The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-07-16
THE CIvrL-sERvIoE RULES.

DO They Apply 10 tho Legislative
Branch? - what Commissioner
Eaton SRys-HOw the Law Has
Been Enforced.
There has been so much said lately about
Members of Congress serving on political
committees, in violation of what is gen.
orally supposed to be tho Civil-Service
laws, that reporter of TIE CRITIC this
morning called on Mr.. Dorman b. Eaton,
president of the Civil-Service Commission,
and asked him If there was anything in
tho law prohibitinga Senator or Represen-
tativc from serving on the Congressional
or National Committee of either party.
Mr.. Eaton said "There is nothing in
the laws prohibiting Member of Congress
from so acting If he chooses to do SO. The
only reference to what Members of Congress
may or may not do is found in sections 10
and II which read as follows:
"'sEo. 10. That no Recommendation OF any
person who Bhnll apply for office or place
under the provisions OF this act which may be
given by any Senator or Member OF the House
OF Representatives, except as to the character
or considered by any person concerned In
making any examination or appointment
under this act.
"'sec. IL. That no Senator, or Representative,
or Territorial Delegate of the Congress, or
Senator, Representative, or Delegate.elect, or
any other onicer or employe OF either or said
houses. and no executive, Judicial, military,
or naval of1icer OF the United States, and no
clerk or employe OF any department. branch
or bureau OF the executive, judicial or military
or naval service OF the United States, shall,
directly or Indirectly, solicit or receive, or be
in any manner concerned In soliciting or re-
ceiying, auy assessment, subscription, or con-
tribution. for any political purpose whatever,
nfIlHpr amnlDva
United States, or any department, branch, or
bureau thereof, or from any person receiving
any salary or compensation from moneys de-
rived from the Treasury of the United States.
II do not think 1t would be proper for
an executive officer of the Government to
act in the capacity you refer to, but can
see nothing in the law to prevent Mem
ber Of Congress acting if he desires to do So
The law has no reference to the legislative
branch of the Government in the matter
you arc seeking information about, but
does to the Executive, think"
"Did Congress furnish you with all.the
means necessary TO carry out the intent of
the law, Mr.. Eaton?"
sit did. 1t increased the pay of the Sec
retary, gave us an additional clerk and
| raised the pay of our messenger"
"Ilow are you getting along with the
| work under the law?"
| How the Law has Been Enforced.
| "Yery well, indeed. We had q very hard
| time Of 1t for some time. A great many
people did not understand the object of the
law, and great many who did or ought to
have understood it were stupidity ignorant
| of its objects. There was and are q lot OF
politicians in the country who seem Ia
think that the only qualification for posi-.
tion in the Government employ Is to be @
follower of party. For twenty years Eng
land has thought different, and it has
worked well there. In this country here
tofore the parties have every four years
Fought Over the 5000 Offices
here in Washington, those confirmed by tn,
Senate and the 10000 In tho different post
offices and custom houses throughout the
country. 1t will be different this time
| Why, sir, in the State that Governor Cleve
laid presides over the same law is in forcC
that We are administering for the Nation
Even those men who have charge of tn
sewers in tho different cities in New Yorl
have to undergo rigid examination befor
they can get employment, and | ventur
you will see as tough campaign in tina
State this year as you ever heard of in you
| life.
1t Will be Fought on Principle,
and for the men who head the ticket ant
not for the spoils. ] am glad it is so.
want this country to see the day when il
order to be rewarded in an official way al
applicant can demand recognition for hi
worth as a man and not as u mere wart
politician. Why, sir, ninety-nine out Q
every hundred of those political striker
who have applied for examination her
have been knocked out by one simple ques
tion under our rules. An applicant has tC
under oath, state what his occupation ha
been for the last five years. Whe
that is put to them they weaken. Yes, sill
We are getting along very we'll"