Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-19

Common-sense considerations prevailed
at last nights meeting of the board of
trade as everyone who knows anything
about the board of trade supposed they
would, and as result there was prac-
tically unanimous Endorsement of the reso-
luton commencing the proposition to ex-
tend the scope of the civil service rules
so as to include employees of the District
of Columbia. The spoils element had been
promising active antagonism to the reso-
luton and to any movement that sympa-
thized with that declaration In favor of
good government, but the opposition failed
70 materialize. Opportunity for debate was
ampIe-the tendency of the more than two
hundred members was decidedly toward
rlfettered discussion-but only the most
feeble of criticisms were given voice. As
a matter of fact. not even the strongest
and most eloquent of spells advocates
could have made argumentative Roadway
against the calm determination which was
so marked a feature of the majority's cam
paign. There was nothing sound to be
said on the negative side of the proposition
and no one carel to make anything like
serious effort to fool an assembly of repre-
sentative WashingtonianS with such clap
trap as is the stock in trade of the practi-
cal politician. What could be said in the
face of ex-Commissioner Parker's speech,
which followed closely upon Mr.. John 10 7
Edson's motion to take the resolution from
the table and pass 1t? Experience is the
best teacher, and 1t was while serving the
District of Columbia one of its govern
ors that Col Parker was converted from
the Observation-Disclosures idea and educated to
advocacy of the merit system. There was
nothing dubious in Col. Parker's clearly
cd hat no L.
ness in the District government was its
patronage, no room for misunderstanding;
no fact that could nationally be assailed.
Mr.. Simon Wolf took high ground, and the
ringing applause which greeted his as
sertions proved conclusively that the board
was not sympathizirg with civil service
reform from motives that could be de-
nominated merely sordid The business
mans idea was APPLY sketched by Mr.. L.
NJ. Saunders, who, in few words, must
have made il plain, even to the most in
veterate spoilsmen. how close is the rela-
tiOrsnip between fixity of official tenure
and the Districts material welfare. a
hundred others We're ready and willing to
make public the reasons for the faith that
was in them, and many of them would
doubtless have done so had not Major Hall
so cIeverly revealed the non-existence of
1NO"cu OpDOSillOl Dy requesting the sup
porters of good government to keep their
seats and say nothing until the anti-re-
formers developed their side of the case.
AS there really was no opposition, the de-
bate speedily terminated.
The victory achieved by the friends of
civil service reform is not small one;
it is creditable to all who were in any
way active in bringing il about; it Is cred
liable to the board o. trade as an organ-
cation and to the District of Columbia, for
the betterment of which the board of trade
was organized and exists. Not little of
the praise is due the Civil Service Reform
Association which has its home in its
city; within that organization the cam
paign was planned. For what The Star
has done in the fight-which, so far as
the spoilsmen We're concerned, fzzled out
ingloriOusly last night-no particular credit
is asked, for it has been and is and always
will be The Stars pleasurable duty to do
anything and everything proper in the in
terCst of the people of the District OF Co
lumbia. Now that the board of trade has
pledged its support TO the resolution ii is
hoped and expected that the end sought by
those who have advocated and voted for
the resolution will speedily be reached and
that within the shortest possible period the
demands of the spOilsmen at the District
building will be ended.