Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-02
CONFLICT BETWEEN PREs1-
DENT AND SENATE OVER
APPOINTMENTS A GRAVE
EVIL SAYS BOURNE.
SlVfST PRESIDENT Of Power.
Suggests Constitutional Amend
ment as the Way to Remedy
Conditions.

Washing: on, Jan. 1.-THE present
conflict between the president and the
United States senate over appoint
ment of federal employees in various
states, echinates a very grave evil in
our form of government" asserts Jon
athan Bourne, Jr.
''When the trainers Of the consti-
tuition gave the presid, mt power to ap-
point by and with the advice ana
consent of the senate, they intended
that no man should hold public Office
in the appointive classes, except for
temporary vacancies during congress
soinal recess, unless there be mutual
agreement between the president and
the senate. The members of the con.
stitutional convention could not fore
see the vast expansion of the terri
tory OF the United States and the en-
largement of the scope OF it's activl.
ties.
"They had not the remotest con-
ception of the number of persons who
ultimately would be emp.oyed in the
civil service of the nation, now num-
bering over 100000. They assumed
that the president and she senate
could make personal inquiry and form
PERSONAL Judgment upon the qualifi-
cations of prospective appointees.
Conditions Changed.
"But conditions have undergone a
ohn Tn
day over 10000 appointments are
made by the president by and with
the advice and consent Of the senate
Over a. thousand appointments are
.mHde by the president without con
firmation by the senate. There may
be a dozen candidates for each posi-
tion. 1t is absurd to imagine that
any president can intelligently select
the most desirable men for over H..
900 offices out of probably hundred
thousand applicants. If he gave his
entire time to the matter, he could
probably not intelligently fill 500 of
these positions. Neither the presi-
dent, nor the senate as a body, can
pass intelligently upon the qualifica-
tions of candidates for all. appointive
positions.
"The result has been that the presi.
dent acts upon the recommendation
of his political friends and legisla-
tive supporters, while the senate u.s.
ually acts upon the recommendation
of the members from the state in
which the appointee is to serve, if
one or both of the members from sucn
state be of the majority party. Hence
presidents usually favor senators and
congressman who support their poll
cies, and reject the advice of those
who do not.
Patronage, therefore, has become
a means by which the executive re-
wards those who agree with him on
legislation, and Furnishes those who
differ and have courage to exercise
the inherent right and sworn duty Of
independent thought and action.
The Remedy.
"The remedy, it seems to me, is the
adoption of constitutional amend
ment divesting the president of his
power to nominate pOstmasters, col
lectors of customs and internal reve-
nue., registers and receivers of land
offices, district attorneys and United
States marshals, and provides that
they shall be elected by the people in
their several jurisdictions Take from
the president the power of their re-
moval, give him only the power Of sus-
pension, with the right Of appeal by
the suspended employee to the civil
service commission, which would have
the power of reinstatement or remov-
al. This would in no manner interfere
with proper administration of govern.
ment. Federal office holders would
still give bonds, be subject to execu-
tive suspension, but would not be po.
lftically subservient to the executive.
"Thus only can we destroy the evil
power of patronage, free congress from
to the White House, and
make congress a coordinate branch Of
government in the sense in which it
was intended to be and should be-"