Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-10

" EDNESnSt .Jannnry 10. 1853.
CROSBY $. MOVES. Editor.
Ale Evening star has n regular. permanent
lena hde daiIy circulation mere thar treble
ti,st OF other daiiv paper published In
W ashingfon. and equal tn that Of ali the
ether daily papers here added together.
TEE STAR Office is connected with the Telephone Ex-
Change. Advertisements orders for the paper by mai
and otherwise. news. any information business
can be sent day or night free Of charge.
Now that the civil service bill has passed both
houses OF Congress and Is certain to receive the
approval of the President, Candid opinions are
being expressed about it The bin Is getting more
kicks than compliments, now, particularly from
the democrats. The truth is that there was a
good deal OF insincerity In the support and pass
age Of the bii ami 1t pervaded both parties about
alike. The democrats sincerely wanted the bill
beaten. Since the November elections their hopes
OF success in 1884 have risen to the highest degree,
and democratic leaders know that their followers
look forward 10 the offices with eagerneSS and
hunger born OF over twenty years expulsion
from the public crib. But there was public SEN
timent In favor OF a reform In the civil service
which democratic Congressman feared TO defy.
They knew that the republicans would, In the
next campaign, make the democrats stand re-
spOnsible for the defeat OF reform IL that bill
were defeated 1t WIS to avoid being charged
With this responsibility that democrats voted for
the bill. 1t Is, perhaps, safe to say that not
dozen democrats who gave their votes for the
measure voted In accordance with their sincere
convictions or desires. There is not a DEM
ocr4t In the land who does not
want his party 10 come into power
unhampered in the matter OF making removals
from and appointments to Office. The broad fact
that the bill viii not help democrats to Office under
a republican administration, but might hinder
democrats from getting office under democratic
administration, s enough to render it objection
abb to democrats, though, as said, many OF them
took the nauSeOuS dose because they feared TO
even seem To- DEFY public opinion.
With the republicans there was just as much
inslncerity. They reg }rled the measure as one OF
policy more than principle. In supporting it the
republicans were not only obeying what was con-
sidered the popular will, but they felt that
at the same time they were making good stroke
for the party. In the event of democratic success
In 1881 the Law would serve to keep republicans in
Office. 1t cannot be expected that a bill passed
under these conditions and circumstances would
be by any means perfect 1t is admitted on all
hands that the bill is crude, and many who gave
1t active support excuse its shortcomings by say
III, 1t Is but start In the right direction; that it
merely blaZcS the way for other and succeeding
Congresses TO follow through trackleS5 AMI TN
travelled forest What the bill may accomplish
depends largely upon the President. He is really
Invested with power enough to make it a fair sue
cess 4 total failure.
The importance of making provision at this ses-
sion for the succession To the presidency has so
Impressed Itself upon Congress that the Senate
felt it 70 be its duty to pass the bill, which
ceived Its favorable consideration yesterday,
rather than run the risk OF defeating legislation
OF this kind by attempting to perfect 1t. This con-
sderation obtained votes for the bill which would
have been cast in support OF Mr.. EdmundS motion
to recOmmit if there had been sufficient time to
perfect it. The bill, however, is a step In the
right direction, and Is furthermore, aYelief to the
people. 1t provides against the contingency OF a
presidential vacancy, and that is what the country
most desires The question as TO whett the Office,
In the event OF the death, inability resignation
OF those elected to occupy It, should be filled by an
elective or nOn-elective officer is of minor i'm
portance. What the country desires is that the
possibility OF a vacancy In the chief ex-
ecutive Office should be provided against
by law. There is one point OF para
mount Importance, however, to which
Congress should give its attention before this
measure is cOnSummated. 1t should make pro-
vision for the occupancy OF the executive office in
the event OF ''inablity." There Is now in exist
ence law providing for the succession TO the
presidency, but among its other defects 1t num-
berS that OF failing TO dale what constitutes ina
bility 10 fill the executive Office and perform the
functions pertaining thereto The present law
refers rather Indefinitely TO the sTnabiIty" OF
President, without appointing any power to de-
termne what constitutes billy. The law leaves
the duty OF determining when he should assume
the power and authority OF the presidential Office
inferentially upon the Vice President. and thus
places him IN very dellc lte position. There
should be some tribunal regularly appointed to
determine when President becomes unfit, either
mentally or physically, 10 perform the duties OF
his Office, and to install the Vice President In the
the office. The same tribunal should have power
to determine, in the event of temporary inability
on the part of President, when he might become
nj TO discharge the duties of his Office and to dis
place the temporarily Installed Vice President.
About the meanest method OF attempting to
lnuence public opinion against the confirmation
or Mr.. John +. Omstead is that of an evening
paper. IL printed last night preta nded runner
that the President had withdrawn the name OF
Mr.. Olmstead for District Commits ,ioner ana then
"upon inquiry" at the White House, denied It.
NOBODY heard of the rumOr before its appearance
IN the evening paper.-NdttOtdl Republican.
The Republicans zeal in this matter oyerleaps
its discretion THE STARS inquiry at the White
House was to ascertain the facts In regard to the
following dispatch in the New York Herald Of
yesterday morning:
"oLNsTEADs NOMINATION TO BE RECALLED
1t Is understood that the President Will recall
The nomination Of Mr.. OlmStead to be District
commissioner ana substitute the name Of a prom
1nent citizen OF Washington In his place. 1t is
said the President IS convinced that the ncnlina-
ton OF Nh. Omstead ought not to have been
made. He wishes TO nominate some one Who will
De acceptable 10 the people OF the District AMI
Whose qualifications for the position commend
1ln alike to the President ami the citizens OF
Washington"
IL Is not easy TO see how the authoritative de-
NAL OF this report should be considered an sat
tempt to Influence public opinion against the con-
frmation OF Mr. Olmstead." That the rumor was
in circulation . farther shown by the following
paragraphs Ia an evening paper that is quite as
jealous as the Republican In the support OF Mr.
Olmstead:
"Mr Phillips, the Presidents private secretary,
Is quoted as saying last night that Olmstead would
not De withdrawn"
"The statement In the New York Herald that
the President Will withdraw the nomination OF
Mr. Olmstead Is probably without foundation.
Mr.. Olmstead was at the Capitol to-day, and mel
ther ne nor any Senator was burdened with the
Herdtds news"
III Mr.. Oimstead should be defeated it win be
largely due to his ofictous and laundering
champions
The District Commissioners proDose the abor.