Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-19
ALMOST UNANIMOUS
Board of Trade Adopts the Civil
Service Resolutions.
THREE VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE
Ringing Speeches in Favor Of Ex-
tension to Local Offices.
CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL

The board of trade by an almost unani-
| nous vote last night passed a resolution
| heartily favoring an extension of the civil
service rules to the municipal offices of
| Washington, thus giving an emphatic in
dorSement to the contention of The Star
| that such a movement would be directly
| in the interest not only of good govern
| rnent, but of business prosperity In the
| capital. The only surprise of the evening
was that the opposition to the resolution,
| which some weeks ago succeeded liz ia
| bling the question, weak in both
voice and votes. There was but one speech
made against the proposition to extend the
| system, and that was more seeking after
| information, a query from one who ap-
| peared to be willing to be convinced, than
| the argument of an avowed advocate of
| enc system or the other. 1t was not a
strong presentation of the merits Of the
spoils system ror a vigorous attack upon
| civil service. On the other hand four
speeches rang forth in favor of the propo-
| sition, and when the vote was taken, af-
ter about three-quarterS of an hour or
debate, there was an overwhelming chorus
| in the affirmative and but three voices
| raised weakly in the negative
| There were upward of hundred men,
bers of the board in Wizards Hall when
| the meeting was called to order at $50
| by President Warner. Others came rap
service question was laid before the board
| there were nearer two hundred of the mem
| bers present. AS soon as the minutes OF
the annual meeting had been approved,
the board got down to business in a hur-
ry.
The Resolution.
Mr.. John Joy Edison of the board of d.
rectors arose and recalled the circum-
stances of the resolution in favor of the
extension. which was introduced by him
some weeks ago and reported by the board
of directors to the board of trade at its
annual meeting. 1t was there tabled after
very brief and inadequate discussion,
| and this, he thought, was probably fortu-
nate, for since then there has been con-
siderable discussion over the matter and
| the subject has engaged more attention
| than If 1t had not suffered such fate.
| He moved 10 take the resolution from the
| table. This was heartily seconded by Mr..
| c. c. Glover, and the resolution was read,
| as follows:
| 'Resolved by the board of directors of
| the Washington board OF trade, That the
proposed extension of the portion OF the
| law, known as the civil service law, TO the
| offices of the government OF the DISTRICT
of Columbia meets with our hearty ap-
prevail believing, as do, that such ac-
| tior Is in the interest of better and more
| business-like administration
Civil Service Praised.
Ex-Commissioner Parker first took the
| floor in behalf of the resolution. Il feel
| a great interest" he said, lin the passage
| OF the resolution. which, 1 think, is of very
great moment to OR people. 1t was not
until the last year or so that 1 became an
| admirer of civil service reform. mad al
| ways thought that party success at the
| polls should give the victorS the right 10
| dictate the persons to administer pubic
affairs. But close association with pubic
| matters has convinced me OF the insufn-
| cheney of the spoils system as applied to
| either the national or local government
| From my own acquaintance or the mat
| ter L can say confidently that the weakest
part of the District government is its
| patronage system. You can frequently ma
| from one to ten members of Congress at
| the District building pleading Tor ana In
some instances demanding offices. Those
| who are on the District committees or who
have charge of other District matters
| claim the right of appointment to District
offices, and frequently intimate tnat II
| their demands are not satisfied they VIII
retaliate by refusing much-needed appro-
priations. Where one succeeds, hVe TO
fifteen are disappointed, and thus much
bitter feeling is engendered against the
Commissioners. The passage OF this reso-
luton would not deprive the local people
| of home rule. How many citizens or
| Washington now get appointment in the
| District offices? They would have far
| better chance under civil service.
Do Away With Politics.
| Great credit is due Commissioner Ross
and his associates for their efforts to give
some representation to local interests In
| the distribution of the offices. We are not
| entitled to all the places as long as the
| people of the United States at large pay
| half the expenses of the District govern
| ment, but under the civil service law our
| sons and our friends sons would stand
much better chance for appointment than
applicants from California or Louisiana
/ have often felt sorry for the Senators
| from neighborihg states, who are laid down
on so merclessly for these offices. L am
sure that they would rejoice with the
friends of civil service reform over the
passage of this resolution. There can be
no question as to the propriety OF the
board of trade taking up this matter. 1t
| Is quite non-political question. Are we
interested in good government? Are we
anxious for such a government as Will re-
| duce taxation. DO we want to build up the
city and make it even more beautlful!
Then do away with politics in our admins
| tration and bring matters down to the
merit system. The adoption of this reso-
| luton tonight will reflect great credit on
| the board of trade, as well as upon the
city as a whole.
| Resolution Attacked.
Mr. Theodore L. Hobrook took the floor
promptly upon the conclusion of Mr.. Par
| ker's speech and undertook the rather la
| borious task of antagonizing the resolu-
ton all by himself. 1.-The subject of civil
| service" he said, Interests the business
| men of Washington more than any other
| that the board of trade can consider. In
the beginning let me ask what will be the
| effect of this extension upon the employees
of the District already in office"
| Everybody now in office" answered Mr.
! Parker twill be retained unless removed
| for cause"
| 1.-THE law, then" continued Mr.. Hol-
| brock, would have the effect of retaining
| in office all incumbents. How would va
cancies made for cause be filled? AS l
understand, a given number of men, three
probably standing highest in the eXamina-
ton, would be certified to the District
| Commissioners. Under these circumstances
the chances are that the men certified to
| the Commissioners would not be business
men or men of experience, would not be
men to whom we would be willing to trust
| the public business. They would most
likely be school boys, graduates from col
leges, better able to answer questions about
geography and such matters than men Of
| affairs. The Commissioners would not
have the same opportunity to select capa-
| BILE men to administer the public business
| that they have now, even under the pres.
sure to which they are subjected. If they
| have the nerve, as Mr.. Parker says they
| have in some cases, to appoint local men,
despite the political influences brought to