Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-07
Spells System Is
Assaulted BY League

| Washington-A demand upon con-
gress for immediate amendment of the
Volstead act to check prohibition en-
foreement scandals, by placing all
! prohibition agents under civil service
! is made in the report Of the Council
Of the National Civil Service Reform
League, submitted today at the open
ing session of the Leagues forty
second annual convention.
The report demands also shat laws
giving preference to veterans of the
world war in appointment to posi-
tions under the federal government be
repealed and that the appointment OF
politicians To post-masterships be ter
minated, by requiring the selection for
office Of the person standing highest
on the eligible lists prepared by the
/ United States Civil Service Commits
sion.
When the Volstead act was passed
civil service rules requiring appoint
ment on merit, following competitive
examinations, were waived in the case
of prohibition agents and this wide
field of patronage left open for posi-
politicians to post-masterships be ire
cites a long list Of prohibition scan
! dals which it says are directly trace
able to political appointments.
"Under the Republican admlnistra-
| ton" the report asserts, appoint
menas have been dictated in large
measure by the Republican leaders IN
the various states, as they were by
/ Demcratic leaders during the Demo-
cratic administration"
A list is given of Republican poll
tieians indicted in prohibition scandal
! and il is stated that 'the first essen
tial to adequate law enforcement" Is
The placing of the vast corps Of pro-
hibit:on enforcement agents in the
{ competitive classified service.
Veteran preference laws are at
! tackled by the report on the ground
shat they result in many cases IN the
! appointment OF inefficient cftcals to
ativo ability and capacity of men ap-
! alive ability an dcapacity Of men ap-
pointed under the preference laws IS
shown by competitive examinations,
the report asserts, to he far below that
Of non-veterans on the eligible lists
"a veteran who is worth his salt,
il continued. will want 20 stand on
his own feet and not be dependent on
snecial favors for his future eXls-
tcnce. 1t IS only the derelicts and the
mediocre veterans who will seek the
advantage of the preference given.
The preference law was never Justi-
fable. It's repeal is imperative"
The Post Office department is "se-
verelv condemned" in the report for
seeking the recommendations Of Con-
oressmen pricr 10 making post-mas-
toshin APPOINTMENTS. Under PreSi-
dent Harding's modification Of the
Wilson order on presidential postmas-
tors. which is set down as "a distinct
concession to demands of Congress
for spoils," ard any cf the three hlgh
pcrt states. and designating their
/ Congressman are given the privilege
BIZ the most Office Department., the re-
choices for postmasters in their dis
tricts.
at is an essential absurditv,' the
report continues. "tO have competi-
congressman and local politicians to
eliminating spells and still to admit
the patronage system by permitting
determine and local politicians to
determine upon the selection Of one OF
the first three
Daring the past wear The merit sys-
tom has been subjected 10 more IN
sisteut assault by "unscrupulous puo-
lie officials" the report asserts, than