The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-24
THE CIyIL ERVICE Law.
A Heated Partisan Discussion In the House
on the smhieci

WASHINGTON, May Every soon af-
ter assembling, the House. in committee
of the whole. with Mr. Richardson (Tenn)
in the chair. took up the legislative, exec
utiye, and judicial appropriation Dill
The pending amendment was that OF
Mr. De Almond lDem., MOI, which pro-
vldes, after striking out the appropriation
for the civil service commission, for the
appointment Of employees in the several
departments by the heads thereof, IN
proportion to the population OF the various
States and Territories, under such reg
ulations as the States may prescribe. 1t
was ruled out on a point OF order.
Mr.. Anderson Dem, W. Va sought
to evade the obnoxious point, viz: That
the amendment did not. on It's face,
reduce expenditures, by offering another
amendment limiting the cost of eXamlna-
tions authorized TO be made by the heads
of departments for selecting employees.
to one-half the cost Of the civil service
examinations.
Chairman Richardson thought this was
not germane; that on an appropriation
| bill II was not proper to engraft a scheme
for making appointments I'm the civil ser
vice. Then Mr. Anderson offered an
amendment 10 repeal the civil service law
/
| and acts amendatory thereof.
Mr. Coombs dem. y. ". made the
point of order against this that II chang
| ed existing law and was not germane.
Mr. Baker Gep.. y. I'D, proceeded to
| read the declaration of the Democratic
! platform in favor of the civil service
| law. Several Democratic members call
ed him TO order and Mr. Baker continued
| to read amidst much confusion. the pro-
| tests Of the Democratic members. the
! laughter Of the Republicans and the
| pounding Of the chairman's gavel. Quiet
| being restored. Mr.. Baker explained that
| he was reading from an authority recog-
| nized as binding upon the majority Of
| the House and he felt sure that when
IL was called TO their attention they
| would clearly see that anything which
| tended 10 cripple or destroy the civil-ser-
| vice law was out OF order
Chairman Richardson, AZ the close of
Mr. Bakers remarks. sustained the point
| Of order made boy Mr.. Coombs. and Mr..
| Anderson appealed from The decision. The
| appeal was discussed by Messrs EnlOe
| and Stockdale. and the decision Of the
| Chair was sustained by vote Of % t.
| S.
| The paragraph transferring 10 the civil
| service commission the control Of clerks
| detailed for work therein. was stricken
| out on the point Of order that il was
| new legislation.
! MIR Pickicr offered an amendment 10
| the last paragraph. relating 20 the civil
| Service Commission (appropriating 5000
| for travelling and other expenses Of the
commission. making all ho,orably dis
| charged soldiers other things being equal,
| preferred candidates for appointment 10
| Office under the commission. This went
| out on a point of order, made by Mr.
| Livingston Dem Ga).
MIR. Williams Dem, Miss) moved 10
strike out the paragraph. Defeated-iO to
-.
This ended the consideration OF the
| Civil Service Commission schedule.
| Mr.. Caruth Dem. KY snoved TO strike
out the words "within the classified SER
vice" in the item appropriating $4,000
| to enable the Secretary of the Treasury 10
complete the accounts I'm the office Of the
First and Second Comptrollers and Com
missioner Of Customs, which il is proposed
to abolish
The amendment was agreed to-Yeas.
| 80: nays. %. and Mr.. Dingley gave notice
| that he would call for Yea and nay vote
| in the House. He said that the men now
on this work should be retained 10 close
| it up. 1t would be in the interest Of good
| government.
| Consideration Of the ill was continued
until r o'clock. when the committee rose
| and the House adjourned until tO-mor-
row.
Politics entered into every amendment
| offered and every speech made, and I'm
incidental way the Civil Service Commits
| sion and civil service law were brought
in several times after the sections di-
rectly relating to them had been dis
pocpd Of