The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-06
NOTATION IN OEFICE.

Thomas Jefferson firmly imbedded
into American governmental theory the
principle of rotation in office. Justly
Jealous of the Capitalization of power,
he saw the danger that lies in the UNI
due continuation in office of certain
public servants. The principle is one
that ought never to be lost sight OF
in a country like ours
Yet there Are limitations upon tho
principle, just as there are limitations
upon practically every principle of gov
eminent The rule is not absolute.
One of the dearest statements of the
proper province in which the principle
should operate is made this week in
the Progressive Farmer, which says%
There is no doubt that the principle
of rotation is wise and healthful, but
there are one or two modifying facts
which our voters should keep in mind.
In the first place. very sharp Justine
ton should be made between the OF
fees in which merely routine work is
done, such as those of Sheriff. Treas
urer, Register of Deeds, Auditor sec
rotary OF State, etc, etc. on one hand,
ing high degree Of constructive abil-
| tty and technical skill. such as Com
! missioner of Agriculture, Superintend-
! ent of Education, Supervisor of Roads,
| Health Commissioner, etc. 1t Is GER
| tainly important that Il distinction be
! made between the two types. VI
| course. no inefficient man ought TO be
kept in any office because he is sup
posed to havo had experience IN IT.
! but we hope the wise principle OF rota-
ton is not carried to unwlse extremes.
DIR. S. C. Mitchell, of the University OF
South Carolina, declared the other DAY
that while it was originally SAID that
there were three departments of gov
errment-legislative executive and ju-
dicial--we now recognize four--legisla-
tive, executive. judicial and educa-
tional In the executive offices, the
mere execution of political and tinan-
! cial machinery, 1t is Well to have ro-
tation, but when a really able man has
been found for the management of the
schools, the roads, public health WORK
or agricultural development. there Is
no more reason for making freQuen,
changes than there is fer changing the
professors III the State University.
IN short, let us have as much 70
, tation as the people wish in the eXecu-
fees where influence comes with eX
perience; still less in judicial offices
and least OF all, perhaps, in the edu
: catonal oitices-provided in each case
that the officer be really able maj
who is doing his work we'll"
This is thoroughly sound. There Il
! a wide gulf between routine ell
cheney and constructive efficiency. Th'
J, former is more or less mechanical, bu
]. the latter requires real ability. the eN
ercise OF mental power. imagination
, san activities of government, the prin
ciple of rotation should be regarded
= with great caution.
If Congressman serve his paopl
. that he is an efficient servant. grow
ing in efficiency, making two blade
of grass grow in his district wher
!, only one grew before, gaining powe
titled to exemption from the operation
of the principle of rotation In oftic
than the man in an executive city o
!, county Office, who has learned his rou
tine work by heart in his several term
OF Office. Long experience makes 70
the usefulness Of the member Of Con
gress; but after a certain time Tn
mere routine executive reaches a
average Of efficiency beyond which h
cannot GO
The principle of rotation in offlc
under the present Constitution apple
to certain city and county officers, an
we think it should be allowed to cor
: tinue to do so. The "otlice- holdin
: trust" is fundamentally undemocratic.