The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-02
SOME CABINET CHANGES

Changes in cabinet personnel unfortu- nately concern the public very little, as rule, for no matter who leaves or who comes in there is usually the same dead level of mediocrity of achievement. It is sad fact that cabinet officers who make use of their unexcelled opportunity to accomplish some- thing constructive and of wide benefit are all too few. Perhaps that is because too many look upon such appointments as sine cures, as rewards for political service which too often they are. And yet, as has often been demonstrated, it is possible for cabinet officer to administer his duties and to outline broad future policy so as co contribute to the permanent betterment of such national affairs as come within the scope of his authority. The duties and re- responsibilities of cabinet department are not defined by any hard and fast rules. The position is, as it is intended to be, one of flexible limitations to contract or to ex- pand to accommodate itself to the ability of the incumbent. As long as appointments are made in payment of some obligation of political or personal friendship, with that alone as the chief consideration, the possi- bilties of the office will never be taxed.
 It is therefore with no great emotion, either of satisfaction or mlsgiving, that the public receives the announcement of Sena- tor News elevation to the position of post master general. For the last twenty years Senator New has been prominent in national party politics, and for several years was chairman of the Republican convention. The public is concerned, however, over the transfer of Postmaster General Work to the department of the interior succeeding MT. Fall The department of the interior is i'm portant, to be sure, but it does not touch the daily life of the people so intimately as does the postoffice. There is general feeling that the mail service can be im- measurably improved and that MT. Work was capable of bringing about such improve ment. It is true that the cabinet is the presidents official family and that within certain limits he should have free and full choice of his immediate assistants and asso- cates. Nevertheless, the public is entitled to it's opinion as far as the public's side is concerned.
 As MT. Work lays down his portfolio, however, he properly takes occasion to out line certain recommendations that he believes would make the department better serve the public. In this he follows the noteworthy and often-quoted example of Secretary Lane when retiring from the department of the interior under the Wilson admins tration. Secretary Lane outlined such comprehensive and able exposition of the situation and needed reforms in bureau chi ,otnn hot ho I today very classic. Perhaps Mr. Work will get it out and read it with the same interest that he arouses in his present exc gesis of needed reforms in the Postal de- partment.
 Secretary Work is firmly of opinion that the appointment of all postal employees, from postmaster down, should be taken out of politics. Most of the employees now do not owe their appointments to political pre- ference. The present law giving the presi- dent the right to name any one of the three applicants making the highest grade on ex- animation for postmastershps in reality nullifies the underlying purpose of keep ing politics out of such appointments. As step in this direction MT. Work believes that the appointment should be vested in the president alone, and not remain the perquisite of senators and representatives To use MT. Works own words: "The post office department is strictly business or ganzation, and it ought to be aided in put ting the right man in the right place, as any private business concern would en- deavor to do for its own advancement. and not to be handicapped either by political considerations or by the restrictions en- tailed in the present plan requiring exami- nation by the civil service commission, which does not give even civil service status" Mir. Work believes that there should be no more "term" appointments, but that men should be chosen for their business and ad. mnistrative ability and retained in office as long as their capability lasts or until they resign Since the postoffice turnover is more than three billion doiiars annually, the sense underlying the suggestions is evi- dent. Mir. Works courage in speaking his mind on this rather delicate subject for q political appointee to mention shows his sincerity. The plan is wise. Will congress ever have the wisdom to adopt it?
 THE SMALLEST REPUBLIC
 It may seem odd that the president of the