Evening star., 1915-01-04
PRESIDENTIAL PATRONAGE.
Ex-senator Bourne Comments on
The Stars Discussion of His Proposal

To the Editor of The Star:
in your editorial OF Saturday, discuss
ing my suggestion that the evils in
cident to federal patronage be elim-
mated by providing for the election of
certain administrative officers in the
several states, you assume that the
only object is the establishment OF
proper relations between the President
and the Senate. You say:
AS defined by the Constitution, the
power OF the President is not too great
ItshouId not. of course, be misuSed. In
the matter OF appointments to office he
should render unto the Senate the thing
that is the Senates, III no case setting
aside the Senate for outsiders, and par
;tcultr members OF his kitchen cabinet.
\ return to the constitutional order is
all that is necessary to bring Mr. WILL
son and the Senate into pleasant rela-
tions again"
There are two ends to be gained by
divestinS the President of his power to
appoint such officers as postnastefs,
collectors and appraisers OF customs,
collectors of internal revenue, district
attorneys. Inarslials and land officers:
First, relieve Congress from the DON'T
nation of the executive: second, destroy
the federal political machine. Every
one of these officers is now partisan
;tppointee.
Ic the office is worth having the ap-
pointee feels under obligations to the
administration from which he received
his favor. The senator or representa-
tive upon whose recommendation the
appointment was made feels sense OF
obligation. The senator or representa-
tive who has been refused participa-
ZION in the distribution of patronage
feels that lie has been deprived OF pres
tige at home. The appointing power,
therefore, is Il club by which the fresl-
dent can coerce Congress.
Your admission that ~ return to the
constitutional order is necessary con
"cdes the grave nature Of the sItua-
iivn. \ return to L constitutional or
der which the President took an oath
% uphold And yet you pass the mat
ter over as lightly as though the sug-
:yestion ACCOMPLISHED the result.
liz view of the demonstration i'll 1908
aud 1872 of the power Of the national
machine to control a national conven-
ton. and ill view of the express ad-
mission that patronage was used dur
ing the last administration TO favor
those members OF Congress who acted
upon legislation i'll such manner as
10 please the President, 7 assert that
more effective remedies arc necessary,
and that nothing, short of dstroyiug the
power viii remove the evil
Fake away the enormous political
I,over the President has as the head OF
lie sdInini 81 ration. i@rec Congress from
the domination OF the executive. Let
local officials ~ ;iIIswerablc to the pco-
uls Of their several jurisdictions for
he efficiency ut their service, subject
to removal for eats" and Responsible
upon their official bonds
Thus VIII both Congress and tho
President be relieved OF d vast amount
81 work not properly pertaining to
their offices and be left free to give
their attention more closely and eA-
tcnsively to legislation and admins
fration. Nominating conventions will
he free to select candidates desired by
the people and local officials will be re-
iteYed of the duty of performing politi-
cal service.
JONATHAN BOURNE, Jr.