The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-05-26
DEMOCRACY VS.. EFFICIENCY


DEMOCRACY VS.. EFFICIENCY
Washington, May 2l-(SpeciaD-
The chief aim of the Wilson admin:
tration has been the pursuit of tn
principle enunciated by the premie
OF the administration ito find place
for deserving democrats" with reck
less disregard for the efficiency OF tn
service.
! At the time of his nomination Pres
ifent Wilson was vice-president OF tn
National Civil Service league. In re
signing, as he very properly did OF
being nominated for president, HI
stated that it did not indicate an.
lack OF interest in the cause. Their.
was expected from him therefore, :
full performance OF what his previous
life and profession had promised.
There has, however, been grea
disappointment In this respect and
large number OF experienced, wei
trained and efficient officials and EN-
ployes in the government service, both
in and out of the competitive civil
service, have been removed or de
noted to make places for inexperi
enced democrats. Z
For years deputy collectors of in.
ternal revenue and deputy United
States marshals had been under the
protection of the civil service rules,
this policy resulting in building UP
an efficient and experienced service.
In one of the first appropriation bills
passed by congress under this admin
sat- {hc0tto1 fha
effect that deputy collectors OF in
ternal revenue and office deputy Unit
ed States marsllals who may be re-
quired to give bond" could be appoint
ed without reference to the civil serv-
ice regulations Approximately $50
office deputy marshalS and 1900 dep
uty collectors of internal revenue were
thus thrown into the spoils system.
Take the cases Of United States dis.
trict attorneys and United States
marshals. Under the law they are ap-
pointed for terms of four years, and
heretofore these officials have been
allowed to serve out their terms with
out reference to change In the admin
istration. But not so under the demo
cratic party. As fastas appointments
satisfactory to the democratic bosses
in the several states could be de-
termined upon, the designations Of
United States marshals and district at
torneys have been called for, frequent
" by telegraph, without regard to the
length Of time remaining for them to-
serve under their -four year commits
sions. Any marshal or district attOr-
ney who called for an explanation was
, III, 1Shic Hnnn
of course, that the administration
might as soon as possible have an Of
fee holding class around which to|
build an organization for the campaign
of 1916.
Another. illustration of the manner
in which efficiency has been ruthless
ly sacrificed is found in the federal
penitentiary service, where, If any
where, the need for keeping trained
and experienced men in the service
should be- of greater importance than
the mere question of finding positions
with which to pay political debts
The former warden OF the peniten-
tiary at Leavenworth, Kans., was the
best informed man on prison matters
in the United States, having had a
number of years of previous expert
ence with state penal and refOr1natory
institutions and as chief of police In
one of the largest cities OF the coun-
try. His resignation was promptly
called for by the Wilson administra-
ton. Later his deputy was removed
that another political appointment
might be made.
The administration then removed
4, .s.ko 0f ,lricnnc at AV1Ch.
ipgton, notwithstanding the position
was under the protection OF the civil
service regulations. The incumbent
was man who had grown up with
the service and whose successful prac-
tical experience In prison and parole
work covered q period Of many years.
This important office was filled, under
An executive order issued by the pres
idetit waving the civil service rules,
M contractor and builder of apart
n1Ant houses in Washington. O man
without experience with penal institu-
ffOns or the handling of criminals.
THE penitentiary at Atlanta, Ca,
was not to, escape the search OF the
office seeker, and the warden OF that
O man who had served Ell
iciently for many years, was recently
removed, and man heretofore I'M
Known in prison matters was appoint
"A for this important work.
n Notwithstanding his former connec-
fion~ with the National Civil Service
league, President Wilson has issued
more executive orders waving the CIV
Il service rules than any OF his prede.
cessors. The records Of the! civil
service commission show that in the
two wears Of his administration he has
the appointment of 137 per-
sons under executive orders. Presi-
lent Taft in the first two years of his
administration excepted n men from
taking the examination, just about
half as many.
In the department service at Wash
Ington. where merit must prevail If an
efficfent standard of service is to be
experienced clerks have
been reduced that clerks with demo-
cratic pull" might be promoted. ~
some offices efficiency ratings hereto
lore maintained have been abandoned
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