The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
Office Seekers Receive Another
lar From Administration.
President Will Not Remove
Men Because of Politics.
MUST SERVE THROUGH TERMS
Action Throws Scare Into the
Ranks of Politicians.
Wilson Will Not Annul Taft
POstOffice Order.

Washington, March 29.-Democratic
officeseekers were again Jared this
week when they learned that Presi-
don't Wilson has no intention of re-
moving Republicans before the ex-
niration of the terms for which they
were appointed. This rule will apply
IN all administrative positions where
the incumbents have nothing TO do
with the shaping of the policy. 1t af-
fects postmasters, collectorships, bank
examiners, and practically all of the
government service outside OF WASH
fngton. When this news became gen.
orally known among officeseekers ana
Democratic members or congress-
walls of rage went up that rent the
air. Coming on the heels of the an
nouncement that President wilson
would not receive an of1lcesekeT at
the White House unless he invited an
interview, and that the spokesman or
officeseekers must do business with
the heads of the various departments;
1t was brought home to the taltniuI
that the pickingS under the new as
pensation are to be mighty lean. Ac-
cordingly, the Democrats in Washing
ton are a gloomy lot, and 1t is tne
came here happy with hope VIII soon
return home vowing vengeance on the
Wilson administration.
Fourteen hundred Republican noml-
neeS. named IOr appointment ny 90
dent Taft in the closing days OF ms
administration, will not derive any
benefit, of course, from the rule. LII
practically all of these cases embrac-
ing appointm in every branch OF
the public service, Democrats will be
nominated by the president But IN
this hatch there is not nearly enough
to go round. Administration leaders
insist that it would be impossible to
fill the demands of all who have ap-
piled, even if the president authorized
a wholesale dismissal of Republican
officials.
Will Turn Deaf Ear.
1t was learned that the president
will turn deaf ear to anyone VINO VINO
the Republicans, fattened by their
long years of service, should be turned
out in the cold for the beneflt OF those
affiliated with the now dominant par
~ Democrats are saddened over the
present state of affairs, and fear that
unless there is a change of policy that
they will be up against 1t In the con-
e-reSsional elections of 1914.
While Democratic leaders are not
talking out loud, they made no con-
cealment of their chagrin over the
present drift of things. They were
inclined to be critical when the pres
ident nominated E. E. Clark of Iowa,
a Republican, for reappointment TO
the Interstate commerce COMMISSION
and declared that while John M Mar
BILE of California, who was appolhteu
to the commission, might be DEM
acrat they expressed doubt that ne
had worked at it very vigorously in re-
cent years. Another cause for d1ssat-
isfaction was the reappolntment OF
Charles P Neill as commissioner OF
labor. The Democrats admitted that
Mr.. Neill had administered his offlce
efficiently and that he was popular
with labor. but they insisted that
man equally as fit could have been
- II re l1n W.
willing to serve in this particular Of
flee.
The appointments mentioned, and
the dissemination of the president to
countenance a Cleanup of RepubIl-
can officeholders, indicates to the
leaders that they are to have hard
time of it under the new administra-
ton.
Some months ago President Taft
issued orders converting into the
classified service some $4,000 post
masters. Democrats complained bit
terly at the time and predicted that
one of the first acts of the new presl-
dent would be to vacate the Taft or
ders. Present indications are that
President Wilson will do nothing OF
the kind In fact, the impression is
quite general that President Wilson
is thoroughly in sympathy with the
merit principle as applied to ap-
pointments and promotions in the
public service.
Postoffice Department Flooded.
AS a result of the extension of the
classified civil service to include
fourth-class postmasters and the an
nouncement that poStmaSterS OF that
class would be asked to qualify in a
competitive examination, the postof-
flee department has been flooded with
- designations from the service. Al
present designations are reaching the
department at the rate of about twenty
a day, and officials declare that about
1000 fourth-class postmasters have
resigned since the executive order con-
verting them into the civil service
was issued.
Practically all of the designations are
in the postoffices where the pOstmas-
ter's salary is merely nominal and
where at times the expense of conduct
ing the office equals the postmaster
compensation. In many of the cases
1T will be exceedingly difficult to OBJ
tain applicants who will take the pre-