The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-11-26
100000 IN
FEDERAL JOBS
CONTINUED from page two)

administration. They say the senti-
ment of the country if nothing else
will prevent it. They expect that
Mr.. Wilson will appoint Democrats
to the minor offices as fast as the Re-
publican terms expire, but they do
not look for any sweeping removals.
In the case of the more important
Offices, the big plums. such as appoint
ments in the diplomatic service, the
Republicans now in Office will of
course follow their usual custom and
forward their designations to the
President on March A next.
The strongest pressure to have the
new President break through the
civil service or merit system will
come in the case of the fourth class
postmasters and the consular service.
Both of these classes of officeholders
are protected under executive orders
and not by statute, and they consti-
tute one of the most desirable fields
of Federal patronage on account of
the great number of offices involved.
After Fourth Glass Jobs
Plenty of evidence already is accu-
mulating that the Democratic leaders
intend TO move upon President Will
son and demand the turning out of
Republicans in the fourth class post
offices and the application of the civil
service later.
There are more than IS, 900 fourth
class postoffices. many of which are
located in the South. where the cry
for patronage will be loudest Al
ready Democrats are beginning to
flood the Post Office Department with
inquiries in regard to these jobs,
each of which pays 81. 900 or less.
Roosevelt Started 1t
President Roosevelt was the first
Executive to put the fourth class
postn asters under the civil service.
He covere1 all the offices of this class
in fourteen Northern states into the
classified service shortly before his
term in the White House expire ed.
Mr.. Taft completed the reform by
bringing all the remaining fourth
class postmasters. about $4,000 of
them, into the civil service. This
was in last October and the Taft exc
cutive order marked the biggest in
crease to the civil service list ever
made at one time ..z,-.
Many Democrats have raised the
cry that Taft protected these fourth
class Republican postmasters because
he knew he was going to be defeated
and they will demand that Wilson
revoke this order,
Taft Really Sincere
On the other hand President Taft's
sincerity in regard to civil service
reform can hardly be questioned.
For more than two years he has been
recommending in his messages to
Congress that the merit system be
extended. so as TO include practically
all Government employees-the first.
second and third class postmasters
and the employees of the customs
and Internal revenue services. The
President has been unable to extend
the system in this direction because
the Senate has theright of confirma-
ton. and the upper branch of Con-
gress has refused to act on his recon-
mendations.
The Big Plums
Many of the inquiries that are al
ready pouring into Washington from
the Democrats relate to the diplo-
matte and consular service, and it is
certain that an effort will be made
to have Mr.. Wilson bring the latter
back into the patronage class. The
consulate service was put on merit
or civil service, basis by Mr.. Root
when he was Secretary of State, all
appointments being made on the
basis of competitive examinations.
This system, like that of the fourth
class postmasters, rests only on an
executive order. The State Depart
ment has endeavored also to put the