The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-23

Some Members of the House
Make a Vigorous Assault
on the Civil Service.
President CIeveland's Action in Elk
tending the Scope Meets With
Severe Criticism.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 22.-At $40
this afternoon the House adjourned for
the holiday recess, having then disposed
of the legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation hill after four days consid-
Grafton. 1t was passed just as reported
from the Committee on Appropriations,
with the single exception that the salary
of the librarian of Congress was reduced
from $4,000 to $4,000, and this after it had
been antagonized by the joint committee
on library and the opponents Oh the civil
service law in discussion running over
three DAYS. The bill carries a total ap-
preparation of $21, 66S. $40 and provides for
10,065 salaries. To-day's session was de-
voted to discussion OF the appropriation
for the Civil Service Commission, and I'M
der it the law and administration thereof
were most vigorously attacked. The prin-
cipal speakers were Baker (R.) OF New
Hampshire, Gibson (R.) of Tennessee and
Williams Cd of Mississippi. The law
was upheld by Brosius (R.l of Pennsylva-
mia and Walker (R.) of Massachusetts. A
motion to strike OFT the appropriation
failed-ayes 90, noes 81. This was the
only vote counted, other propositions to
amend the provision being settled in the
negative viva voce.
The House agreed to the Senate amend
ment to the urgent deficiency bill.
On motion OF Cooper 3D. of Texas the
House bill was passed amending the act
authorizing railroad companies whose
lines run through the Indian Territory to
secure additional depot grounds. The bill
was intended, it was stated, largely Tor the
benefit of The Missouri, Kansas and Texas
Railroad Com pany, which under its char
ter is permitted to charge cents q mile
for passenger travel, while all other roads
traversing the Territory are restricted to
cents.
The House on motion of Bingham (R.)
OF Pennsylvania went into committee of
the whole, Hepburn (R.) of Iowa in the
chair. TO further consider the legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation bill,
the Appropriation for the Civil Service
Commission being the pending question.
Gibson (R of Tennessee spoke against
the present law, and Baker (R-) of New
Hampshire followed in q speech upon a
proposed amendment authorizing heads of
departments to reappoint to places with
out examination employees who NAV have
been discharged for causes not affecting
present law, he said, was not reform.
1t had been passed under misrepresenta-
ton and executed IN deceit 1t mad never
been honest or sincere.
Brosius r. of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the Committee on Civil Service Reform
and Retrenchment, replied to the criti-
cisms that had been made by the proceed
ing speakers and his defense of the merit
system aroused mum Der OF the mem bers.
The usual animated colloquy attending
civil service discussion for short time
ragged on the floor,
In answer 10 question by Cannon (R.
of Illinois Brosius stated that he would
not retain any part of civil service under
the spoils system, believing 1t TO be in
trinsically bad, Ubiquitous, inequitabe
and absolutely vernacular.
While commenting the action of Presi-
dent Cleveland in his recent order extend
ing the classified service, Brosius de-
nounced in unmeasured terms the
preliminary action of the administration,
leading up to that action. This brought
up by McMiilin CD of Tennessee, who
alluded to the suspension by President
Harrison Immediately after his Inaugural
ton of the order issued by President
Cleveland placing the railway mail service
under the civil service law, and he asked
Brosius what he thought of that. Brosius
responded that in that instance the order
resulted in great and conspicuous i'm
provement in the public service. When
Cleveland issue that order the railway
service was a chaos, owing to the intro
duction of incom petent clerks by the
Democratic administration. After the
Harrison administration began restoring
old and efficient clerks the average of
errors decreased.
The committee rose informally and the
House received message from the Senate
transmitting the urgent deficiency bill
with a sill ht amendment. This was
agreed to by the House, and the bill now
goes to the President.
Resumiug the sitting of the committee