Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-01-07
FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS.

The present conflict between the .
president and the United States SEN
ate over the appointment of federal .
employees in various states echinates .
a very grave evil in our form of gov
ernment, asserts Jonathan Bourne, |
Jr.
When the trainers of the consti !
tuition gave the president power to |
appoint by and with the advice and |
consent of the senate they intended |
that no man should hold office in |.
the appointive classes, except for
temporary vacancies during congress |
sional 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 its actiyi-
ties.
"They had not the remotest con-
ception of the number of persons who
ultimately would be employed in the
civil service of the nation, now num-
bering over 100000. They assumed
that the president and the senate
could make personal inquiry and
form personal judgment upon the
qualifications of prospective ap-
pointees.
But conditions have undergone a
change they could not foresee. To-
day over 10000 appointments are
made by the president by and with
the consent of the senate Over
thousand appointments are made by
the president without confirmation
candidates for each position. 1t is
absurd to imagine that any president
can intelligently select the most de-
sirable men for over 1000 offices
out of probably hundred thousand
applicants. II he gave his entire
time to the matter he could probably
not intelligently fill 500 of these
positions. Neither the president nor
the senate as body can pass intelli-
gently upon the qualifications of can
didates for all appointive positions.
THE result has been that the pres
ident acts upon the recommendations
of his political friends and legisla-
tive supports, while the senate usu-
ally acts upon the recommendation
of the members from the state in
which the appointee is to serve, II
one or both of the members from
such state be of the majority party.
Hence, presidents usually favor SEN
ators and congressman who support
their policies. 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.
Patronage has almost destroyed
congress as a coordinate branch of
government and made it largely sub
servient to the White House.
important legislation is now
planned and written in the executive
branch of government and forced
through congress partly by the aid of
patronage.
Such a procedure is a menace to
popular and representative govern
ment. 1t is the beginning OF dicta-
torship.
Since we no longer live under con-
ditions prevailing at the time the
constitution was adopted. the wise
course is to make the constitution
meet the needs of this day and gen.
Grafton.
The remedy, II seems to me, Is
the adoption OF a constitutional
amendment -diyesting the president
OF his power TO nominate postmas-
tiers, collectors OF customs and inter
nal revenue. registers and receivers
OF land offices. district attorneys and
United States marshals, and proyi6s
that they shall be elected by the peo-
pie in their several Jurisdictions
Take from the president the powsr
OF their removal. give him only the
power Of suspension, with the rgh;