Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-15
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.

There is no Probability That it WIN DO
Repealed or Changed this Session.
WASHINGTON, March 13.--The Critic,
speaking of the adverse report on the
House bill to repeal the civil service law,
says: For some reason report has been
carefully and insidiously spread through
the country charging Speaker Carlisle
with having appointed a Committee OF
Civil Service Reform that was opposed to
reform. The ditfusers OF this tale went on
to assert that the committee would bring
in bill either TO repeal the civil service
law altogether or TO seriously cripple 1t.
As the committee yesterday reported adj
versely to the repeal OF the law, all such
reports may be considered as amply re-
futed. A Critic representative VINO IN
terViewed the mem Oers of the committee
has obtained the following opinions:
The Hon. II. J. SpoOner, of Rhode Island
Rep. y said: "The civil service law, as It
stands, does not cover as much as II ought,
but as lar as 10 goes 10 is working very
we'll. The Civil Service Commissioners
appear to be performing their duties in a
thoroughly non-partisan way. Their only
object seems TO be TO carry out the law
effectively in letter and spirit"
The Hon. j. Is. Storm, of Pennsylvania
Dem. }, said. mo changes In the present
law will be recommended. A majority OF
the committee have conferred together
aud have decided on this. The present
law In general in its term, and places
much power in the hands OF the Commits
sioners. They can make the law respect
ed, or they can render IL ridiculous. The
present law Is imperfect, all admit, and
while the country would resent it's repeal,
the feeling of the two parties In Congress
10 such that nothing can be done at this
time to improve aud strengthen it."
The Hon. j. V. l.. Flndlay, Of Baltimore
(Dem. J. said: 81 heartily favor the main
tenance of the civil service law, and
want TO see it enforced IN letter and spir-
it."
The Hon. c. l.. Mitchell, Of Connections
dem. J. said: 81 endorse every word said
by Gen Cox In his last interview. | sup
port civil service reform"
The Hon. W. Il. Cox, OF North Carolina
(Dem.) J, chairman of the committee, in a
recent interview, took strong and high
grounds in favor Of civil service reform
and the present law until a better one
| could be had.
The Hon. Il. M. Bayne, OF Pennsylva-
| mia (Rep.), said: 81 am heartily
in favor Of this policy; want to see the
present law executed in letter and spirit,
and shall favor it every opportunity. 1
/ have the extension Of the measure over
| classes of government employees not now
| embraced by 1t, but which would natur-
ally fall within the easy scope of the
| policy"
The Hon. John Little, of Ohio (Rep.)
said: IL shall oppose with all my
strength the proposed repeal OF the pres
emit law. | regard the present law as an
| excellent one, and shall support II, and
| il given chance, vote to improve it."
The Hon. j. NJ. Farquhar, Of New York
(Rep.) said: ''The present law
will answer, but could be improved.
However, there will be no change what
ever IN the law at this session."
The Hon. W. j. Stone, Of Missouri
| (Dem. ), said: II am not a lover Of the
civil service law. IL it came up as a new
scheme ] would vote against it. / am a
partisan aud a believer in the theory that
| the government should DO administered
| In all its branches by those in political
accord and sympathy with the party in
| power. / do not believe in the establish
ment Of a system which gives the incum-
bent of an office "A life tenure--a kind OF
property right TO the place. The appoint
| ing power-the head Of department or
/ bureau-is. in my opinion, as capable OF
| choosing competent employees by personal
| intercourse and examination as are the
| Civil Service Commission after their
schOolbOy examination. l think that the
| law oukub ~ w AERCoASd3 oAb NO Aob
| think that IL will be.
at ought to be amended. The civil
service ought TO be classified from top to
bottom, not according TO salary, but ac-
cOrding TO the work done. Each Depart
ment should make its own classitications.
The examinations should be practical. re-
garding only the work to be done. The
ratio going to the States should be subdi-
vided by the Congressional districts, TO
secure a general and equitable represent
tatiOn. The clerks and other employees
now in the service should be examined,
when not appointed under the present
law. II qualified they would hold out
and be credited 10 their proper State and
district. Let our civil service system,
whatever 1t may be, be thorough and i'm
partial"
IL Is understood that Mr.. Clements holds
very much the same views as Mr.. stone.
OF the other members Of the committee
not quoted above MIR. Blanchard Is
thought 10 favor the law. Mr.. Lohlbach
is known to favor IL.
Enough Is given, however, 10 show that
it will be impossible TO effect any change
10 the civil service law at this session, let
alone abrOgate It..