The Washington herald., 1912-11-07

kfeQeens I'm Adae4 1A1y Names
to the FernaHenf Rails II IL
Classified service.
When Woodssw WIlsoa enters the
White House nsxt March e President
he WIN facs the question Of throwing
Iout Of elncs Thousands OF Republicans
holding jobs under the government, 1t
wil be purely question OF listening 10
the clamor Of party associates hungry
tor 3obe. and the only, alternative YIN
Ibe to turn the deaf ear and noopec4 the
spirit - well - the letter Of ctvil
service Appointments. His prodoceoooro
In once for the last sixteen ysars have
gradually Increased the number OF mon
under the classined civil servioe ana 70
that extent lessensd the number Of po-
litical Appointments
In his power to work havoc In the de-
partments and In various branches OF
the government without transgressinx
law or infringing upon the ranks Of the
classified service. Like some Of his pce.
decessors. notably Cleveland, Harrison
and Mckinley. he VIII. face conditions
that make the presidential chair any
thing but an easy ssat during the nrst
year oe two Of its incumbency, Not To
listen to the cry Of the spoilsnen VIM be-
to make enemies In the ranks Of tri-
umphant Democracy. and adherence to
what would appeal to any man OF high
ideals and sense Of honor would b 10
stand alone and require more courage
than most men posse0a
Money valus Of Ratronaes.
Upwards Of thirty millions of dollars
win be the money value Of the patronage
that viii be at the disposal Of Presfdent-
elect Wilson wheQ he comes into the
White House. Thi1 represents an army
Of ofice seekers. aggregating about II.
o0. These two facts. more than any one
other thing, indicate the terrific pressure
that win be brought to bear upon the
White House, and the unceasing hours of
toll and labor that 10 before the new Chief
Executive, without regard to questions
Of public policy and legislation along the
lines Of the party pledges and the public
utterances OF the candidate.
table are not protected by the civil ser
vice. They are at the bestowal Of the
President and the demand for their i'm
mediate transfer from Republican ipcum-
bents to Democratic aspirants win natur-
ally be insistent. By . stroke Of the pen
many more could be removed from the
shelter OF the civil service.
Cleveland. found 20 many Republicans
ciamoring for the ofdces from which
for four years they had been elected.
that he made many exceptions and IN
great measure under pressure. negstived
the force Of the civil service law.
When CLEVELAND succeeded Harrison
he went to the other extreme and de-
ciined to violate either the letter or the
spir!t Of taat Nv saA but few Demo
edmlnistritivv h<ads Who were 'su6pon.
sible either as chief Of subordinate on
cials tor the policy Of the Admfnistration
How Mr. Wilson will act on the return
TO power Of his party and the long ab-
sence from the public crib. IL . question
that remains to be answered.
Increase of Civil Service Pesiti~ps.
The civil service act has been IN force
twenty-eight years At f1rst It was ap-
piled to less than 10 per cent Of the row.
eminent positions. Although no exact
figures are At hand, II has been extended
BY one President after arother until 1t
Includes nearly all except q few hisher
positions, such as first, second, and third
class postmasters. internal revenue and
customs collectors. fiscal agents. and Ger
tain supervisory officers In various
OF the government.
President Taft Transferred bodily more
than 5000 fourth-class postmasters from
the field Of political appointments to the
classified service. and he added more than
l.0OO other positions to the classified list, |
making record al against all Presi- |
dents.
To the casual reader this mixht seem
sntirely reasonable. and President-elect |
Wilson. 1t would seem. ought not even to |
consider interfering with the executive |
orders OF his predecessors In this respect, |
There Is another aspect to the matter, !
which IL being deeply consider. |
ID BY many Of the Democratic leaders |
VINO are advisers Of the next President
Democrats Want the Jobs.
Many Thousands Of the employees now
under the classified rules are merely Re-
publican political appointees Transferred
10 this classification which now serves
to keep them In ofice.
why should We continue in ONCE this
Republican machine. built up by Nc
kinley. Roosevelt and Taft?'' Is the ques-
don which the Democratic leaders are
lslking themselves
Most Of them are answering Il BIZ say.I
hing They are especially eager to have
Ar. Wilson. when he gets into the White
House, rescind the order by which Presi-
lent Taft lifted 10000 fourth-class post
masters ''out Of politics."
I'VE are not opposed to civil service
,eform." is the way one prominent
member Of the House and Q Senator
'lect expressed It q day or two before
lection. but II Wilson wins. We are
roing to ask him to rescind some of
hose Republican orders long enough to
'et In few Democrats. Then he can
70 In for civil service reform as strong
% he pleases"
When William Mckinley succeeded
srover Cleveland. sixteen years aso. and
Presidential p
Mn. c.sin.. ome.rs =. $4,000 each.