190 THE FARMER AS A BUSINESS MAN. 



far better off than they now are. They would have a career, 

 modest or otherwise, according to tlieir abilities, but something 

 to be depended u})on. At present, outside the services to 

 which what are known as the "civil service " rules are applied, 

 I hardly know a more unfortunate lot than that of a bright 

 young man who has obtained a place in the public service. 

 As a rule these men are quite capable of sustaining themselves 

 in private life, for it requires a good deal of vigor, wisely or 

 unwisely displayed, to get into the public service, and the 

 result is quite likely to be the wreck of a useful man. The 

 two or four years of public employment are quite sufficient to 

 sever his relations with the business world, and impart tastes 

 and habits incompatible with business success. Then comes a 

 new election, with a change of appointing power, and the man 

 is left stranded, to begin life over, with no openings which he 

 does not force. Very few in public service find themselves able 

 to save money. They are not permitted to save it. They get 

 their places as a reward for party service, and the party 

 will demand all that tliey might otherwise save. In corrupt 

 municipalities the tribute may be in direct monthly payments 

 to the "boss" who secures the place and holds the man in it. 

 More often it goes in party "assessments," and constant small 

 expenditures to maintain acquaintance and "influence." A 

 large number of public employees regularly anticipate their 

 salaries by pledging them, at a heavy discount, to brokers. 

 A party has little use for a frugal man. He must spend his 

 money, or out he goes. 



From the standpoint of the public, the aspect is equally 

 bad. The appointing officer usually has ten men to whom he 

 is under "obligations" for one that he can appoint. He 

 contrives places for as many as he can at the public expense. 

 Perhaps lie is himself an appointed officer, and under obliga- 

 tions to look out for the dependents of the man above him. 

 Appointed state officers have told me that the work in their 

 charge cost twice as much as it should, by reason of 

 "requests" from governors and state party committee men, 

 which were equivalent to demands. Places must be found 

 for certain men, and if they did not exist, they must be 



