The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-22
TWENTIETH INSTALLMENT
HE PRESIDENCY: UNPAID COMMISSIONS; THE POST
OFFICE AND LAND FRAUDS; THE JAPANESE IN
CALIFORNIA; THE THIRD TERM QUESTION

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order in time for the Indian agent to
acknowledge It's arrival in these
words: The stove is here. So is
spring"
The Civil Service and Office Seekino
The Civil Service commission. under
men like John McIlhenny and Gar
held. rendered service without which
the government could have been con.
Quoted with neither efficiency nor hon
esty. The politicians were not the
only persons at fault; almost as much
Improper pressure for appointments
Is due TO meer misplaced sympathy.
ana TO the spiritless inefYiciency
"hich seeks government Office as
a maven for the Incompetent An
amusing feature OF office seeking is
that each man desiring an office is
apt 10 look down on all others with
me same object. as forming an obecj-
tlonaoie class with which he has
nothing In common. At the time of
the eruption OF Mont Pelee, when,
among others. the American consul
was killed. a man who had long been
seeking an appointment promptly ap-
piled for the vacancy. He was a good
man. OF persistent nature. who felt
that | had been somewhat blind to
MS merits. The morning after the
catastrophe he wrote. saying that as
the consul was dead he would like his
place. and that could surely give
II TO him. because even the office
seekers could not have applied for
IL vet"
Other Commissions.
The method OF public service in.
volyed in the appointment and the
work OF the two commissions Just
described was applied also in the es.
adjustment OF four other commits
sions. each OF which performed it's
task without salary or expense FOR it's
members. and wholly without cost 10
the government. The other four
commissions were:
Commission on Public Lands:
Commission on Inland Waterways:
Commission on Country Life. and
Commission on National Conserva-
ton
All OF these commissions were sug-
gested TO me by Clifford Pinchot. who
served upon them all. The work of
the last four will be touched upon in
connection with the cahpter on con
servation
Plsee-Holders and Politicians Oppose.
These commissions by their reports
and findings directly interfered with
many place-holders who were doing
inefficient work. and their reports
and the atcion taken thereon by the
administration strengthened the hands
nf A., 1..a.
In the various departments, and espe-
cially in the secret service, were pro-
ceeding against land thieves and 9th
er corrupt wrong doors. Moreover.
the mere fact that they did efficient
work for the public along lines new
TO veteran and cynical politicians OF
the old type created vehement hos
tility TO them. Senators like Mr.. Hale
and congressman like Mr.. Tawney
were especially bitter against these
commissions and toward the end of
my term they were followed BY the
majority OF their fellows in both
houses. who had gradually been sun
dered from me by the open or covert
hostility OF the financial or Wall ST
leaders. and % the newspaper edi-
Tors and politicians who did their bid
ding In the interest OF privilege
These senators and congressman as
serted that they had a right 70 forbid
the President pronting by the unpaid
advice o. DISTINGUISHED experts. OF
course declined 20 admit the exist
ence OF any such right. and continued
the commissions My successor nc
knowledged tho right. upheld the
view OF the politicians in question.
and abandoned tho commissions. 20
the lasting detriment OF the people
as n whole
Reducing the Public Debt.
one thing r. worth pointing out.
During the seven and half years OF
my administration We greatly and use
fully extended the sphere OF govern
burden Or the taxpayers, Tor we re-
duced the interest-besrlng debt hy
more than $4,000. Ouo. TO achieve a
marked Increase IN efficiency and at
the same time an increase IN economy
is not an easy feat. but We per
Roofing Out Corruption.
There was one ugly ana very nccss-
tlft tHaf This was 60 discover and
root out corruption wherever So was
round in many of tho departments The
Htst cefential was Co make 10 clearly
Ahders 1000 tlat u" rolfica. or business
f0r one moment hr even considered
when the honesty uf O. public oTiciai
was tt issue m took r. little time 10
go fuIH feet fi.rouEnly drilled into the
heads both ~ fne men WITHIN the serv-
lee al- nf the p0lltcn. leaders with