Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-15
THEORY vs.. PRACTICE.
HARRISON'S INCONSISTENT SPOKEN VIEWS
AND PUBLIC ACTS.
He Is Civil Service Rsiormer in Public but Sings
Another Tune on the Quisi-Judgs Thurman
Gives Tsrss Characterization Of
Wanamaksr.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE manner
in which this administration protests
aloud that Civil Service reform not only
must be maintained, bat extended, and
the cute ways it has of getting around the
Civil Service law afford very marked
contrast. For instance, there is no Board
of Civil Service Commissioners to a1minis-
ter the law. and Mr.. Harrison does not
show any sign of again calling into life
that body, the only existing member Of
which is Mr.. Lyman, Republican, who
could do nothing if he wanted to, because
one member of a commission which the
law says shall consist of three members
does not constitute quorum. Many Of
Mr. Harrison's callers have asked him
when he is going TO appoint the two ad-
ditionsl members of the Commission.
His answers, while not direct, give the
impression thst he is in no hurry. Then
take the Railway Mail Service. The en-
ployes of that branch will have the Civil
Service rules extended over them on the
1st OF May next. By ordering this Mr.
Harrison ostentatiously indorses the action
of President Cleveland. But there is con-
siderable time between now and the 1st Of
May-plenty OF time for division ruled
over by such versatile guillotine wielder
as First Assistant Postmaster General
Clarkson TO be pretty thoroughly over
hsuled, and Democratic employees super
seded by Republicans. Changes to bring
this about are being rapidly made, and it
is pretty certain that when the protecting
wing Of the Civil Service law is thrown
over the Railway Mail Service, it will be
Ineffective protection to Democrats, for
there will be very few Democrats left.
There is another little trick OF the Ad-
ministration in regard 10 Civil Service. IL
has announced that the force OF Postoilice
Inspectors will be placed under Civil Ser
vice law, and that no man can secure an
appointment 10 it who does not pass sat
isfactory examination. This sounds very
we'll in print, but it will not be found to
amount to much in practice. Every one
of the present POstofice Inspectors is
Democrat, but il will not be 80 very long
before every one Of them is a Republican.
The Civil Service examination will be got
over in great measure by reinstating IN
oflce Republican Inspectors who were re-
moved under the Cleveland Administra-
tion. 1t will be thus seen that Mr.. Har-
rison's policy in regard TO Civil Service
reform keeps the word Of promise to the
ear and breaks it to the heart.
There is a good dealof life in the Old Ro-
man yet. Ex-senator Thurman, who was
in tine city on business connected with
the Bell telephone cases, gets around pret-
ty we'll for such an old gentleman. His
mind is bright, and his proficiency in de
scribing a situation or person to IT. in
few ofl-hand words is as great as ever
A word picture by him Of the gceat and
only Wanamaker is the talk OF the town.
1t has caused great deal OF laughter, es-
pecially in the POstoffice Department. over
which Wanamaker pTesides. Judge Thur
man said that he was amused at the Repub-
licans who are finding fault with the Presi-
dent for not putting all the Democrats out
in the six weeks he has been in office.
THAT is the same way some Democrats
talked about Mr.. Cleveland" Judge
Thurman said, and quickly added the two
following picturesque sentences: That
breeches maker from Philadelphia, Wana-
maker, seems TO be running the guillotine
on full time. am told that he is pious
cuss."
Ex-Cougressman Alphonso Hart, Of
Hillsboro, has been decided upon for So
licitor Of Internal Revenue. The
salary attached to this position Is
81. 500 per year. II is one under the De-
partment Of Justice, but the Solicitor has
an Office in the Internal Revenue Bureau
in the Treasury Building.