Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-04-28
CIVIL SERVICE.

adopted several years ago in order
that good and capable, both men
and women, might be secured in
the several departments at Wash
lngton as well as in the field SER
vice, positions outside Of Washing
ton. This has been a non-political
movement and it has been endorsed
and maintained by all administra-
tions who had the welfare Of the
departments at heart. Roosevelt
and Wilson stood for the civil SER
vice and its extension.
The following is declaration
OF the Republican party in one of
its earliest platforms and the last
platform of that party:
Any Systerm of civil service
under which the subordinate DO
sItlonS OF the governments arc con-
sidered rewards for mere party
zeal is fatally demoralizing and we
therefore favor a reform Of the sys-
tenn by laws which shall abolish
the evils of patronage and make
honesty, efficiency, and fidelity the
essential qualifications for public
positions without practically GREAT
ing life tenure of oflicc.-ReDub-
Hcdn National Platform. 1872.
I'VE renew our repeated dccla-
ration that the civil service law
shall be thoroughly and honestly
enforced and extended wherever
practical. The recent action of
Congress in cnacting comprehcn-
&Vc civil service retirement law
and III working out a comprchcn-
SlVc employment and wage policy
that Will guarantee equal and lust
treatment to the army of govern
ment workers and in ccntralizing
the administration of the new and
progressive employment policy in
the hands Of the Civil Service Com
mission is worthy of all praisc."-
The Republican National Platform,
1920.
The act Of Congress of Aug. -,
1912. which reads:
Ihat no person in the CLASH
fled civil service Of the United
States shall be removed thcrcfrom
except for such cause rs will pro-
mote the efficiency of said service
and for reasons given in writing.
and The person whose removal is
sought shall have notice of the same
and Of any charges preferred
against him. and be furnished with
a copy thereof, and also be al
lowed reasonable time for per-
Sonally answering the same in
writing. and atlidavits in support
thereof
This Was enacted during Mr..
Taft's administration whcn there
was Il Republican Senate and a
Democratic House which shows il
was a non-partiSan movement
Mr.. Wilson, throughout his admin
iStratiOn, sought at all times to en-
tend and perfect the civil service
system Of the government in order
TO promote efficiency and to get
the most efficient help from all
parties. 1t has been a long stand
ing order that when one became a
holder of civil service position,
he should not take an active part
i'll politics. This was enforced
during the eight years Of Mr.. Viii
sons administration as it had never
been before.
Notwithstanding the Republican
platform of 1920: thc act Of Con-
Srcss Of 1912. the following shows
the policy Of the Harding admin
istration:
Men with services ranging all
the way from 20 to 80 years. ser
vices that had been acceptable to
both Republican and Democratic
administrations, men against whom
no charge has ever been made.
either of incfiiCicncy or Of dishon-
or, were removed from their posi-
tons and discharged from the pub
lie service by an Executive order.
NO President in the history of
this country since the civil service
has become the law of this nation
ever dared so autocratiC ally to dis
regard The law and disregard the
rights Of human beings as did the
President by this Executive order.
HE law is plain. 1t required
the lrcsideDt-and he is not above
the law--to follow certain pro-
cedurc under which these men
could at least have protected their
reputation by dcnials. The Prcsi-
dent ignored that. lie ignored This
law with the Attorney General in
conference with him. Therefore
there is no reason, if there was
any knowledge of the law in the
Attorncy-GCnCraIS Office, why the
President should have run rough
Shod over the rights Of these men
aud wholly disregard the law of
the land
We hear much about disregard