Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-14


The raid on the civil service commission yes
| terday after The SrAR's report closed was sharp
| and bitter and the defense aggressive and VIC
torious. The day before the battle by tech
nicality had gone against the reform and the
spoilsmen were rejoicing that point Of order
had knocked out all the appropriation provided
in the legislative appropriation bill for clerks
for the civil service commission. Yesterday,
however, an amendment proposed by Mr.. Ding
ley was added TO the paragraph which appro-
PIRATES $50 400 for the necessary expensesfor the
| commission. This clause, the friends OF re-
form claim, will cover the question
Of clerks, while the raiders pretend to
believe that not one clerk can be
paid out of this fund. The debate yesterday
was exceedingly sharp at times. After Mr..
McComas had offered his amendment provid-
ing for clerical force for the commission and
Mr.. Paysou, chairman, had sustained point
Of order against the amendment, Mr.. Cannon
offered amendment providing n secretary
| and stenographer. which he said would comply
with existing laws.
PLAN TO CHOKE rHB COMMISSION.
Mr.. Buttorworth attacked this proposal in
his usual clear and sharp manner, denouncing
it as plan to choke the commission. He called
on the House to show little courage and either
NIB. CANNON EXPLAINS.
After some little discussion it was decided at
this point that debate on the paragraph be linn
tied to three hours and Mr.. Cannon took the
| floor. Ho explained tina. Congress passed q
general law creating civil service commission,
declared what the salaries of the commissioners
! should be, provided that the commission should
| have a secretary at 81 600 a year, stenogra-
pher at d 900 and messenger at $500; that
| then the organic act went on to provide that
not less than three persons In the Official serv-
| ice Of the United States in the District of Co
lumbia shall be detailed from the departments
| to act as examiners; that at various points
throughout the country, or at any and all points
like details should be made from persons in the
for that was that it was impossible when the
commission was created to tell how many en-
ployes would be needed.
Further than this, said Mr. Cannon, this plan
had been decided on because it was thought
that examiners Of candidates ought to be
chosen from employees in the Official service of
the government. Mr.. Cannon held that under
the present law any needed number of clerks
could be detailed from the departments for use
in the commission. He wanted to see the law
His amendment simply carried out the organic
law and did no more and no less.
Mr.. Butterworth said he felt sure the gentle
man did not wish to mislead and he pointed out
| the fact that the provision in the original law
applied TO examiners, when clerks were being
Mr.. Cannon expressed his courage and gen.
eral views by saying:
The gentleman cannot brighten me by saying
| that the republican platform. as well believe
as the democratic platform has demanded a
civil service something like unto this. / meet
my legislative duties as they arise; and the gen.
tleman cannot lay his hands upon line or q
letter of that platform touching the civil service
that have not conformed to.
am willing to give this civil service commits
law gives it. / am willing to continue it, 90
that II may have all the employees, whether
three or three thousand, that the organic Law
CHARGED WITH CHANGING HIS WE'VE.
Mr.. Butterworth again arraigned Mr.. Cannon
for changing his views on the civil service.
Last year he had been in favor of providing
clerks Now he pretended to support the COM
mission but really attempted TO kin it by with
Adding supplies. "He tskss my life who takes
away the means by which I live" quoted Mr..
Butterworth- Mr.. Cannon then received
another rap for his change of heart
in his views Of what was needed to
carry on the commission. Two years ago he
had thought supplies were Indispensable, and
now all he wanted was the organic act; and
Mr.. Butterworth referred to an old Quaker,
who, like Mr.. Cannon against the civil service,
was . non-combatant, said to him one evening
Il viii not strike thee nor kick thee, but
will hold thee under the water for about fifteen
minutes and when that enemy was taken out OF
the water 1.-THE subsequent proceedings inter
| ested him no more"
WHAT THE COMMISSION NEEDS.
Mr.. Butterworth then referred to the COM
mission and said:
This institution requires, a. we ascertained
after the most careful examination, some ten
| or twelve or fifteen clerks beyond those pro-
yided for in the organic law; and this House
| nay, not this House, but the Congress of the
United States-provided by law for that in
crease and to that extent modified the organic
law, because the clerks were appointed. 1 an,
aware that we can drop them out. / am aware
that we can stop the engine by Withholding
wood and coal and water; but what suggest il
that if We are to do 30 we should do il in q fair
| and frank wsy."
II SHOULD CONTROL TIE MACHINERY.
Referring to the provision in the other bills
for clerks, Mr.. Butterworth said: And the civil
service commission said this, and think wisely
and sensibly: IF we are to run this institution
satisfactorily, the men who are detailed to take
! charge OF and manage its machinery should be
| under, our control" That was reasonable; thai
i was sensible and business like, and therefore
| say to the House and to the committee that w
4 drop ped out these clerks from the several bu
i Ecaus WucES tuty aEt culptOycu ana increased
| the clerical force Of the commission by tina
number. 1t did not put another man into tn,
service. 1t keeps them where they are con
stantly employed. and makes them amenable !.
those who supervise the duties that they ar
called upon to perform.
Mr.. Butterworth referred to the stron,
appeal Mr.. Grosvenor had made in the Las
Congress against shutting on supplies for tn
commission. He also required to Mr.. Cannon
argument at that time that Congress had entir
power to make appropriations for clerks for tn
commission. Mr.. Cannon interrupted to sa
he did not care what he had said at that time
and Mr.. Buttervorth remarked feelinKiy tina
he was sorry for him. In closing his remark
Mr.. Butterworth SAID:
When the question is whether We shall strik
down this commission / insist that we shall d
it, if we do il at all. in direct and manly way
IL the republican party has any history O
which il may be proud-and IL has a histor,
that is giorious--it is because II has met ever;
question squarely and fairly, and this is tn
first time upon the floor Of this House since
have been a member when we have attempted
TO destroy one Of our own bantlings simply b,
Withholding from it insidiously the nourishmen
which is absolutely necessary 10 sustain it
life."
Nh. 0RosvESoR's REPLY.
Mr.. Grosvenor complained that the upholder
Of the present civil service commission wer,
utterly unfair in their arguments. ANY one
he said, who criticised in any way the admins
.ration of the civil service law was inmediatel,
denounced Is an enemy Of civil service reform
Continuing he said.