dation of the representatives and senators of his party
from the State in which the office is located. This official
patronage, through which political assistants in a State may be
rewarded with a Federal office, has become so burdensome that many
Congressmen complain of it and desire to be freed from its
exactions.

Senatorial Courtesy.--There has grown up an almost invariable
custom, known as senatorial courtesy. This demands that if the
office to be filled is located in a State, the appointment be not
confirmed unless it receives the sanction of one or both of the
senators of the State concerned, provided they are members of the
same political party as the President.

Action of the Senate on Nominations.--All of the nominations
sent by the President to the Senate are submitted to appropriate
committees, as, postmasters to the Post Office Committee,
ambassadors to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The report of the
committee is considered in secret session, and the nomination is
then voted on. If the vote is adverse, the President must make
another nomination.

The Spoils System.--During the first forty years of our government
there were only seventy-four removals from office. The opinion was
general that there were a large number of strictly non-political offices
in the departments and elsewhere, the holders of which should be
regarded as agents or clerks whose duty it was to assist in carrying on
the business of government. Therefore the best results could be secured,
it was believed, only as these positions should be filled by persons the
most competent, who might hope to retain the office so long as they gave
efficient service. But with the coming in of President Jackson the
"spoils system" was introduced. This system, in practice, provides that
political workers belonging to a victorious party may, as far as
possible, receive reward for their services in the shape of some office.
"To the victors belong the spoils of the enemy" is the familiar motto of
those who have advocated this system. During the first year of President
Jackson's administration 2000 officials were deprived of their offices,
and friends of the administration were put in their positions. From that
time there has been great pressure on every new President similarly to
reward his followers.

Civil Service Reform.--While the evils had been pointed out at