Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-09
ON THE LIST FOR OFFICE.
CIVIL SERVICE CERTIFICATION
AGAIN UNDER FIRE.

Democrats Fighting for the New PrOpO e
sitiOn and Republicans Doing their
hest to Defeat It--Both Sides Expose
their Method of Attack and then Rest
for the Day
WASHINGTON, June S.-The House to-
day went into committee OF the whole on
the legislative, executive ard judicial ap-
piOpriation bill. The bill appropriates
$50, $50 ll9 against $2l, ,406, ,6S5, the appro-
priatlon for the current year. Mr.. Hol-
man analyzed the bill. Reaching toe
clause making an appropriation for the
Civil Service Commission he stated that
the amount appropriated was the same
as that given for the present fiscal year,
$2l, 400, but there was provIsO added re-
quiring certidcation of the entire list OF
applicants from each State who had pass
+ ed examination. This requirement, he
argued, was not change in the existing
law but was simply a limitation on the
expenditure OF the money.
NULLIFICATIoN FEARED.
Mr.. Butierworth inquired whether this
provision did not nulliiy the most import
ant provision OF the civil service law, and
whether its object was not to enable the
appointing power to select his partisan
friends.
MIR. Holman answered most emphati-
cally in tine negative. IL was, he con
tended, a matter Of justice TO an applicant
who was successful IN passing The eX-
animation.
L. b. Taylor, of Ohio, inquired whether
the main object of the provision was not
to secure the appointment OF more Demo-
Gratis.
NOT THE MOTIVE.
Mr.. Holman replied that so far as mo-
tive was concerned he must answer no.
He would say, however, that if the prOvi-
sion had the incidental result of increas-
ing the number of Democratic employees
he did not think the gentleman ought to
complain. lie was convinced that that
would be the result, but his motive was
justice to the applicant and justice to the
government.
mir. Findlay, of Maryland, inquired
whether the object OF the provision was
not to enlarge the scope of choice for
political purposes.
Mr.. HOlrhau-TO enlarge the scope of
choice | admit, but for governmental pur-
poses and for the purpose of eVen-handed
Justice.
Mr.. Findlay-I am opposed 20 certifying
! all eiIglble5 up to the appointing officer.
am In favor OF the administration being
carried on with the highest regard to
honor without regard to party.
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION UNJUsTIFI.
ABLE.
Mr. Springer, OF Illinois, thought that
before the Republicans accused the Demo
Gratis Of undue partisanship they should
/ be willing TO divide the classified service
| with the Democrats. Until the classified
| service was half composed of Democrats
he thought the gentlemen on the other
side should be silent on the subject of civil
service reform. Until this time the
Democratic party would continue TO press
this point.
The civil service provision was further
criticised by Me srs. Cannon, of Illinois,
and McCOmas, of Maryland. In the
course of Mr.. McCOmas' speech a COLO
guy occurred between himself and Mr.,
Randall, in which MIR. Randall admitted
that his admiration for the civil service
law had been somewhat tempered on ac-
count OF the regulations under which il
was executed. He did not believe that
the civil service law had ever been hon
estly administered by the Republican
|, party. The rule of the commission which
it was proposed TO change was a rotten
branch on healthy tree, and he wanted to
take an AK and chop it of.
The committee then rose.
THE OUTLOOK.
Although Mr.. Findlay, OF Maryland.
was the only Democrat who opposed the
certiticatiOn prOviso, there are others
who will vote against il il they get the
chance. 1t may not be voted upon, how
ever, for it seems clearly within the point
Of order which John ID. Long will make
when the proper time comes in the five
minutes debate, and Speaker Carlisle has
appointed Mr.. Blount, OF Georgia, chair
man of the committee OF the whole on this
bill. His decision on the point of order
will, of course, be honest and impartial
aud be will. therefore, probably rule it out.
Civil service retormers are as rare on
one side as the other. Incidentally in the
debate Mr.. Payne, Gf PeuRsylvania, said
Mr.. Randall need not complain OF civil
service reform so far as Philadelphia was
concerned, for il was understood that all
the sixty appointments made by Post
master Harrity under the civil service
rules were Democrats. Mr. Randall re-
piled that be did not know about that, but
that he felt sure Dir. HarrIty had not
eVaded the civil service law.