The Washington herald., 1913-12-17

tenn has revived, and the cause OF civil
service reform has already suffered more
severely during this administration than
in any similar period since 1t was in
troduced.
with President entering the service
who had been an avowed civil service
reformer, an officer OF one of the leagues
and, by his education, environment and
record, pledged to promote the cause. II
seemcs1 as II there was no danger that
any serious attack upon 1t could be made.
But In the South public opinion on the
subject had Jagged FIR behind the rest
of the country, while the politicians there
were no less greedy than others and were
no. restrained b. any exacting and
threatened public opinion. There was
consolidated the strength of the Demo-
cratic party, just coming into power after
sixteen years in the wilderness. And II
was question whether they would recog-
nize and appreciate and acquiesce in the
changes that had come over the civil
service since they were last In power,
and II they did not, whether the Presi-
dent would yield to that wing of his
party or would stand by his convictions
or his record or would yield to partisan
and selfish pressure
'.The test soon came. At the beginning
of the session an oqsfry was at once
TdlSeQ 0dBhlIiSN lAiC OEuCh
of President Taft extending the order of
President Roosevelt and placing all
fourth-class postmasters under civil
service.
Selection of Postmasters.
"- understand that the program is for
the Civil Service Commission to certify
to the Postmaster General the three
highest eligibles for each postofice, and
r. 1.-iIr % 4,
district which of the three would make
the most efficient officer. Political con-
siderations are, Of course, to be barred,
but / can imagine just how many Re-
publican postmasters will be indoreed or
appointed in Democratic districts and
how inefficient all enemies of the Con-
gresham will prove to be-"
Mt. Gillett remarked that the party in
power in the Senate and the House had
grown bolder through executive encour-
agement, and called attention to the fact
that the amendment to the deficiency
bill provided that deputy marshals ana
deputy collectors OF internal revenue and
their subordinates be removed from the
classified service was a step further in
the direction of the destruction of the
civi. service system. He dwelt at length
on the provision in the tariff bill where
by collectors Of the income tax were
eAenpteu ATOm CIVIL service PROVISIONS.
Said Mr.. Gillett:
For the first time since the adoption
Of the civil service law in 1883, the leg
islative and executive branches have
combined to remove from the classified
service large classes of officers which
have been included therein for years.
In this extra session the Presidents
party in two different bills has inserted
clauses Intentionally violating the most
step ever taken. A word
Of disapproval from the President would
easily have eliminated them during their
progress through Congress. A veto Of
the most vicious one would have caused
no other inconvenience. He waits until
II becomes a law-until the mischief Is
tone-and then chooses the moment OF
giving his approval to this permanent
breach in the civil service law to as
sure us of his devotion to the principle
he has just manned and crippled"