The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-26
THEORY OF CIVIL SERVICE.
Why the Democrats Oppose The Law as
Il Is Now Administered.
BILL FOR REPEAL OF STATE BANK TAX
Mr. Springer to Gail up the Brawley Meas
ure To-Day-Letter Carriers for Kieh-
mond and Manchester.
TIMES BUREAU, RAPLEY BuuDWo, |
WASHINGTON. May 25. 1894


WASHINGTON. May %. 1894.
AS had been predicted, the House refus-
ed yesterday 20 strike out the appro-
priationFfor the civil service commission,
and ii now appears as II the present
side-show performance bearing that name
would continue to display it under the
same Republican canvass beneath which
its ring exhibitions have been given for
years past. In the committee Of the
whole. where no recorded vote is taken.
the appropriation was voted out of the
bill. but when in the House the aye ana
no vote was taken, it was restored. a
number Of the Democrats voted against
the appropriation just in order to de-
mOnstrate their utter adherence OF the
manner in which the commission was now
being conducted, but when II became
matter Of the absolute aboh5hment OF
the civil service. they were recorded IN
favor Of It's retention. hoping that IN
some way II might finally De ln"ue
TO conform 90 the theory OF clNli service
as advocated in the Democratic platform
| of 1882 Ii is very difficult for the average
Democrat 10 justify the bcduuIul ueOl
Of non-partisan civil service Wheh .s Lne
record OF the present commission SHOWS
that ninety-twO per cent OF lhe OiliOc
holders under II are Repuplcdhs'
HAERIsoNs ACTION.
The action Of President Harrison In
suspending this law until nearly lJ,0yJ
changes were made IN railway man
clerks, and then restoring II 10 that
service was also a severe blow 10 those
Democrats who had previously embraced
its theories. The present system OF
civil service as put into operation py
this commission f. undOubt dly a per
feet humbug and farce ana the Nh 81, az
over the country who honestly b We
in civil service would be hOrrlned AT the
weak traVesty which attaches 10 us
present operation The virginia anu
North Carolina members have bad abun-
dant opportunity Of seeing the l"slde
working Of this perverted ana ulstoi tru
law, and upon the yea and nay vote they
all were firm in the sustaining or the
committee of the whole in cutting OH
Congressman Tyler has felt the in
justice and misgOvernment OF the present
commission to the fullest extent IN the
navy yard at Portsmouth. and In regard
to ii said: 81 am not opposed 10 the
theories Of civil service, but ! am most
emphatically opposed 10 the present al
ninistrati0n Of the law. and voted 10
emf off The appropriation, as that was the
only way We could aDolish the Coil-
/, would have been beautiful test Of
tho boasted patriotism and constant self
sacrifice of Theodore Roosevelt 90 al If
This appropriation had been cut on, but
the probability is that tney would nave
come down from the exalted perch from
which they now look down upon the
Croveling politicians and invite public
attention to their infinite superiority
There are 1900 Offices under the civil
service.
TAX oN STATE BANKS.
,ro-dav was private bin dav IN the
Housa. and the friends OF the repeal OF
the 10 per cent. tax on state banks, after
consultation this morning. agreed not
to ask FOR the consideration Of their
measure.
Tomorrow. however Mr.. Springer will
call UP the Brawley bin. which provides
for the suspension OF the lO per cent. tax
law as to any notes which were originally
issued between the lst of August and l5th
of October. 1893. The object or this bill
viduals, and corporations from the opera
tiOns Of the law against clearinghouse
certificates, scrip, and other forms OF IN
debtedness issued by them for the pur-
pose Of relieving the financial stringency
which prevailed last year.
When this bill IS before the House
Judge Cox. Of Tennessee, viii offer an
amendment to IL, providing for the un-
conditional repeal of the 10 per cent. tax
on all State banks This amendment has
received the endorsement OF the Demo-
cratic caucus, and VIII receive a str0hB
support on the floor Of the House. Judge
Cox Is very sanguine OF its adoption. and
his opinion is shared by many friends Of
the measure.
There will be other amendments offered
prominent among which rs the one pre-
pared by Congressman Claude \. Swan
SON. which is in the nature OF cOmpfo-
mise and provides for repeal with GER
tain qualifications and restrictions. CON
gressman Swanson, unlike most men VINO
are the authors or patrons or important
legislative measures. really hopes tnaL
there will be no occasion 10 onfer his
amendment as he Is perfectly willing 10
stand by the action of the Democratic
caucus In the letter and spirit, ana Will
give his most earnest and hearty support
10 the Cox amendment. In this action he
will be joined by every member OF the
Virginia delegation.
MR. sPBINGER's oPros-rIoN
Congressman Springer, the chairman OF
the House Committee on Banking ana
Currency, will lead the opposition 10
repeal, and for that purpose has Iortihei
himself with facts, theories. statistics and
precedents galore. AS chairman OF the
Banking and Currency Committee, Mr.
Springer would not like 10 see any Dill
providing for the change IN the inanclai
system of the country pass the House,
unless It was fathered by himself, ana
he is determined not 10 let this opportuhl-
tv TO show 10 the country what he knows
about fnanciering pass by.
THE SPRINGER BILL.
He has a bill Of his own which has
not yet been reported from the com
mittee. but which has been very general
ly distributed amongst his colleagues.
Mr.. Springer's bill provides for the
creation Of a nOn-salaried commission,
consisting Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, the United States Treasurer, and
the Comptrole er Of the Currency, who
are 70 be charged with the duty Of
providing notes 10 be used for national
currency and to cause the notes 20 be
printed by the Bureau Of Engraving.
There Is 10 be no limit TO the discre-
tion Of the commission in the issue of
notes. which are to be legal tender
in payment Of all debts. public and pi-
yate, receivable for all Government
dues and convertible into coin on de-
mand The notes are to be issued In the
first instance, TO any solvent banking
corporation now i'm the United States
that has capital stock Of which at least
$4,000 has been paid up IN casn. lhsy
may receive not more in notes than the
capital actually paid up by making
deposit OF 20 per cent in coin and secur-
ing the remaining 50 per cent. by ac-
ceDtable bonds These bonds are those
of the United States and bonds the prin-
cipal and interest Of which nave been
Guaranteed by the United States, the
bonds of any State OF the uhi.e,i Stttvo tu5o
which have been continuously Tor Two
wears preceding the date or thelr ue-
posit quoted In the market at no. less
Than s5 pers cent. of their par Value' ana
the interest on which has not al any
time been in default, also the bonds OF
any CITY or town, county or parish IN
the United States which had a popula-
ton of not less than DIV at the iast
preceding census and which fill the con-
ditions named for State bonds. But all
the bonds of the latter class must have
been issued In pursuance OF law anq ioT
nuniclpal purposes exclusively; must be-
in the opinion Of the National Currency