Evening star., 1934-06-22
Something New.

Secretary Morgenthaus ban on the
holding of Federal jobs by political
bosses seems to suggest that there
may, after all, be something new
under the sun" The Secretary of
the Treasury has become convinced
that man cannot collect for Uncle
Sam and the party BOTH" and there
fore he has sent word to the officials
and employees in his department that
they must give over their political
Offices by September /. Berths in the
Treasury Department have been found
for deserving party leaders ever since
there was a Treasury Department.
Collectors of customs, collectors of in
ternal revenue, their assistants and
other important offices in that depart
ment have gone to men, and more re-
Gently to women, who have held
places in national and State party
organizations. This has been true
under Republican and Democratic ad-
ministrations. The present admins
tration has been no exception. 1t
might have been easier all around and
less embarrassing If President RooSe-
velt had announced before appoint
ments we're made to Federal jobs that
such appointments meant that the ap-
pointees must disassociate themselves
forthwith from their party offices.
The drive to separate the Govern
ment service from party politics,
however, is not entirely new. Through
the development of the civil service
and the merit system gradually the
smaller jobs in the Government
part from politics. There has been
greater resistance to the inclusion of
the higher-psid offices in any such
system. And 1t is to the higher-paid
jobs that the political leaders. the
members of the party national COM
mittees chairmen of State commit
tees, etc, have naturally gravitated.
President Roosevelt has sought for
greater freedom of choice in making
appointments to the Federal service.
His brain trust" for example, has
not been recruited from the ranks of
professional politicians. He has given
his subordinates who handle the
administration of the new deal acts
great freedom in the selection of
their assistants. In fact. the Presi-
dent frankly said in his recent
address at New Haven that he did
mot know the party politics of many
Of the men now working for the
Government in Washington and had
not inquired about them. This is in
line with the Presidents evident
desire to get the best men he can
for the Government service But it
is terrible blow for the politicians
who believe that to the victor belong
the spoils.
The Presidents desire to eliminate
from the Government service men
and women who held Office in the
party's national committee was mani
tested last Fall. Members of Demo-
cratic National Committee moved
their law Offices to Washington, if
they did not have them here already.
Their influence as politicians rather
than their ability as attorneys drew
them many clients. Secretary Ickes
of the Interior Department, who has
the administration of the more than
$4,000, 900 900 public works funds, OBJ
jected strenuously to what was going
on.
Gradually the lines have been tight
ened. The politico-lawyers have re-
signed from the Democratic National
Committee. Others who have held
Federal office have likewise resigned
from the National Committee. Mr..
Morgenthau's new order, however,
is more sweeping than anything that
has gone before in the effort to divorce
Government service from party poll
tics.
Whether such an order will spread
to other Government departments re-
mains to be seen. If it does, there is
likely to be CONSERVATION among the
politicians. Although they will still be
able to make recommendations for ap-
pointment to public Office, they them
selves will be denied the right to pick
any OF the plums. And who knows
but what the next step will be to deny
the holders of political jobs the right
to suggest and recommend men and