Evening journal., 1916-06-05
NCOMPETENCY AND rNErrrcrENcY.

G lNCE the Wilson administration came into Office no
opportunity has been let slip take down the
Of the civil service law and make places for hungry
Democrats who could not pass a competitive examina-
ton The latest attempt TO abrogate the civil
vice law for the benefit OF the deserving" comes in
the plan to take appointments under the proposed
rural credits law out Of the operation of civil SER
vice.
The Baltimore platform Of the Democratic party de-
clared with all soemnity OF a vow:
"The law pertaining the civil service should be
honestly and rgidy enforced. 20 the end that merit
and ability shall be the standard of appointment and
promotion rather than services rendered to a political
party.
"our platform is one OF principles which we be-
lieve TO be essential to national welfare Our
pledges arc made to be kept when in Office as well as
relied upon during the campaign"
But the VOW TO preserve involate the principles Of
civil service. like other Democratic promises has
fallen victim TO the political avarlce Of the long denied
professional politicians Of the Democratic party
Moreover. the President despite his professions OF
devotion to the merit system has made no effort to
keep his feow-Democrats within bounds in their as
sault tho civil service. lie has issued an unprece
dented number OF executive eevatng favorites
to "fat Jobs" in the opposition of the
civil service commission
Now the rural credits legislation like the Federal
Reserve Board law is to be made contributory to
Democratic spoils II is proposed that all clerks and
other employees under tho law be appointed without
regard for the civil service. Not satisfied with ap-
pontments outside the merit system. further prov
sion is made that nothing herein shall prevent 'he
President from placing said employees in the classified
service"
Not only is II the Democratic intention to ignore
the merit system in the matter of appointments but
after the deserving" have been initiated into the
ernmen employ by the armchair route they to
he given ndetermnate and safe tenure through the
Presidents assigning them a place the classified
list
This policy Of pensoning political favorites is not
a recent development among all the curious things
that have transpred since Woodrow Wilson went to
the White House. Rather has IL been consistent
policy spread the past four years. The Under
wood exempted collectors OF the income from
the civil service The deficiency appropriation act of
the last Congress deputy United States marshals
and deputy collectors OF internal out OF the
civil service An unsuccessful attempt take assist
ant postmasters of the civil service made in
tho postonlce appropriation bill Of the last Congress
Then tho Federal Reserve bank act made the Of
And now it is proposed to exempt appointments under
the rural credits act
The facetious Democratic platform document prom
sod:
"Our pledges made to be kept in once we'll
as relied upon during the campaign"
The Democrats have this civil service raid and a
multitude OF other broken promises TO explain to the
voters before next fall Indeed It looks as though the
Democratic campaign OF 1916 Will be largely CAM
paign Of explanations