Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-18
CIVIL SERVICE DISCUSSED.
A Partisan Debate In the Senate Yes
terday Afternoon.

There was an interesting civil service debate
In the Senate yesterday afternoon, the matter
under consideration being House joint resoiu-
ton authorizing the appointment of thirty
medical examiners in the Pension Office
Mr.. Faulkner spoke against the provision
taking these appointments from the control o
the civil service. 1t was impossible for him, he
SAID, to understand why such provision was
inserted in the joint resolution. The seven
teen medical examiners now in Office had been
appointed under the civil service system. and
1t was proposed now to appoint thirteen others
without reference to that system. There was
no exigency demanding it. The eligible list
today contained the names Of more than thirty
men who had passed their examination for
medical examiners, and the appointments
should be made from that list He moved to
strike out that provision of the joint resolution.
Senators Hoar, Cockreli and Hale then in
dulged in a triangular debate. Mr.. Cockreli
went on to give a history OF the law and to
quote from the various republican platforms
affirming devotion to il.
Mr.. Hale asked him whether the democratic
platforms had not done the same thing.
Mr.. Cockrell-Unquestionab but am not
discussing the record OF the democratic party
today.
Mr.. Hale-So understand.
Mr.. Cockrell-I am trying to bring to the
recollection and conscience Of my republican
friends the record of the republican party, not
OF the democratic party.
Mr. Hale--f do not believe that the gentle
man VIII live long enough to discuss the record
OF the democratic party.
M. Cockrel-We will discuss that in 1892
Mr. Hale-iou will not discuss it here, will
guarantee.
Mr. Cockrell-I will discuss it here when it
becomes an issue; but do not intend that the
issue In this case shall be turned off on a side
track.
Mr.. Hoar moved to amend the amendment
by inserting the words under regulations to
be prescribed by the President OF the United
States" This would bring distinctly to the
notice OF the President these particular ap-
pointments, and would require from him new
exercise of discretion. 1t was said, OH one side
OF the question, that the thirty medical exam
iners were 70 be appointed only for brief
scrvlce-for an emergency, and that that was
the reason why the general civil service rules
should not apply. He was no. in the least af-
fected, much less convinced, by the suggestion.
1t was perfectly clear to him that the record of
no party Of no President, and he. suspected, of
no Senator or Representative, would be found
TO be absolutely in accordance with the strict
letter OF their declarations in regard to civil
service reform.
Mr.. Plumb resented the latter statement and
said that he had no doubt that Mr.. Hoar had
done his fair share in securing the removal of
democratic officials
MIR. Hoar denied that $50 far as he remem-
bered) he had ever advised the removal of but
one democratic official in his life, and that
removal he had advised, not on political
grounds. The Senator from Kansas Che added)
was talking of matter of which he was as ig-
norant as the babe that never was born and
that never would be born. Laughter on the
democratic side.I
AT the close of the discussion, Mr. Hoar, at
Mr.. Faulkner's suggestion, modified his amend
ment so as to make it read that ''the exaniina-
ton for appointment of these medical exam
liners shall be under regulations prescribed by
the President of the United States" The amend
ment was agreed to-yeas 80, nays S-the mega
tives being Daniel, Davis, Dixon, Moody, Plumb,
Sawyer Stewart and Teller.
without action on the bill the Senate ad-
journed