Evening star., 1944-07-30
Capital Sidelights
BIZ Will p. Kennedy.

By Will P. Kennedy.
The long drive to weed out corruption
in politics, to protect public officials
from political assessment and to sub
stitute classified civil service reforms
for the old "spoils system" is empha-
sized In congressional document re-
Gently published. 1t was compiled by
H. Newlin Megill, and includes the
Federal Corrupt Practices Act approved
February %. 1925, as amended June IS,
l943. and the Hatch Political Activities
Act approved August 2, 1899, as amend
ed by successive laws approved July 10,
1910; March n, 1912; October "a, 1912,
and during the Seventy-eighth Con-
gress.
Political curbs hark back to the PEN
dleton Act Of January Is, 1883, written
by Dorman B. Eaton, = member Of the
Civil Service Commission, and spon-
sored by Senator George H. Pendleton
OF Ohio. 1t exempted public officials
from political assessments A Civil
Service Commission was established to
prepare rules for a limited classified
civil service. which the President could
expand at his discretion. Competitive
examinations to determine the qualifi-
cations Of applicants were to be held
and appointments were to be appor-
toned among the States according to
population.
For many decades political assess
ments of officeholders and officeseekers
had been one Of the most dependable
sources of campaign funds. The Pen
dleton Act therefore forbade any officer
or employe Of the United States So
liciting or receiving any assessment,
subscription or contribution, for any
political purpose whatever" from any
officer or employe of the United States
This principle now is supported by the
laws of II States. A modern circum-
Vention, however. has been assessments
for dinners, dances and other quasi
political affairs, the surplus going to the
party treasury.
Corruption Of civil service In the
United States, it seems, dates from
1888. In the "Jacksonian era" political
rotation of governmental posts became
widespread abuse which increased
until various organizations started CAM
paigns to substitute a merit system"
In 1883 and 1855 Congress inaugu-
rated pass examinations" rule for
Federal employees, and in 1871 Con-
gress authorized the President to de-
termine a general system Of personnel
selection. Then under the Pendleton
Act, supported by President Arthur, the
first real civil service was established.
1t still Is the basic law, supplemented
by major set Of rules and orders pro-
mulgated by President Theodore Roose-
welt in 1908. War veterans were granted
special preference in 1919 The merit
system was extended to first, second
and third class postmasters in 1898.
New York adopted the first State
civil service act in 1883, Massachusetts,
was the second State in 1884, Wisconsin
and Illinois in 1905 (the latter amended
in IBID, Colorado in 1907, New Jersey,
1908; Ohio. 1928; California, 1913;
Connecticut 1918, repealed 1921. re.
enacted 1887; Kansas, 1918 now in
operative); Maryland, 1920; Kentucky,
1886; Arkansas, Tennessee and Maine.
1887.
Political scandals trace back to land
grants in 1870, railroad financing such
as Credit Mobilier, timber frauds in
the Northwest duplicating numerous
politicians including United States
Senator. and leasing OF Government oil
lands in the Teapot Dome and Elk Hills.
There were scandals over appointments
to Federal positions and other patron
age through the spoils system in Jack
sons administration and again in
Grants besides the granting of con-
tracts as illustrated by the Belknap in
cident in 1876. There have been, re-
peated scandals over senatorial elec-
tions.
The scandals OF the Tweed ring and
the gas ring in New York and Phila-
delphia are historic. Again in New York
IN 1890 the Lexow Committee conducted
three investigations when the police
and dock departments and other city
ofhces were shown to be shot through
with graft"
"Muckrakers" revealed that grafters
in st. Louis had disposed of valuable
franchises, that Minneapolis politicians
had practically turned the city over to
gamblers and confidence men. that San
Francisco boodlers had given away
valuable public property. Chicago po-
lice in 1920 wer7found to be leagued
with gangsters, racketeers and organ
lied vice. Close relations between the
underworld and prominent politicians
were uncovered In New York City by
the Dewey, grand juries.