The Dominioin. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1912. SPOILS TO THE VICTORS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1630, 23 December 1912, Page 4

The Dominioin. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1912. SPOILS TO THE VICTORS.

With an Act on the Statute Book removing the Civil Service from the hand of the politician, New Zealand can look at the case of America without the old uncomfortable feeling that tho only difference between the two countries in this matter was that Tammahyism was far more thorough and scientific in the States than it was here. Within recent years, Me. Taft, greatly to his credit, extended very widely that area in the Public Service upon which the spoils boss cannot trespass. Once it was the accepted practice for tlie triumphant party to make a practically clean sweep of the whole Public Service. Officials were discharged in tens of thousands, and their billets given to friends of the winning party. Mr. Taft experienced great difficulty at every step in hia effort to render the Federal Services independent of the politicians, or, rather, secure from the hand of the spoiler; for the idea that tho successful party should stuff its friends into public offices, and should thus really enjoy the spoils of_ victory, has been converted by time almost into an original natural axiom. That the working of the spoils system has inflicted enormous injury upon America is admitted by everyone: it has poisoned America's heart, and lias operated against the growth of that national morality which England, for example, owes to the firmness with which her leaders have insisted upon tho importance of the honour of the State. The Democrats who are now once more in power are responsible for the establishment of the spoils system, and all America is wondering what the new President will do.

He has a magnificent opportunity. If he is as strong as he is personally honourable, he can strike a memorable- blow for his country. His task, however, will be a hard Qne. Tammany Hall and the Tammany leaders aro enormously powerful in the State of New York. They did not aid Dr. Wilson out of any patriotic motive: they fought, as they always have fought, for the epoil. The New York Post, an independent Democratic paper, which has fought against the Tammany wing even more fiercely than against the Republican machine, shows plainly how difficult a problem confronts Dr. Wilson: ,

Washington correspondents are already busy figuring out the money value of the omcea which President Wileon will have at his disposal. Yesterday's "Sun" returned the total us "30,000)000 dollars in Federal jobs." And the hungry spoilsmen are hoping that "it may he more." If, for exauwlq, the incoming President could be induced to suspend or revoke Mr. Taft's Executive order putting fourth-class post offices under the protection of the civil service rules, there would be a larger number of appointments for the politicians to grab at. On all sides, it is reported that the Democrats are clamouring for Government positions. As in this State their expectations are pitched high as to what tho Administration of Gov. Sulzer will do for them in the way of distributing spoils, so throughout tho entire Federal service there are greedy eyes fixed upon every _ possible vnoancy. There may be doubt in many minds respecting the exact nature of the "maildate" given to the Democratic party by tile voters at the last election, but the hardened place-hunters are perfectly sure that the chief intention was to turn over to their itching palms the fattest Federal pickings. This spirit, showing itsolf so soon, is certain to oocome intensified as the time for inaugurating a Democratic President draws nigh.

The Post, however, thinks that tho new President will realise the danger of lurching back to the bad old practice of Jackson, and will take the safe course of "standing up stoutly and unwaveringly for the whole doctrine of Civil Service reform." In the course of the artielo from which we arc quoting, tho Post has some observations upon public sentiment and Civil Service, reform which wu can commend to tho notice of those people who "are still very 'angry that a llcform

Government is in office in this country: There is ono noteworthy aspect of tho sentiment in favour of tho merit svatem, (is it has come to manifest itself. This k tho feeling of widespread rcsontmout and nnger which an unblushing use of the offices as party or personal spoils is suro to provoke, together with the desiro to punish tho. offender nt the first oppbrtunity. It may not be possible to rouse great popular enthusiasm for any proposed additional improvement in tho civil service, but tho reform hus at leant accomplished this, that the policy hns now come to he regarded as a part of our settled order, nnd.thnt any Governor or President will turn his back on it at his peril. Tho point is that public opinion has becomo both jealous and watchful on this subject. All tho years of agitation and nrgumont and effort hnvo nol jjonc for nothing. An entire new cenemtion has grown up since the old abuses and excesses of the spoils system were- taken as a matter of coueso. They nre bo no longer, as any Executive or pnrty that thinks surreptitiously to restore thorn will find out by bitter experience. Our own Reform Government will please the friends of reform only so long us it is faithful to _ its contract to clean up tho administration and to legislate on a basis of bravo principles. It has begun well with the necessary self-denying ordinance of the Civil Service Act, to which nobody can honestly object, and to which few people, indeed, do object, excepting a few southern Radicals. If Dk. Wilson fulfils the expectations of his friends and admirers ho will carry America a long way ■ towards the establishment of something like tho Civil Service IJoard of this country.