The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-30


A year ago this month Congress
passed as a war measure, In accord
ance with executive request, an &C
to regulate the handling and sale o.
explosives during the period Of tn,
war. The act authorized the Presl
dent to appoint in every State anc
Territory a Federal Inspector Of Elk
ploslves at yearly salary OF $1,000
During the consideration in tn,
House Of this Administration wal
measure doubt was expressed by sew
eral members that the real purpose
was entirely national and altogether
non-partisan.
For example. Representative Guam
OLA Of New York, just now back from
the italian front, where he hos beer
serving rs an aviation Captain of the
American army, offered an amend
ment providing that the inspectors
should be appointed according to
civil service rules and striking out
the provision in the bill that they
should be appointed without regard
to civil service requirements" Mr.
WINGo Of Arkansas, Of the Commit
tee on Mines and Mining, pleaded
that the Bureau Of Mines would not
be able to secure the best qualified
men II 1t were pinned down to civil
service requirements. Mr.. FOSTER OF
Illinois, the chairman Of the same
committee, said: This Is not in.
tended to give any Democrat or any
other partisan politician a Job.
1t is absolutely necessary. II the bu-
reau Ia to be administered eficiently,
that this provision should remain In
the law" Mr.. GUARpIA's proper
amendment was voted down by an
overwhelming vote.
The Congregational Record shows
this. 1t ulso shows that when the
Explosive Inspectors bill was before
the Senate the same doubt was ex-
pressed concerning 1t, and the same
assurance given in regard to the non
partisan character Of the measure.
Senator PrrTMAN Of Nevada declared
on September IL. 1917:
Every one in this country who is
opposed to anarchy and realizes the
necessity Of crushing Il out Is in favor
of this bill and Is willing to stand for
the temporary Inconvenience II may
cause"
Senator SHAFRorH Of Colorado
said In the Senate:
I'VE would not enact such a measure
as this in time of peace. It would not
be necessary in time Of peace: but in
time OF war. unless we enact some such
measure. n disaster may
occur that would shock the United
States because of our laxity in allowing
the sale Of high explosives"
Three months after the passage Of
this measure for the safety Of the
people from destruction by the i'm
proper use Of high explosives Senator
PENRosE of Pennsylvania informed
the Senate that he had made some
inquiries as to the manner in which
the President was selecting or was
to select the men charged with the
highly technical and non-polltical du-
ties provided for in the act. Mr..
PENRosE said In the Senate on Janu-
airy 81, 1913:
II called up the Bureau of Mines and
asked them how these appointments
were to be made: whether by a civil
service examination or from graduates
Of technical college or from men ex-
perienced in the manufacture OF these
articles. was told In cold blood by
some gentleman at the other end OF the
telephone, and have two witnesses TO
the conversation N'ho were there, my
secretary was one Of them. that these
men were to be appointed. in States
where there were two Democratic Sen
ators. upon the accommodation of these
two Senators; and in States where there
was ono Democrat and ono Republican.
upon the recommendation of the Demo-
cratic Senator; and in States where both
Senators were Republicans. upon the
OF the chairman OF the
State Committee"
We now summarize as briefly as
possible the discoveries of the Repub-
Iican National Committee concerning
the Inspectors of Explosives actually
appointed by President WILSON I'M
der the provisions Of the law.
ALABAMA.--An active Democratic pol
Itician and unsuccessful candidate for
several Federal appointments. Recon-
mended by the Democratic Senators
from Alabama. No experience In hand
ling explosives.
Acknowledgement cigar salesman.
active in Democratic politics. Unsuc-
cessful candidate for several ofiices.
Delegate to the Baltimore convention
which first nominated Mr.. WILSON for
President Recommended by tho two
Senators. May have sold
when a storekeeper.
ARKANsAs.-LAfe insurance agent.
by two Democratic Sem
ators. No previous experience In hand
ling explosives
CALIToRNLA-Real estate agent. For
mer member. of a Democratic county