The Washington times., 1894-11-05
In FAVOR OF EXTENSION
Citizens Approve Civil Service Rules
in District Offices.
BETTER MEN CAN BE SECURED
Expressions Of Opinion from Well-known
People-some Fear Lest the Apportion-
ment Clause Might Work Mischief-Resi-
dents Ought to Receive Protection.

The extension of the civil service rules TO
the departments of the District government
is now before the people of the city.
They read in The TIMES yesterday Of the ef-
forts made by the District Commissioners, in
conference with the President, to make this
extension a speedy consummation, and also
the intimation from the President that action
might be looked for at an early day.
Prominent citizens of the District, and
among them members of the Civil Service Re
form Association, have been at work for some
time obtaining the views of the leaders in
professional. mercantile. and laboring classes
on this subject, and as a result they have Sc
cured petitions to the President praying for
such an extension. These petitions, while
they are in one sense in the usual form, have
feature somewhat different from the ordi-
nary document asking relief or favor.
Those circulating the papers have asked
each of the signers not only for his signature
but also for a brief statement of the reasons
for that signature. These requests have in
nearly all cases been complied with. On one
list alone there are fifteen OF the largest busi-
ness establishments in the city, the heads of
which will give their reasons of approval to-
day. UD to date il can be said that the pulse
of the leading classes has been felt. and that
the general and personal opinion is in favor
of the extension.
Among the merchants who have expressed
favorable opinion are:
S. W. Woodward and A. NJ Lothrop. of
Woodward LothIop; Ed. 2. Mertz. w. b.
Moses & son. George W. Cochran, A. Lisner,
and r. Harris d Co.
OF the LEGAL fraternity there are.
4. 5. MorthingtOn, J. J. Darlington, T. A.
/ Lambert, president of the Independent lee
Company; S. S. Henkle, John B. Larner.
counsel Tor the Washington Loan and Trust
Company and John Selden.
Among the bankers are John J. Edison,
president Of the Washington Loan and Trust
Company, and c. C. Glover. OF Riggs & Co.
The real estate men are well represented on
the petition. Col. NJ. A. Frisbie. of the Vir-
ginia Produce Company. favored the propo-
sItion and thought that il would be the means
OF making the District government better,
and especially by securing a superior class
OF men for its employees" If that could be
accomplished he was heartily in favor of the
movement.
Capt. John Wheeler said he thought civil
1 service reform could not accomplish much
/ just now, but if it could be applied TO the
1 District government and its principles carried
/ out he would indorse the idea.
james /. Norris had read the article in
/ The TINES, but he had not yet given the sub
I iect such attention as would warrant him in
speaking at length on ii at present.
Senator Faulkner. member Of the District
Committee, was out Of town, as We're Col
lect5r ". II. Manogue and Mr.. Lawrence
Gardner, secretary Of the Democratic Con-
gressional committee. The local political
sentiment Is. however, is train with the idea
and can be relied upon 10 further the aim of
the Civil Service Reform Association and
I civil service reform in general
Eev. /. D. Bailey, OF the Civil Service Com
mission, said 10 TIMES reporter last evening
that the proposed placing Of certain District
employees under the control OF the Civil Ser
. vice Commission so far as their appointment
was concerned, would be good thing for the
city. Il would, be said. result in making the
community a more stable one. because the
employees, instead OF being subject TO the
whims OF politicians and others, would feel
that their positions were secure while their
/ efficiency and good conduct continued.
But, he added Il hope, IL plan is agreed
/ upon. II viii be so arranged that the Offices
! VIII 90 10 District people and not be placed
/ under the general apportionment 10 the States
! and Territories, which would result in giving
I the places 20 men from all sections, taken
/ from the available lists"
Mr. Walter Costello, who represents the
! pOpulous Twelfth district Of Washington on
/ the central Democratic committee, said he
/ favored the proposition, provided the offices
! would not be scattered under the States ap-
/ portionment 10 people from all sections of the
country.
Il am believer in the doctrine Of home
] rule, said Mr. Costello. land the District
Offices should be given 70 Distric: people"
said Mr.. Nathan Sickle, the tobacco dealer,
OF No. l0Il Pennsylvania avenue northwest:
''In my opinion, the proposition 10 extend the
civil service-to the employees of the District
government is a move in the right direction.
II consummated, it will give everyone a
chance. and act as a barrier in preventing
Congressman and others from unloading
their political refuse upon the taxpayers of
the District"
1T is good thing" said Capt. E. D.
Marston, Of the Treasury, who was formerly
a member OF the West Virginia Legislature
five are going to have civil service reform
let it extend into all branches of the govern
ment, including the District of Columbia.
Il say" remarked Mr. J. w. Searle, the
publisher. of 639 street northwest. that If
the proposition will result In preventing
politicians residing in other States from
filling the offices Lere with their cast-off fol-
lowers and henchmen, as has been the case in
too many instances, let US have civil service
reform galore"
Prof. A. G. Rogers said: ''I hardly like to
speak without more careful consideration. l
know little about District politics. At the
first glance ] am inclined to say no; yet am
in favor Of giving the places to the men who
are best qualified to fill them
Rev. Alexander Kent said: II do not know
about the work OF the present Civil Service
Commission. l have heard it severely criti-
cised, and am not sufficiently acquainted with
ifs work to pass judgment. But I am GER
tainly in favor Of distributing the positions in
the interest or the best service to the govern
ment They ought not to be given in the in
terests Of Congressman nor TO the favoritss Of
rE.gaI
reform wisely and conscientiously admin
istnrad / do not snu that the rresent is nat