Evening star., 1934-05-28
Growth of the Spoils System.

Growth OF the Spolls System.
When its proponents discuss, or
defend, the spoils system of filling
positions in the Government service
the wholly irrelevant point is en-
phasized that 1--WE have a right to
take care of our own people" If
Republicans filled public Offices with
Republicans, does the country ex-
pect that Democrats will not do like
wise?
In its annual report, just made
public. the National Civil Service Re-
form League, condemning the pres
ent administration for having per-
mitted growth of the spoils system,
forcefully points out that:
AS Government functions broaden.
our health, happiness and prosperity
become increasingly dependent on the
intelligence and expertness of Gov
eminent administration, from the
highest to the lowest rank.
The preservation of the merit sys-
TEN, in other words. is necessary If
efficient and economical government
is to be maintained While the spoils
system may function in the interest
of the politicians, the merit system
functions in the interest of good
government, and there should be no
choice between the two for those
sincerely interested in the preserva-
tion of good government.
The National Civil Service Reform
League centers its fire particularly on
what it calls the sham and a mere
cloak for the spoils system" resulting
from the Presidents executive order
modifying the rule relating to choice of
first, second and third-class postmas-
tiers. There is no doubt that this order,
issued last Summer, represents step
backward after the small amount of
progress gained in applying a modi-
fled merit system to appointment of
postmasters. President Wilson, while
not succeeding in putting postmasters
under the civil service, provided for
assistance by the Civil Service Com
mission in selection of postmasters of
the first three classes. The appoint
ment had to be given to one of three
candidates with the highest rating.
after civil service examination. This
order was modified and weakened by
, President Harding, who permitted any
! of the three to be appointed, and it
has been weakened further by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in giving the Post
master General the right to reject all
of the three with highest ratings, and
in dispensing, at the same time, with
the personal examination of the can
didates by civil service agents.
The league asks whether Post
master General Farley, a loyal and
Woodworking partisan, with the well
fare of his party at heart, can at
the same time realize his ambition
to increase the efficiency of the Post
Office Department. Can any one in
his position serve these two exacting
masters? Can Mr. Farley, or any
other Government executive, be
loyal partisan in the opinion of fellow
partisans, and render at the same
time disinterested service to his
Government?
The President is praised by the
league for having the merit system
at heart" and it is true that he has
fought for such desirable extensions
of the merit system as represented in
Senator Norris amendment providing
for non-political appointments in the
Home Owners Loan Corporation.
The blame for defeat of such at
tempts to outlaw the spoils system
rests on Congress, rather than the
President. and the league believes
that more scandals of the spoils sys-
tenn would be coming to public notice
now were it not for the high integ-
rity of the members of the Presidents
cabinet. The country, of course,
should not have to rely on the in
tegrity and good intentions of few
individuals for protection against an
insidious spoils system. That system
should be abolished, once and for all,
as a menace to good government.