The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-11-21
THAT EXPLOSIVE ACT
JOBS FOR DEMOCRATS
WAR MEASURE USED TO RE.
WARD AND ENCOURAGE
POLITICAL WORKERS.

w
congress in passing measure for the
n,,rnose of controlling the sale and
distribution of explosives during the
or If must be admitted that the ex-
n,osive act proved most useful pol
,+ical instrument to appease the faith
fnl while politics were adjourned The
National Republican, published at
washington, D. c., has made an in
,ostieation of the operation of this
low and has discovered that the ap-
nointment of inspectors for the var
IONS states has been made from pure
II, political considerations and with
ont regard to the qualifications of ap-
pointees. An example OF the system
adopted is found in Idaho The Re-
publican gives long list of appoint
ments. with the former business of the
onnointee and the influences that in
duced the selection This is the ref
erence to the Idaho inspector:
.Idaho-Edgar E. Elder, of st.
Maries Lawyer. Has been ac-
tive in democratic politics. Broth
err of Robert II. Elder, democrat
10 national committeeman from
Idaho. to whose influence he
probably owes his appointment
Never had any experience in the
handling Of explosives"
iohs for Democrats.
Commenting on this law. the Re-
publican says:
disappearing as war measure.
an act to regulate the handling and
sale Of explosives during the period OF
the war was enacted by the congress
and approved october 6, 1917. The
actual result of this act, as revealed
by it's operation, was to furnish jobs
for deserving democrats.
Under it's terms, the president has
appointed in each state and territory
of the United States, federal in
spector of explosives, at a salary of
$2400 a year. In addition, there has
been created a horde of minor officials
and agents of the bureau of mines,
among these latter petty officials who,
in the name of the director Of the bu-
reau of mines, issue licenses for the
sale and use of explosives, collecting
a fee for the issuance of each license
amounting to 25 cents.
"All of the officials appointed under
the act are democrats, more or less
deserving. The state inspectors, as
disclosed by an investigation in each
men, farmers, newspaper editors and
tailors. In only one state was a man
appointed who possessed known ex-
perience in the handling of explosives;
that is the inspector appointed for
Colorado The Montana and Arizona
inspectors, as general store statesmen
once sold explosives. In 45 states
men were appointed who had no pre-
vious experience in or knowledge OF
explosives. In the territory of Alas
ka the inspector being a miner had
probably had some experience in the
use of dynamite.
Fear of Bill Expressed.
During consideration of the bill
in the house of representatives repub-
lican members expressed fear that
If the bill was enacted in the form de-
manded by the administration, 1t
would result in just this sort of APP
pointments. Accordingly, Represen-
tative La Guardia, of New York (now
an aviation captain in the American
army serving on the Italian front) Of
fered an amendment on May 20, 1917.
Congressional Record, May 20. 1917,
page 32S5), providing that the inspect
ors should be appointed in accordance
with the provisions of the civil SER
vice and striking out the provision IN
the bill that they should be appoint
ed without regard to civil service
requirements" 1t is almost needless
to say that Mr.. La Guardias proposal
was voted down overwhelmingly.
How Appointments Were Made.
"The exact manner in which these
appointments were made was explain
ed in debate in the senate on January
q, 1918, by Senator Penrose as fol-
lows:
"T called up the bureau of mines
and asked them how these appoint
ments were to be made whether by a
civil service examination or from the
graduates of a technical college OF
from men experienced in the manu-
featuring of these articles. was toio
in cold blood by some gentleman al
the other end of the telephone, ana
have two witnesses to the converse
ton who were there, my secretar!
was one of them, that these men wer'
to be appointed, in states where ther'
were two democratic senators, upol
the recommendation Of these two sen
ators; and in states where there wa
one democrat and one republican,, up
on the recommendation Of the dem
ocratic senator; and in states wher
both senators were republicans, upo'
the recommendation of the chairma
OF the democratic state committee.