The evening times., 1896-12-18
CIVIL SERVICE IN DISTRICT
No Hope Of Extension Locally
Till After March 4.
REPUBLICANS WANT SPOILS
The Measures Introduced at the
Last session of Congress VIII Die
in the COnmittees-Secr Sid
dons, of the Reform Association,
VIII Ask for Action at Once.


cover District offices by Congress aiter
the 4th OF March next.
This, in brief, is the situatiopp with re
gard to the clvil service measures intro
duced in the House and Senate at the
last session by the Civil Service Reform
Association OF this city.
Notwithstanding the avowed purpose OF
the Republicans to protect all Federal
ofiiceholders, they purpose in this Instance
to have one more taste Of the spoils, and
will not enact further protective legislation
until after President Mckinley has given
his supporters comfortable berths in the
branches of the service now open TO ap-
pointment without examination.
This announcement was made TO the
association part of the reason Tor not
pressing the bills ut the last session.
Nevertheless Secretary F. l.. Siddons
will in few days write the House and
Senate committees, asking final action
at the present session
THE BILLS CAREER
Representative Brosius introduced in the
House on February 3 last Il ill, II. X.
556I; To extend the civil service TO til.
District. 1t was drafted by Secretary
Siddons, and provided as follows;
THAT after the expiration Of three months
from the passage of this ac. no person shall
be employed 10 enter or be promoted IN
the service of the municipal government OF
the Dist rict OF Columbia or IN the offices Of
the recorder of deeds and register OF Wills
of said District of Columbia, except upon
competitive examinations, as provided FOR
and required for entrance to the service uf
the United States, classified under the pro
visions OF the act OF Congress approved
January Is, $50. entitled an act TO regu-
late and improve the civil service OF the
United States
But the President of the United States
NAV provide for and make such exemptions
from said competitive examinations as III
lis Judgment may be necessary and proper.
.Section 2. That the provisions of said
act of Congress. approvedJanuary is. -S3,
entitled An act to regulate and improve
the civil service of the United States, and
the provisions of any acts in addition to
said act, or in amendment thereof, are
hereby extended to and shall include the
municipal government OF the District or
Columbia and the office of recorder OF
deeds and register OF wills OF said Dis
trict of Columbia so far as may he neces-
sary to carry into full effect the true In
tent and meaning OF this act"
The bill was referred to the Committee on
Reform in the Civil Service. A hearing
was given later and the District Commits
sioners, the Board OF Trade and the Re
form Association were represented and
warmly advocated the passage OF the
measure. There was no opposition and
IL was understood that it would be enacted
In due time.
WILL EVENTUALLY PASS.
1t was authoritatively given out, sub
rosa, however, that the present Congress
will do nothing, as all existing unprotected
offices will, if possible, be filled by Re-
publicans after March 4, but that eventually
the bill will 20 through the House without
difficulty
similar bill was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Lodge, but unfortunately
il was referred to the-District Committee. II
was evidently the purpose Of this committee
TO kill it from the start, because the
Reform Association was never able, al
though it often asked, to get hearing II
advocacy of il.
Finally il was learned that the ma jority
of the committee had decided to report
adversely upon it, Senators Proctor ant
wetmore, who formed the minority IN
favor of il. gave notice at once that they
would submit a. report and fight for the
passage of the bill.
Fearing final and decisive defeat in
the Senate the District Committee de
layed making its unfavorable report, and
as a matter of fact the bill is still in the
committee, awaiting revival or death at
this session.
Mr.. siddons will write both committee
| and try to secure the return of reports tc
| Congress Failing in this, he will ther
| be obliged to introduce new but similar
| measures into the next Congress after
March 4.
He is confident OF ultimate victory as the
| District Commissioners have already put
| into practice a semi-official civil service
| system. The Civil Service Commission con
| ducts examinations for the Commissioners
and it is claimed that the District trium
/ virate heed the reports OF the examining
| board.
The opposition manifested by the Senate
District Committee grows out OF the fact
| that its members for many years have con
trolled practically all the appointments
made by the Commissioners.
AFTER THE SPOILs.
There is hardly clerk today in the Dis
trict building who does not owe his ap'
pointment and retention to a member oi
| the Senate District Committee.
| Secretary Siddons, who was a delegate
| to the National Civil Service League con
yention in Philadelphia last week, intro
| duced and secured the adoption OF resolu
ton asking Congress to place the Congress
sionaI Library under the civil service law
| A bitter and interesting fight in Congress,
| is anticipated before the close OF this ses
| sion over this question.
The control Of appointments is claimed