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The Commoner
VOL. 21, NO. 6
1G
Just New Spoils Plan
Tho WaHhlngton correspondent of
the Kansas City Star, under date of
May 11, says: To all intents and
purposes, determination of whom the
postmasters will be in tho many Kan
sas and Missouri towns is returned
to the congressmen from individual
districts, as it used to he, under the
presidential order establishing a new
civil service plan for first, second
and third class postoffices that was
promulagted today.
Tliero is this important difference
from tho old "spoils" system. Then
the member of congress or national
committeeman or senator, whoever
controlled the patronage, named
whomever he pleased without regad
to examinations. Now the congress
man can only designate which one he
prefers of the top three in the exam
ination. But as ono "hard boiled" G. 0. P.
leader expressed it today: "if tho
congressman's choice is such a 'dub'
he can't land somewhere in the top
three places in the examination, he
ought not to get the job anyhow."
Under the Harding order issued
today, the Burleson system of civil
service is set completely aside. The
basis of the Burleson plan was to
give the top man in the examinations
tho place. In several instances
Burleson refused to name the winner
of the examination, but they were
comparatively few. The Republicans
always claimed ex-President Wilson
did not put the civil service into ef
fect untH the offices were filled with
Democrats, when it was easier for
the incumbent in the office, because
of his experience, to carry off top
honors in the examinations.
Urder the Harding civil service
order, put in effect today, the civil
service commission is to conduct the
examinations for postmaster as it
has in the past. Instead of the top
meit getting the place, tho first
three names on tho list are to be
certified by the civil service commis
sion to the postmaster general and
that official is to designate which one
shall be named postmaster.
And right there is where the con
gressmen enter-. Obviously it is im
possible for the postmaster general
to know or investigate the three
successful candidates for the 12,899
offices that now come under this or
der. The postmaster general could
go right ahead and name the top
candidate in tho examination. . But
the way it will work out, as every
one here knows it will, tho nnnnrm
or house member will be called in
and given a chance to designate
which one of the three he perfers.
Of course, the postmaster general
doesn't have to take his recommenda
tion neither did he in the past.
But in all likelihood he will, especial
ly as the candidate has shown
enough ability to show one, two,
three in the examination. Members
of congress accept the situation as
such and expect to be largely influ
ential in naming tho postmasters
cautioning their friends, however'
that they will have to rank in the
top three-in the examinations. If
tliey do not, then there is no help
for them.
Republicans justify the order on
the grounds that the regular civil
service, under which more than four
hundred thousand employees work
provides for this same system- certi
fication of tho top three names on the
list, leaving the bureau head liberty
to pick the ono of the three. Like
wise, they point out that the civil
service commission, not the nost
offlce department, will be in the com
plete charge of tho examinations and
will, have the rating of the candi-
The new order will have no im
mediate effect on Baylis Steele, the
Kansas City postmaster. He has
about twer years to serve under his
present term. While many Republi
cans would like the job, there would
be no way of getting Steele out, ex
cept to prefer charges and remove
him for cause. And there is no dis
position to do till - in Steele's case.
Missourians here are generally con
tent to let him serve his time out.
Likewise, Steele is a close friend of
Senator Rood and the Kansas City
senator probably stands closer with
the administration than any other
Democrat. It would be idle for any
one to try and "get" Steele, and the
politicians know it.
In the case of Postmaster Steele at
Kansas City, as soon as his term is
out, the civil service commission will
announce examinations. Steele can
take them if he desires, or anyone
else can who is under 65 and over 30
years old and has lived in Kansas
City two years or more. Unless the
qualifications are changed for an of
fice of his size,, each candidate must
also have had five years' employment
in a responsible position involving
managerial experience, with some
corporation or businesa firm, or in
the postofUce itself.
In St. Louis former employees al
ready have preferred charges against
Colin Selph and asked an inveatica
tion with a view of getting him V
moved before his term is out. But
even in this case, those who are
familiar with the situation say there
is no doubt of Selph being permitted
to serve his time out. He, likewise
is a friend of Senator Reed. Tha
first big Missouri office to be filled
will be at Sedalia, where there ig a
vacancy.
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CONCERT
Santa Lucia Neapolitan Folk Song) Tenor, in Italian Marie Chatalee
Eili, Eili Yiddish Song of Mourning) Schalitt-Fisher) Soprano . Darathy Jardea
Bohemian Girl Heart Bow'd Down Act II) BalFc) Baritone . Richard Saaellt
For All Eternity Mascheroni) Baritone Richard Bonelli
I'll Take You Homo Again, Kathleen ( Westendorf) Tenor TheoKarle and Crescent MafcTrio
Lata o' Killean Stickles) Tenor Theo Karlo
Rotary (Necin) Contralto ..... Elisabeth Lennox and Crescent Male Trio
Cradle Song MacFadyen) Contralto Elizabeth Lennox
VIOLIN
Mazurka, in A Minor Chopin-Kreisler) Violin Solo . . . . Max Rosea
INSTRUMENTAL
Spring Zephyrs Waltz Intermezzo Vessella) . . . Veseella'a Italian Baud
Victory Festival March Vcssclla) VcsseUVs Italian Band
POPULAR
Little Cotton Dolly Buck-Geibel) Criterion Male Qnartet
Kentucky Babe Back-Geibel) Criterion Mala Qnartet
WUip-Poor-WHl From "Sally" De Syha-Kcrn) Soprano and Tenor
Look for the Silver Lining From "Sally" Dm Sylva-Kern) Sopranoand TeZor
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Don't Leave iMe, Mother Mine Costello-Goodman-Stept) Baritone . Ernest Hare
Wy oming-Lullaby Williams) Tenor and Baritone . Chas. Hart and Elliott Shaw
Pucker Up and Whi.tle Vincent-Franklyn) . . . Hamonizer. Male Qnartet
I Wa Bornm Michigan Franklin-Gerber) . . . Harsnonizer. Mala Quartet
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Gloaming Time- Waltz Holhday-Cross) .... Carl Fenton'a Orchestra
IW1 M?H,tvfoUfO;Vrr0'r Intro.daciB "Calling" Rudy Wiedoeft's Calif orniaa.
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