The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-11

merit might outweigh politics in Sc
lectionS for jobs.
THE merit system in civil service
is in no danger at my hands; but on
the contrary I hope it will be ex-
tended and improved during my
term as President" Mr.. Roosevelt
said a few months after entering
the White House.
Though some advances have been
made, there have been many set
backs, and the situation is not re-
! garded on the whole as encourage
! ing. There are in motion now, after
two years, some promising reform
measures, such as the bill to place
all postmaSters under the civil Serv-
ice, which has Administration back
lng, and the plan to extend the
civil service to cover the emergency
agencies, some of which are in a
fair way to become permanent.
But while reform measures have
waited, Postmaster General James
A. Farley has so entrenched the old
patronage system that the adage
about the barn door being locked
after the horse is gone is applicable,
with reservations.
Civil Service Ratio Drops
Today there are 214OO0 govern
ment employees outside of the civil
| service, combined with 109.OO when
the Roosevelt Administration be-
gan. Less than 70 per cent of gov
eminent workers are under civil
service now as compared with more
than 80 per cent on March 4, 1888.
The Administration has some ex-
cuSe in the hectic pace of the New
Deal, the necessity of stating the
new agencies in a hurry. The be-
lated move to place these agencies
under the Civil Service, requiring
the merit test for reappointment of
present personnel, may presently
remedy this defect of haste.
But numerous complaints about
the caliber of appointments, which
center at this moment on the Home
Owners Loan Corp, reveal how the
spoils system has left scars on the
New Deal which time may or may
not erase.
Farley Clements His System
President Roosevelt directed Mr..
Farley in July, 1888, to prepare a
bill placing second, third and fourth
class postmasters under the civil
service, 2 reform long advocated At
this late date, more than a year
later, Mr.. Farley has sent a bill to
the Capitol with his blessing
that he has filled the postmaster
ships. 1t won't take effect until
three years hence, which prompted
Republicans to complain that the
Democratic national chairman will
by such a bill only perpetuate his
| control.
Mr.. Farley, it is known, drafted
his measure soon after his original
order from the President. What
happened to hold it up has never
been explained.
Only few days after this long
delayed bill was sent to the Capitol,
Senator Joseph Robinson, Demo-
cratic floor leader, was provoked to
give his views on this patronage
business when Senator Daniel Hast
ingS (R., Dell chided Democrats for
opening up 10000 new jobs in the
CCC for distribution by House
members.
Senator Huey Long interjected
that Democrats should have all
jobs in this Administration.
Robinson MOurns Jobs
"I am not so strong as is the Sem
ator from Louisiana in believing
that the Democrats ought to have
all the jobs doomed Senator
Robinson, but I do affirm and re-
affirm that under a Democratic Adj
ministration they ought to have fair
recognition; they ought to have
most of the jobs.
Il unhesitatingly say that think
the present Administration has kept
in office in key positions too many
Republicans too long"
Complaints have poured into
Washington about retention of Hoo /
yer appointees. In Illinois, the
Hoover relief board was retained.
In many other states, Republicans
have been kept in office, it was
charged in the Senate by Senator
Burton Wheeler 3D., Mont).
In the South, particularly in
Georgia, the "carpetbagger" issue
has been revived. The Georgia leg
islature and the Georgia delegation
in Congress bewailed the sending Of
outsiders into the state to handle
relief, Hole and other Admins
tration ventures.
Wanted Library, Too
When Democrats first took over
the government, Rep. James v.
McClintic Cd, Okla), since defeated,
would have turned over the Library
Of Congress to deserving Demo-
Gratis which might have produced
such strange results as a plumber
or carpenter presiding over the
Pennell collection of etchings.
Hardware men, carpenters, plumb
ers and dress merchants were en-
ployed as Hole appraisers in New
York City, according to an affidavit
filed with the House Rules Com
mittee, which shows just how far
these things may go.
Among the futile attempts at re-
form was one by Senator George w.
Norris (R., Neb), who introduced
an amendment to the original HOLC
bill which would have required ap-
pointments on merit. The Demo-
Gratis defeated it. Demands now
for a congressional investigation in
dicate the result.
Despite the outcry raised two or
three years ago, many Congressmen
still perpetuate the nepotism sys-
tenn. Some Is or more House men,
hnrc cfii1 bava raloti IN tnoir yao-