New-York tribune., 1921-04-29
4 Ciuil Service Question
Should Postnastcrshps Be Among the Spols of Office?
o the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The criticisms which Henry
Lane Wilson, speaking before the Ma
t1onal Civil Service Reform League,
passed upon the policy of the late Ad-
ministration with respect to the dipIo-
matte service might we'll be extended to
apply to the Wilson policies with re-
spect to other branches of the govern
ment service. OF course, the country
had never been tried by an Admins
tration so facie in lip service to every
progressive idea while at the same
time so inexorablc in practicng the
spoils system wherever it would bene-
fit deserving Democrats"
There wasn't measure passed, be-
lieve, during the eight Wilsonian
years providing for new jobs which
was not accompanied by provisions ex-
emptlng said jobs from civil service
requirements. But the high point Of
achievement in camoufaged assault
upon the civil service was reached by
Postma ster General Burleson when he
induced President Wilson, by success
slve executive orders, to cover $4,000
Democratic postmasters under the pro-
lection of what they hoped would be
life tenure, at the same time persuad-
ing the public that great service was
being done the cause Of civil service.
Now, look at the facts. The $4,000
Democrats were put in the postoffices
OF the land by purely political appoint
ments. When they were safely in an
executive order issued protecting them.
regardless of the expiration of their
commissions, until they died or re-
signed. BY subtle publicity methods
the public was led to believe that a
civil service status was thus given
them.
This would have been bad enough il
true 49, if men appointed without civil
service examinations had been subse-
quently by wave Of the hand trans
formed into civil service incumbents.
But this was beyond the power of the
President, and the official publication
of the Civil Service Commission ex-
plicitly states that these postmasters
have no civil service status; but, in
fact, the Presidents order puts them
beyond the reach of the civil service.
This being SO, is it not time that the
trick, which every one recognized as
trick, which attempted to perpetuate
the grip Of the Democratic party on
the postal service, regardless of the
mandate of the people, should be un-
done? To paraphrase, "a breath can
unmake them, as breath has made"
President Wilson issued q mere
Presidential fiat appointing these ode
serving Democrats" for life. Presi-
dent Harding has only to issue another
Presidential fiat depriving them of life
tenure. Then the positions can be put
actually on a civil service basis, or the
old course can be pursued Of filing
vacancies, as they occur, with members
of the party which has been intrusted
with the running of the country.
Properly carried out, with regard for
fitness, the latter system, in my mind,
is not only proper, but is in accord
with the institutions of our political
system. The people of the country
very decisively registered their de-
mand that the whole Federal Admins
tration be turned over to the Repub-
lican party.
l believe that mandate covers the
postal system, because nothing in the