New-York tribune., 1910-04-08
From The Tribune Bureau.l


DEMOCRATIC TREACHERT. - T n e
Democrats in the classified service of the
government are doing more 90 undermine
The spirit OF Civil Service reform than the
public can possibly realize-perhaps more
than they realize themselves. The effort OF
practically every President since Mr.. Cleve-
land has been 20 extend the classified ser
vice and 20 make 81 strictly non-partisan
More and more the department heads and
the bureau snd division chiefs have come
70 sympathize with that policy. and OF late
wears promotions within the classified ser
vice have been made almost solely on
merit 80 that to-day some Of the most re-
sponsible and best paid subordins'es OF
Cabinet officers are Democrats. Recently.
however apparently inspired by a hope OF
carrying the next House. and TO some eN-
tent perhaps inhamed by wave OF muck
raking. Democratic employees OF the depart
nents have taken 10 informing minority
members OF Congress Of every incident sus-
ceptible Of being magnified by exaggeration
and distortion into political capital. Demo-
cratic members @ Congress. armed with
details which they could have obtained
only from employees Of the departments
are showing no hesitation about utilizing
such information for political purposes. and
are exhibiting no scruples about distorting
the facts 10 suit their purposes. The In
evitsble consequence is a growing feeling
among the bureau and division chiefs that
n IS folly 20 promote Democrats 20 places
Of trust and responsibility. and that non
nartisan CLASSIFIED service is Ctopian
dream or course. once the responsible
b.sds become convinced that all Democrats
sre traitors. that they know nothing OF
gratitude or loyalty. and are constantly
ready TO hetray their superiors and peddle
once details 10 ne used for partisan pur-
noses the foundations of Civil Service re-
forr, will be undermined. And Vet many
of the Democratic employees of the govern
r,ent are pursuing shat course, apparently
wholly needless of the injury they are
doing and the obstacles they are placing
In the way of their own advancement-at
least unless the entire administration
should become Democratic
A PTrRFAu- OF HEALTH.-On the ground
that no nail was ever driven with just suf-
Aciert force TO send Il home. the President
is disposed 70 look with favor on the work
being done by the committee Of one hun
dred of the American Association for the
Advancement Of Science 20 arouse public
opinion 20 the necessity Of combining all
the agencies Of the government which have
70 do with the public health i'm a single
department President Taft. like his prede-
cessor. does not believe ii would be advis-
able 20 create another department. because
II is generally recognized that the Cabinet
is large enough now, but he is heartily in
favor of combining all the health agencies
IN q single bureau. Mr.. Taft recommended
this reform in his annual message, and he
IS glad 20 see public spirited citizens work
ing TO that end. II is appreciated that there
Is little or no hope of action az this session,
but Il always requires considerable pre-
lirninary work 20 bring about a reform OF
this character. and IL is not too soon 20
begin II the consolidation is 20 he effected
by this Congress one Of the greatest needs
OF the executive branch OF the government
is the combination Of agencies performing
kindred work and the avoidance OF dupli-
cation which would follow, but such con-
soIidetion would be especially valuable in
the case OF those agencies which have to
do with health. as united they would not
only achieve more with a given pecUniary
outlay but would perform more effective
work and command greater respect-an i'm
portant factor were any serious epidemic
10 be dealt with. From the high character
of the men who are back Of this move
ment II is regarded as certain TO meet with
ultimate success, especially as they enjoy
the sympathy OF the Executive and have
the most foroeful arguments at their com
mand