The Colorado statesman., 1922-08-12

DoNci us uu usSlSluHt secTelury OI Ille
treasury with the understanding In
certain quarters that he was to find
places In the Treasury Department for
several hundred deserving party work
ers, was a part of the general scheme
which called first of all for the dis
missal Of the bureau chiefs.
Dover for few months after his ap-
pointment was the most popular office
holder in Washington. Republican
senator's and representatives believed
that they had In him faithful friend.
Members Of the Republican national
committee heralded the fact that at
last there was one man connected with
the administration who was In favor
of putting out Democrats, even though
they were In the classified service.
Some of the high-up Republicans
were SO enthusiastic at that particular
time as to believe that sooner or later
Dover would succeed Mellon as secre-
tary of the treasury. While the In
triguing was going on, Secretary Mel
Ion remained silent. When 1t came
time for him to take a stand he sim
ply said that the politicians could not
run the treasury department, and that
so long as he was secretary they would
not be permitted to have any hand
whatever In the administration of the
department In the end, the President
had to choose between Mellon and
Dover. Although he had appointed
Dover at the solicitation of the Repub-
lican politicians, he could not afford
to let satisfactory secretary of the
treasury go In order that he might
keep a man who was In great favor
with the spoilsmen. And so after near
ly three months of turmoil Dover de-
cided to get out.
Professional Politicians Vexed.
The professional politicians are very
much distressed over the Dover res
ignation. They feel that the President
has to some extent gone back on them.
With Dover out there is no one in the
service of the government in an i'm
portant capacity to whom they can
turn with confidence. Newly appoint
ed cabinet officers, whatever their per-
sonal inclinations may be, soon learn
that they cannot permit the political
spoilsmen to interfere with the gov
ernment's business. Three or four
members of the present cabinet are
not welded to civil service, but not one
of them is willing to take on himself
the responsibility of tearing down the
merit system in his department. I'm
questionably the civil service law needs
revision, but every well-informed per-
son realizes that the merit system is
here to stay. The system has at least
two ardent supporters in the cabinet.
These are Charles Evans Hughes, sec
retary of state, and Herbert Hoover,
secretary of commerce. Neither of
these men has given the slightest con-
sideration of politics in making ap-
pointments in his department.
1t Is true that Republican politicians
have been appointed to the diplomatic
service since Mr.. Hughes became sec
retary of state, but they are. without
exception personal appointees of the
President. The one question Secretary
Hoover asks of an applicant for
place in his department is "Have you
any special qualifications for this par
ticular placer"
Ready for Navy Scrapping.
The Navy Department is ready
to begin the work of scrapping
% battleships the day Great Brit
ain. France, Japan, Italy and the
United States exchange ratification of
the treaty limiting naval armaments.
1t is estimated that it will cost $70,
600, COO to wreck these fighters of the
sea.
The vessels to be destroyed, new
and old, are estimated to represent
an outlay of $5O0,0OO000. Most of
this money was expended on battle
cruisers and battleships not yet COM
pleted but on which construction was
started. 1t was figured that the Unit
ed States has invested in these new
vessels about S330,000000. Add to this
the cost of the 10 old capital ships
that are to be scrapped, and the half
billion mark is not far away. The fif-
teen old ships range from the Maine,
20 years old, to the Michigan, 13 years
old.
Thirteen uncompleted vessels, six
battle cruisers of most modern type
and seven battleships are also to go.
The battleships range from IL to 10
per cent completed, the average being
about one-third. The doomed battle
cruisers are from II to 80 per cent
complete.
However, two of the cruisers are to
be converted into airplane carriers
the treaty permitting this-and the
actual scrapping will apply to only
four cruisers. The Lexington and the
Saratoga, each 33 per cent complete,
have been selected for airplane car
riers. The remaining four cruisers
Constellation, Ranger, Constitution
and the United States-must be uset