第57章

TheneedforimprovementintheGovernmentalmethodsoftransactingbusinessmaybeillustratedbyanactualcase。AnofficerinchargeofanIndianagencymadearequisitionintheautumnforastovecostingsevendollars，certifyingatthesametimethatitwasneededtokeeptheinfirmarywarmduringthewinter，becausetheoldstovewaswornout。Thereuponthecustomarypaperswentthroughthecustomaryroutine，withoutunusualdelayatanypoint。Thetransactionmovedlikeaglacierwithdignitytoitsappointedend，andthestovereachedtheinfirmaryingoodorderintimefortheIndianagenttoacknowledgeitsarrivalinthesewords：“Thestoveishere。Soisspring。”

TheCivilServiceCommission，undermenlikeJohnMcIlhennyandGarfield，renderedservicewithoutwhichtheGovernmentcouldhavebeenconductedwithneitherefficiencynorhonesty。Thepoliticianswerenottheonlypersonsatfault；almostasmuchimproperpressureforappointmentsisduetomeremisplacedsympathy，andtothespiritlessinefficiencywhichseeksaGovernmentofficeasahavenfortheincompetent。Anamusingfeatureofofficeseekingisthateachmandesiringanofficeisapttolookdownonallotherswiththesameobjectasforminganobjectionableclasswithwhich/he/hasnothingincommon。AtthetimeoftheeruptionofMt。Pelee，whenamongotherstheAmericanConsulwaskilled，amanwhohadlongbeenseekinganappointmentpromptlyappliedforthevacancy。Hewasagoodman，ofpersistentnature，whofeltIhadbeensomewhatblindtohismerits。

Themorningafterthecatastrophehewrote，sayingthatastheconsulwasdeadhewouldlikehisplace，andthatIcouldsurelygiveittohim，because“eventheofficeseekerscouldnothaveappliedforityet！”

Themethodofpublicserviceinvolvedintheappointmentandtheworkofthetwocommissionsjustdescribedwasappliedalsointheestablishmentoffourothercommissions，eachofwhichperformeditstaskwithoutsalaryorexpenseforitsmembers，andwhollywithoutcosttotheGovernment。Theotherfourcommissionswere：

CommissiononPublicLands；

CommissiononInlandWaterways；

CommissiononCountryLife；andCommissiononNationalConservation。

AllofthesecommissionsweresuggestedtomebyGiffordPinchot，whoserveduponthemall。TheworkofthelastfourwillbetoucheduponinconnectionwiththechapteronConservation。Thesecommissionsbytheirreportsandfindingsdirectlyinterferedwithmanyplace-holderswhoweredoinginefficientwork，andtheirreportsandtheactiontakenthereonbytheAdministrationstrengthenedthehandsofthoseadministrativeofficerswhointhevariousdepartments，andespeciallyintheSecretService，wereproceedingagainstlandthievesandothercorruptwrong-doers。Moreover，themerefactthattheydidefficientworkforthepublicalonglinesnewtoveteranandcynicalpoliticiansoftheoldtypecreatedvehementhostilitytothem。SenatorslikeMr。

HaleandCongressmenlikeMr。Tawneywereespeciallybitteragainstthesecommissions；andtowardstheendofmytermtheywerefollowedbythemajorityoftheirfellowsinbothhouses，whohadgraduallybeensunderedfrommebytheopenorcoverthostilityofthefinancialorWallStreetleaders，andofthenewspapereditorsandpoliticianswhodidtheirbiddingintheinterestofprivilege。TheseSenatorsandCongressmenassertedthattheyhadarighttoforbidthePresidentprofitingbytheunpaidadviceofdisinterestedexperts。OfcourseI

declinedtoadmittheexistenceofanysuchright，andcontinuedtheCommissions。Mysuccessoracknowledgedtheright，upheldtheviewofthepoliticiansinquestion，andabandonedthecommissions，tothelastingdetrimentofthepeopleasawhole。

Onethingisworthpointingout：DuringthesevenandahalfyearsofmyAdministrationwegreatlyandusefullyextendedthesphereofGovernmentalaction，andyetwereducedtheburdenofthetaxpayers；