Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-25
sr.ciaL corrapona.ne. o. a. R.os..r.

lowing are the remarks OF MI. At0efsou
and Mr.. Pendletou on the proposition to
cut OF the appropriation for the sup
port of the Civil Service commission:
Mr.. Anderson said; Mr.. Chairman, in
my time desire 70 ask the distinguished
chairman OF the Committee on Civil Ser
vice Reform Mr. DsForestl what dis
position has been made by his commit
tee Of bill introduced by myself on the
sixth Of September, 1898, repeating the
civil service law aud providing for de-
partmental examinations in lieu OF the
examinations held by the Civil Service
Commission.
Mr.. DeForest-My impression Is that
we laid that bill on the table-acted IN
favorably upon it.
Mr.. AldersOn-Mr. Chairman, we are
told by the distinguished chairman Of
the committee that this particular bill
was laid on the table-was acted upon
uniavorably. l take il there has not
been any report upon is all. Is that
so?
Mr.. De Forest-Thers has been no re-
port.
MIR. Alderson-Mr. Chairman, / would
prefer, much prefer 70 have direct
vote upon the question as TO whether
the Civil Service Commission is or is not
10 be continued.
Several MemberS-That is the Ques-
ton.
Mr.. Aldsrson-But II It be true that
bills bearing on this subject are to go TO
the Committee on Reform In the Civil
Serv ice of this House, and are there TO
be pigeon-hOled, not merely for weeks
but Tor months, and that we are
NEVER TO HAVE ANY REPORT
upOn them from that committee, we
shall be deprived of the opportunity to
vote sQuarely upon the question OF re-
pealinR the civil service law so long as
this committee shall exist.
Mr.. DeForest. Is not the gentleman
aware Of the fact that 10 is not custom
ary to report back measures which are
uni4vOra0ly considered?
Mr.. Anderson. l have permitted the
gentleman 10 interrupt me, although he
was not so courteous when he had the
floor and when / asked 20 interrupt
him. But, Mr.. Chairman, l undertake
TO say that IL IS the duty OF Committee
on Reform in the Civil Service and Of
every other committee Of this House
and OF every committee u any other
legislative body, TO report back every
bill which may be referred 10 IL. l
said, Mr.. Chairman, that / would have
preferred TO have direct vote on this
question. But II we are not going TO be
permitted 10 knock cut this Civil Ser
vice Commission az now administered
and this civil service law as now carried
out, which Ia my humble opinion Is the
monumental fraud and humbug OF the
10Th ,sest6ry-if we cannot have the
.tuhity to knock these out upon a
are vSte, l propose for one 10 do
nat can in that direction by voting
TO strike out this proposition. MI
Chairman,
HAD DESIRED TO OFFER
as substitute for the amendment now
pending the bill which was referred 20
the Committee on Reform In Civil Ser
vice, aud which has not been reported
back.
In the short time allotted to me, it
will be impossible for me TO discuss az
length the question now engrOssing the
attention OF the House. l want TO say
in reply 10 the DISTINGUISHED gen
tleman who has Immediately pre-
coded me (Mr Eyerett) that
his remarks were exceedingly elo-
,uent; and II all mankind were as near
,rlection as my distinguished friend
and IL il were true that the practical
operation Of this law had been the
working out Of the many glorious re-
suits which has depicted, there might
be plausibilty in the position which be
has assumed. But 50 long as human be-
ings are human beings, they will take
il, bs Influenced and controlled by per-
sonal and political considerations.
And the history Of the Civil Service
Commission and OF the civil service law
has demonstrated that this system IS
impractical and impractica0,e. l as
sumo the position that the head OF de-
partment, that any administration In
charge of the government, can no more
expeet 70 be successful where uniriend-
" agents are selected TO carry out its
policies than can a merchant or gen
tleman engaged in any vocation in life
expect that his business will De a sue
ces N his employees are interested In see
ing that business failure. Here the
hammer fell.
Mr.. PENDLETON's REMARKS.
Mr.. Pendleton said: Mr.. Chairman l
am heartily In sympathy with this
amendment. / think that the civil ser
vice as at present administered IS the
greatest organized hypocrisy In Ameri-
can politics. My own experience OF
its workings shows that 10 Is operated
and has been operated from its origin
entirely for the benefit OF one political
marty. In the State Of West Virginia
to-day in the entire railway mall ser
vice there is but one Democrat en-
ployed, and be obtained his employ
ment through Republican Influences
more than ten years ago, before the
railway nail service was placed under
the civil service law. Through the sd-
ministration OF President Harrison for
q period OF four year not q single Demo
erat from my State obtained an APP
pointment in aRY department Of the
government uuder the classified ser
vice ia the Treasury Department, and
during the year that Grover Cleveland
and the Democratic party have pre-
sided over the destinies Of this country,
not a West Virginia Democrat has OBJ
tanned a position ia any department Of
our government, though large numbers
have taken the examination.
A member. Perhaps there are no
school houses there. Laughter.
Mr.. PendletOn Of West Virginia.
There are plenty Of school houses
There are school houses In my State In
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