Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-01-27
AT THE CAPITAL.
CRYSTALLlZEO COMMON SENSE
IN CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Democratic Retrenchment Visible
Senator Sherman's FrugaIity-|
/ House Passes RESOLUTION for Flee.
ton of Senators by the People
Favorable Report for Admission
of Utah.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 90, 1893.
Republican officials. particularly
those who have been in office, in the
departments, for eight years or more,
are in Il p"rturbed state Of mind.
They don't like recent indications of Il
coming change in the Civil Service
law. Civil Service Commissioner
Roosevelt, in his anxiety in behalf OF
the Republican otlice-holders, even
took the trouble to go over to New
| York for the purpose of sounding
| President-elect Cleveland OH the rub
| jcct. The immediate couscs Of this
panicy feeling on the part OF those
who felt their positions on Uncle
Sans pay roll to be safe were two
bills introduced in the House; one
by Representative Martin, of Indiana,
providing that from and after the
first of next July, all appointments
in the Government service should be
| for term of four years and that each
official so appointed should be eligible
for one reappointment, but no more
that all Otticials-here comes the part
that has upset the nerves of those
who have been feeding at the public
| n rntruh 1nn,r a tl,ox, tla,,l,t :,
belonged to them-who have been
in government employ eight years or
longer shall be ineligible to reappoint-
ment, and the other providing for a
suspension OF the Civil Service law, so
far as it relates to appointments and
removals, for period of one year
from the beginning of each Presiden-
tial term. Repre- sentative De Almond,
of Missouri, the author Of the last
named bill, says in preamble thereto
that no administration can fully and
satisfactorily carry its politics into
execution if large portion of the
subordinate officers are hostile in such
policies.
The largest appropriation bill-the
Sundry Civil-has been completed.
1t is $l5,000,000 less than the esti-
mates submitted to the House. The
Diplomatic and Consular bill is also
complete. 1t carries 100000 less
than the estimates. The Democratic
acknowledgements being lived
up to as much as possible.
Senator Sherman's ability to look
out for number one has made him a
very rich man, and not small part
of his wealth was made out of Wash
| ington real estate. Several years ago
he bought on speculation large piece
of unimproved ground on the outskirts
of the city, and recently q Waterman
was laid along the front of that prop
erty and a bill amounting to about
500 for the special tax provided by
law was sent to Senator Sherman.
Instead of paying this bill as private
citizen without an official "pull" would
have done, he appealed to the local
| officials to remit the tax, on the
ground that the land was unimproved
and would remain so, as it was his in
tention when he purchased it, and
still is his intention, to sell it to the
government to be used as park. If
the Senator proposed giving this
ground to the government there might
be some justice in his not paying this
Waterman tax, but as he expects to
sell it Cat big profit, presumably he
should be made to pay all the legal
taxes on it, just as the most obscure
individual would have to do.
The making of the joint resolution
providing for the election of the U. S.
Senators by direct vote Of the people
a party question by the Republicans OF
the House, when it WAS taken up and
passed under . suspension of the rules,
indicates that the resolution may be
defeated in the Senate by the same
tactics. There are, however, a number
OF Republican Senators who, having
publicly committed themselves in
favor of the proposition, will find it
awkward to vote against it.
More money for pensions. In addi-
ton to the $l0,50S,62l, asked for on
account of deficiency in the appro-
priations for the current fiscal year
S3,335,8l6 was this week asked for by
Secretary Noble to meet further de.
ficiency which has come to light since
the first estimate was made.
The public buildings in Washington
are all closed to-day on account of the
funeral of ex-President Hayes, and
several members of the Cabinet and
detail of officers of the army and navy
are at the funeral as representatives of
the administration. Personally Mr..
Hayes was generally liked by Demo-
Gratis who knew him, but those who
did not enjoy that pleasure always,
perhaps upconsciously associated him
in their minds with the methods by
which he became President, methods
never to be duplicated and never to be
forgiven, which prevented their fully
appreciating the really good traits
which he possessed. Although he was
the chief beneficiary of a plot which
will always be blot upon American
history, let it be remembered TO his
credit that he neither originated it nor
took any part in carrying it out.
Delegate Gains has not been idle
during this session. He has secured
a unanimous report in favor of his bill
for the admission of Utah as State,
from the House Committee on Terri
tories.
That Treasury report, which it was
promised the House Ways and Means
Committee would be ready week ago
has not yet been made. The sickness
of the official who was experimenting
its preparation is given as an excuse
for the delay Dem. !