Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-08-10
S[CRE TARY MELLON
WINS A VICTORY.
HE RETAINS HIS OFFICE WHILE
ELMER DOVER, POLITICAL
HEADsMAn, RESIGNS.
MERIT SYSTEM STANDS FIRM
Much Credit is Due to National Civil
Service Reform League-Dismisssl
In the Engraving and Printing Bu-
reau Helped.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY

washington. - Apparently Andrew
w. Mellon, secretary of the treasury,
has won a big victory over the Repub-
lican politicians who set out to force
him to resign. His victory received
its finishing touches when President
Harding decided to accept the resig-
nation of Elmer Dover, an assistant
secretary and chief political heads
man. AS a result Of various devel-
opments during the last few months
the merit system as applied to govern
ment services seems to be on a sound
er foundation than at any time since
March 4, 1921. The National Civil
Service Reform league is entitled to
large measure of credit for the out
come. The league called attention
from time to time to what was going
on and did this in an effective way.
The dismissal of some thirty-fOur
chiefs of divisions in the bureau Of
engraving and printing without hear
ing, and without reference to the pro-
lection which the civil service law Is
supposed to give them, stirred up such
a commotion that no attempt has been
made to repeat the performance in
any of the other branches of the gov
eminent. 1t is generally understood
that the officials who were RESPONSE
bic for those dismissals In the bureau
now admit privately that the whole
performance was a blunder but no
steps toward correcting the mistake
have been taken.
After all, as things turned out, the
bureau dismissals were probably
good thing for the government service
They served to call attention to pro-
gram set up by the spoilsmen for
general raid on the departments. The
employees who were dismissed have
nearly all obtained positions outside
If the government service at much bet
ter pay than they were receiving when
dismissed.
1t Was Mellon or Dover.
Undoubtedly the appointment OF
Dover as an assistant secretary of the
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 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
fhof has ho In 90 hi f,~sa
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
we're 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
lon remained silent. When it came
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 a satisfactory secretary of the
treasury go in order that he might
keep a man who was in great favor
with the spolsmen. 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
ernueuI DuSlneSS. 1HTee OF 1OuF
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
rotary 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
rotary of state, hut they are without
exception personal appolntees Of the
President. The one question Secretary
Hoover asks or an applicant for a
r,fopo In hic lnnartmapf Il ssIIayn Won