A consul ranks with a lieutenant or
major general in the army, according
as to whether he is a consul or con-
sui general. His pay, from $4,000 to
$12, 900, is more than that of the
Young army or naval officer
His promotion depends entirely on
the efficiency with which he dis
charges his duties. An efficiency rec
ord is kept in the state department,
in which every especially good thing a
consul does is entered to his credit,
and every poor thing he does is enter
ed to his discredit.
These reforms have been productive
of much good. The new system gives
the consul an incentive to do good
work which was lacking under the old
system. Promotion being on a basis
of merit, the consul looks on the serv-
ice as a career, and not as a reward
for past political service.
Consular appointments are now al
lotted to the various states in proper
tion to the representation in con-
gress. Senators from the various
states are consulted about the charac-
ter and fitness of applicants from
their respective constituencies. A
senator is consulted If the
applicants state is represented in the
senate by a democrat. In case the
state is not represented in the con-
sular service, the senators from the
state are asked TO recommend candi- |
dates for positions. 1t is not a mat
ter of politics; it is simply recogni- |
tion of the senate's concurrence in |
which the constitution re-
quires.
These reforms We're begun under |
the last Roosevelt administration and |
have been continued and made effect |
i've under President Taft, and are de-
serving of the highest praise, as they !
have given us a consular corps which |
in personnel and achievements is ac-
to be the best in the