Evening star., 1895-06-15
Civil Service Mt the &. P. o.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In recent issue of The Star I publish
some criticisms of the move to put the
government printing office under the opera
ton of the civil service law. The sist Of
what was said In that letter was that the
democratic politicians who swarmed in the
printing Office had read a handwriting on
the wall in the light of many Overwhelming
democratic defeats, and were doing what
they might to be saved by invoking the
protection of the civil service commission; ;
also. that the movement would ultimately
result disastrously to Columbia Union.
My letter was replied to by Jeremiah J.
Sullivan. one of whose statements especial
ly concerns me. He said: 'Keunedy ard
his followers time and again pressed Mr..
Palmer to apply civil service"
I presume he means civil service law,
Mr.. Sullivan has evidently been misin-
formed. No statement could be farther
from the truth. The fatt Is that when a
few persons were advocating putting the
Office under the civil service law, shortly
after the presidential election of 1892,
published in Washington a letter of a
column and a half in length, taking strong
ground in opposition to the proposition, and
l sent my argument to President Harrison
by Private Secretary Haiford. l stated in
that letter that l was opposed to the prop
osition, because 1 believed it would result
in the disruption of Columbia Union, and
that a republican President having made
that result possible. organized labor would
hold the republican party responsible for
the dismemberment of Columbia Union.
My soicitude was for the republican party
and Columbia Union. 1t is apparent to
even the democratic spoilsmen in the gov
ernment printing office that the republican
party is all right, so there is no need of
further solicitude in that direction. But
there Is the same reason for being solicitous
nf ho
Printers Protective Fraternity and other
rats" will stand the examinations, pass
and be certified for appointment. They
might be turned down for awhile; but they
would appeal to the commission and that
body would stand by them and demand for
them their rights.
There are three printers outside the union
where there Is one who Is In the union. But
by the power of organization and its In
fiuence with politicians Columbia Union
has hitherto been able to hold the govern
ment printing office for her own. If the
commission would insert in it's rules one
to the effect that none but members of the
typographical union should be eligible for
appointment in the office, all would be we'll
But that would be putting in black and
white discrimination against q large
class of American citizens, and neither the
commission or the President will consent
to such a rule. The non-union man will go
into the printing office, he will not join the
union and he will be protected by the COM
mission. There has always been in Colum-
bia Union considerable element who were
there because they must be to hold a place
in the Office. Their dues were always paid
with a protest. They are joyously hailing
the prospect Of the civil service law. When
they see the non-union man come in
through the commission and does not have
to pay dues to the union, they will stop
paying dues. All of this will have a very
demoralizing effect on the union. In short,
when the civil service commission shall
gather the government printing Office to
itself the glory and strength OF Columbia
Union will begin to depart. OF course it is
going to be done. My solicitude row is that
the democratic party shall be held to strict
responsibility for the disaster that Is about
to happen to Columbia Union.
]. L. KENNEDY