New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-25
THE KIND or "REFORMERS' IHEl hhE'
REFUSAL OF THE DEMOCRATS TO PLACE INCOME
TAX COLLECTORS UNDER THE
CIVIL SERVICE LAW.

Washington Jan q (Speclan. The refusal o. ire
Democratic majority In the Senate 10 place "rder
6'iy Service rules the additional internai revenue
officers created by the income tax paragraph o.
the Urgcn, Deficiency Appropriation I'LL ~ tnot
oushly characteristic OF the Democratic a'utGde
toward all propositions TO extend by legislation Inc
classified service Mr. Lodge tried MS best 10
make this small gain In the interest OF goon go.
.rrment but his amendment requiring the ne" ON
cials to be selected from tho eligible lists or the
civi Service Commission was streniousiy resiS'eu
by Mr. Cockren and other Democratic leaders ana
by substantially party vote was killed ny uc'"s
'laid on the table" When Mr. Lodge first offered
the suggestion that the additional collectors De
taken from the classified service, Mr.. lorna"
raised the objection that as bonded o'hcers 'he'
would naturally be exempt from the operations
OF the civil Service Law. In the debate Mt Louse
replied to this misleading suggestion Win f'a'Heo
eYectiveness lie pointed out that, contrary 20
Mr. Germans idea many bonded officers OF tho
Government were under the civil Service rules
including eighty -eigh, Indian superintendent ana
more than 1900 postal clerks and letter'carr,ers
Continuing his argument in favor OF selecting the
new revenue collectors from the eligible lists OF
the commission Mr. Lodge said;
There ia no practical reason for not taking these
men I'm under the classified service. ANA the reasons
"rr doinr # seem TO me to % the very strongest
and are have the power or examining the pooks.
me ansrs y"rv Business house and OF every one
Who NAYS an income tax In this country. There
cannot he imagined n class Of officers where there
viii he n larger opportunity for favorit!sm or for
hlackmall for corruption. They are places OF
high tcmptatlon and OF great difficulty. These men
viii receive under the seal OF confidence business in
formation OF the gravest kind. II is a part of tho
Inlautous character OF this tax that the nvestga-
lion into the private concerns OF individuals cor
porations and business firms should be necessary,
hut II is necessary. These men must be sen,
into every business house They have the
right e. 20 into every business tiri1 aFi
look al the books. Greater and hotter
character required In the selection OF
no class Of men than men charged with such lu-
ties as these The receipt of money for which
they are to give bonds Is but small part OF their
duties The tax will be largely paid In checks to
way viii be very little. but these men have the OPP
poruniy secretly to give TO persons who VIII after
ward publish hem accounts OF what mems property
may be and what their debts may be- They hold that
| over every one. IL II conceivable that men ap-
| pointcd purely on political grounds, do not care
| from which party. should not recognize In this I'M
| porant duty favors received from their party as
socintes? II seems TO me, Mr.. President. that We
never have undertaken to create class OF officers
| where we should guard the choice more strictly
| than We do here. | know I'm my own city the class
| of men who would be selected under tho present
| system are not class OF men 10 whom the mer
| chants and business men OF that city would care
| TO open their books and private affairs.
| Yet TO this candid and sensible appeal from the
| Massachusetts Senator the Democratic managers
! turned n deaf ear and even n direct vote on Mr.
| Iodrs's proposition was denied By Mr. Cockrell
| who preferred to KIN the amendment by deceptive
| sidc.trncking motion.