The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-07

dDlllGy ana e1OrC ana not through patronage, will he have the honest and efficient government which the public desires.
 In Washington today, there exist at least two positive threats to the progress of the merit system. These threatz have crystallized in the ac- tivities of Senator McKellar of Ten nessee, who is not only trying to block pending legislation which would extend the merit system, but is introducing positively defiant measures which would extend-SpoilS.
 The public so clearly indicated its desire for an extension of the merit system that both major political parties wrote pledges for it's exten- sion into their platforms before the last election. In line with these party pledges Representative Ram speck introduced a bill into the, House last year to put postmasters of the first, second and third classes under civil service. This bill passed the House. It was referred to the Senate year ago. No action has been taken on it.
 Early in the special session, Sena- tor McKellar Countered by intro ducing bill of his own which would place these same classes of post masters under patronage. Senator McKellar's bill has been reported favorably by his own committee on Post Officers and Post Roads. But the vote was not unanimous. Four out of nine members voted against it, and wrote a splendid protest con- deming the bill and upholding the merit system. The Minority Report of the committee on Post Offices and Post Roads proposes that when the McKellar Bill comes up before the Senate, the Ramspeck Bill shall be substituted for it.
 Our Senator Maloney has come out in favor of the Ramspeck Bill. Senator Lonergan has not as yet stated what stand he will take.
 Another alarming development, recent one, and one that will soon come to vote, has just been brought about by Senator Mcclellan. This time he proposed an amendment to the Independent Offices Appropria- tions bill, carrying appropriations for the Federal Trade Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Civil Service Commission, and other independent offices, which would put all future appointments to these offices under patronage Presidential appointment with Sem ate conflrmation) if the salaries are $4,00000 per year. This bill will probably come up for vote as soon as the Anti-lynching filibuster is played out, which may be within the week, according to reports from Washington.
 No man of ability and imagina- ton is going to enter these offices if his working record must meet with political patronage risks rather than deserved promotion when he reaches the $4,0OO00 mark. If men of this type avoid government ser vice, we can never hope for busi- nesslike administration.
 Can it be that the need of politi- clans for patronage is greater than that of the public for honest govern ment?
 We urge everyone interested in good government to write Senator Augustine Lonergan at the Senate Office Building in Washington urg- ing him to vote against the McKel- Ter bill, and to stand with Senator Maloney in favor of the Ramspeck bill. We also urge everyone to ex- press indignation at McKellar's pro- posal to amend the Independent Offices Appropriations bill in the way he has.
 Senator Francis T. Maloney is to be reached at the same address, and deserves congratulations on his stand on the Ramspeck Bill. He should prove an able ally in oppos- ing McKellar's amendment.
 We urge all readers of this paper as citizens to join with us in our struggle for efficient government. Letters and telegrams to our Sena- tors are our only means of letting them know how their constituents feel
 Space prevents me from going ir- to many of the aspects of those measures. If anyone wishes to phone me or see me personally in regard to them, shall be delighted to be of service.
 Sincerely yours,
 MRS. J. HAROLD ROOT, Il Q~nriIn.Ak