The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
BY ]. E. Jones.
THE LORDS OF PATRONAGE

Why did President Harding issue
an executive order that dismissed
Immediately thirty-one of the lead
ing employees of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, including the
Director? Why are officials of the
Government receiving over three thou
sand dollars year to be withdrawn
from the protection of the Civil Ser
vice? These are being discussed,
and in Washington there is a state
of uneasiness in the departments.
The Lords of Patronage are at work.
These Lords are not of one political
faith but they are of one mind in
agreeing that there is cause to OBJ
ject. But their objections are not
all the same.
The Civil Service law seems to be
the cause of all the trouble. The
law was enacted to protect employees
of the Government in their positions
pay very moderate salaries, and in
the past the overturning of an Ad-
ministration brought great hard
ships upon the clerks. And so the
merit system was installed in Govern
ment service, and under this system
promotions were made to higher
positions and they paid better sal
aries.
Republicans claim that the "peak"
in promotions was reached under the
last Democratic administration, with
the result that there are too many
democrats in high political places.
OF course you can legislate that
Government employees must not
participate in politics, but when you
legislate in that fashion you are
|indulging in theory that does not
prove out in practice.
The Lords of Democratic patron
age felt pretty well satisfied with the
way they left things. The Lords of
Republican patronage looked the
ground over, and after the lapse of
many months decided that the only
redress for them was to scale down
the "peaks," and to put more high
class positions in the spoils class.
Naturally this cut into the Civil
Service. But apparently the Re-
lpublicans have found that nearly
everyone who will suffer is Demo-
crat. Hence the sorrow! Hence
the joy! There will be good many
disappointed Democrats; but there
will be good many joyful Republi-
cans. Apparently the Administra-
ton has decreed that one Of these
classes must Offset the other.
| 1t all seems quite natural, be-
cause it is the same thing that has
happened in every new Administra-
ton. The method has been changed
to suit the situation.
THE EvER-RECURRING
COAL STRIKES
The first real industrial pinch
from the existing coal strike is re-
Iported from Pittsburg, where steel
mills have been compelled to shut
down. With warm weather ap-
preaching, and fairly good-sized piles
of coal on hand, there appears to be
no likelihood Of personal discomfort
through the inability to stoke the
household heating plant.
The Government takes hand in
cold strike about every year. A
long time ago President Roosevelt
handled one most thoroughly and
effectively with his celebrated "big
stick" During the war there was
endless trouble with the coal-mining
sitdation, and the power of the Gov
eminent that existed through the
Lever act exercised tremendous in
fuence in Strengthening out some of
the difficulties in coal mining.
The temper of the public would
stand for little trifing in wartime,
and the numerous strikes and threat
ened strikes were fixed up speedily.
During the past year there have been
many minor strikes in the coal min
/ ing fields, but the general strike did
not start until Apri |. It. is the
Irregular grievance-wages and work
ing conditions. The operators and
union leadres never settle these points
of controversy. When they get too
turbulent the mighty public" has
to assert itself. Attorney General
Daugherty has expressed good
deal of confidence in the ability of
his Department to handle the strike.
Congress and the Federal Trade Com
mission have been investigating, with
the result that it has been determined
that the Government has neither
laws nor machinery to reach the Sit
uation in strong way. Methods
are being discussed, and among these
methods the proposal to set up a
IN 4 I. n L..