The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1917-03-24

TAKING POsInAsT[Rs
OUT Of POLITICS
BY NILES PoINDExTER.
q. s. Senator from Washington.


Written for the United Press
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE
action OF the president in adopting
the merit system In the appointment
or first. second and third class post
masters and taking this patronage
out of politics, will save the govern
ment, at q conservative estimate.
twelve million dollars a year and
will increase the efficiency Of the
postal service. This system becomes
effective a week from Monday.
There are 567 first class offices;
a.21s second class; 7.a37 third class
and 45.ss3 fourth class offices. The
fourth class offices we're placed In
the classified civil service several
years ago by President Taft.
The application Of the principle.
however. was so perverted that II
did not bring the desired result.
Three names were certified on list
|of eligible applicants. In neatly all
cases there was at least one ssdeiiio-
crat on the list and In nearly all
cases this democrat was sppointed-
|I4 only brought the system into rid
icule because it was a sham and a
|hypocritical application Of It.
This did the merit system harm
because some who took only su-
perficial view OF the matter blamed
1.-The principle itself for the result,
whereas the real fault was the fall
Ore to apply in truth and in fact the
nerit principle. The criticism really
was against the old spoils system
aasquer ding In the guise OF the
merit system.
So far as announced the forth
esHaifg order will not affect incnn-
bent postmasters during their pres
mt term. but will apply to appoint
ments or reappointments at the end
of that term. Instead OF a perver-
sion Of the principle By giving the
appointment to the democrat on the
ist OF three. the applicant standing
highest on the list and having the
other necessary qualifications as TO
general character. viii be appointed
esrdless OF politics
This change viii add TO the dig
nifty OF congressman by relieving
them from the obligations and hui
mutations of political appointments.
It will take away from the execu-
tive branch of the government one
OF the powerful influences OF in-
ducements, which in times past have
frequently been used TO direct and
control the action of congress. Any
one can see the effect of such in
fluences upon the independence OF
that branch Of the government. 1t
is a deteriorating influence, morally
as well as intellectually. and ii al
lowed TO control the entire civil SER
vice would lead to its ruination.
| proposed this change in an
amendment to the postoffice bill
TWO years ago, but II went out on
a point Of order. This year when the
Legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill came TO the senate
il contained certain general iegisia-
ton relative TO postoffice employees
This gave an opportunity for an
amendment on the same subject land
/ raoffefed the amendment taking
the postoffiee appointments out Of
politics and providing that they
should be appointed on merit in &C
eordance with the regularly estab-
4ished civil service rules.
At a later time ] will briefly dis
cnss the manner in which this
change viii improve the service and
cnrtail its expense, and the oppor
tunity for reward it will give tol
faithful employees.