Evening star., 1920-11-14
REPUBLICANS READY
FOR POLITICAL PIE
Choice Pastry IN Plenty for Distribu-
tion On and After March 4-Ten
Cabinet Posts Awaiting.

author with Senator Cummins OF the
new railroad law, and it is expected
they will be taken care Of with good
federal appointments. If they desire.
In fact, the talk has been strong that
Mr.. Esch is to get a place on tho In
terestate Commerce Commission.
Federal commissions of importance
have been increased in number con-
siderably since the incoming OF the
Wilson administration. among the
commissions created being the Federal
Trade Commission, the Tariff Commits
sion, the United States Shipping
BOARD. the Federal Reserve Board and
the Railway Labor Board. Appoint
ments to these commissions and
boards are for a stated period OF
wears. but there will, of course, be
vacancies to fill from time to time.
Wide Field for Reward.
The postal service offers a wide field
for the reward of party followers.
The fourth-class postmasters are
appointed by the Postmaster General.
They have been covered under the
civil service, and SO their appoint
ments are more lasting than in the
past, when the familiar cry. ITO
the victor belongs the spoils," was
raised after every new administra-
ton was elected. and there was
general ousting Of postmasters and
even clerks There remains q very
large number OF presidential ap-
pointments Of postmastera and these
will be filled by Mr.. Harding when
he takes Office.
In the past the postal service has
been held an excellent field for the
upbuilding of a political machine. 1t
has happened not infrequently that
the chairman of the national commit
tee of the party which has come into
power has been appointed head OF
the postal service, and Will Hays is
being talked Of for that onice now.
Frank Hitchcock and George B. Cor
telyou were instances in the more
recent past when such appointments
have been made. and Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson, President Wilson's
selection for the Office. was consid-
cred one Of the Presidents chief
political advisers when he was named
for that post.
The patronage club" welded by
the chief executive. no matter OF
what party, has been a potent in
fluence, particularly when it came
to dealing with Congress. It has
enabled the President to make or
break men representing various
states or congressional districts in
Congress through appointing the
men recommended by those congress-
men or the men recommended by
their political enemies in the states
from which they come.
Many ArKuments Advanced.
In fact, there have been many
arguments put forward for curtai1-'
ing this power of patronage now
held by the chief executive. but the
appointing power must rest some.
where. and no better plan than that
now in use has been found.
The civil service laws will protect
many thousands of the government
workers in their positions. But the
higher paid and more responsible
positions of the government are not
under civil service regulation. and
therefore are open to political change
There are many assistants to cabinet
officers to be appointed, and heads Of
important bureaus that do not come
under the civil service. With the
government employing a total Of
l 6s1, ,116 persons in its civil service, it
I is lucky. indeed. that regulations keep
the greater part of these persons
! untouched.
| There are a number OF important
places now to be filed, and not a few
officials are serving under recess ap-
pointments. But the republican
senators are not inclined to permit
the confirmation of any Of these pend
ing nominations. They are counting
upon holding the jobs open for re-
publicans. Not the least Of these jobs
is that Of controller of the currency.