The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-26
CIVIL SERVICE UNDER DEBATE.
Attempt to Abolish the Commission
Overwhelmingly Defeated.

DetentcU.
Washington. Dec. 22.-The house today
passed the legislative, executive and jul
dicial appropriation bill, and then ad-
journed for the holiday recess.
This is the first time in the history of
congress that the legislative bill has
been passed before the holidays.
The day was devoted to the annual de-
bate of the civil service law and as usual
the attempt to strike out the provision
for the commission was overwhelmingly
defeated.
The bill as passed carries 1922, 500, 5G9
sS6,S75 more than the current bill.
Mr. Baker of New Hampshire attacked
the method of administering the civil
service laws under the present admins
trations. He asserted that log Georgians
had been appointed to places in the in
terror department by this administra-
ton; that OF the Sc dismissals from the
department, Is were veterans, and that
the treasury department also had dis
eliminated against republicans in ap-
pointments and dismissals, leaving but
one republican in the secret service.
Under the spells system the public bus
| mess had been better handled than now,
when clerks are kept under secret espi-
onage and are no better off than factory
hands. Yet the civil service commission
had never protested against such mall
| administration.
| Mr.. Brosius of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the committee on civil service, re-
piled at some length to Mr.. Baker s
structures. He eulogized the merit sys-
tenn and arraigned the remnant of the
| spells system which remained.
| Mr.. Brosius defended the president 8
order extending the scope of the civil
service as thoroughgoing merit system
order.
AFTER the president secured those Off
ces," interposed Mr.. Baker, was not the
order an attempt to keep them?"
you don't suppose" replied Mr.. Bro
slus, turning to his interrogation, that he
made the appointments for the purpose of
having his appiontees dismissed?'
For that reason said Mr.. Baker sar-
castically, that he should not be entitled
to the usufruct Of his SIM"
IT have always believed responded Mr..
Brosius, that what man has done in
his degenerate days ought not to be
thrown up to him when he has repented
| Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee expressed
the hope that If any further extensions of
| the civil service law were made, they
would be made operative before March a.
''Then," said he I'VE will see whether our
republican friends will stand by the law
they themselves enacted"
Mr. Walker of Massachusetts, warmly In
dorsed the principle of civil service law
which he declared was the controlling
principle of every we'll regulated business
concern.
A remark of Mr.. Walkers about the
poor white trash of the south drew from
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi an eloquent
and singing rebuke He characterized the
so-called poor white trash of the south as
the most magnificent raw material in this
country for the making of manhood and
womanhood. The south, he said, was to-
day only a part of America, and from the
poor white trash of the south" sprane
Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson and Abe
Lincoln. The latter's magnificent courage
and keen sense of humor were southern
and poor white trash" at that.
Mr.. Walker repudiated the suggestion
that a slur was contained in his reference
to the poor white trash" He said he had
referred to a class well known in history
| VINO, DeIOre the war, were eXlled 10 the
mountains and had the contempt both oil
the wealthy slave owners and the negroes
Mr.. Williams. in reply, declared the
class had never had any existence save il
the minds of novelists and negroes.
Mr.. Williams, expressing himself on the
civil service law, gave it as his opinion
that no business man of common sens,
would apply the principle of competitiv,
examination to the selection of his en-
ployes. He announced himself opposed t
life tenure in office.
Mr.. Settle moved to strike out all pro
vision for civil service.
Don't you know your amendment woulC
strike down the commission" inquire,
, Mr. Brosius.
1T would not" replied Mr.. Settle II
would cripple the law"
? This statement was heartily applaudes
by many republicans on the floor and wa
, vociferously hailed by the galleries.
Mr.. Settles amendment was defeated, 2
to 81.
, The committee then rose and the bill wa
t passed.
. During the debate the senate amend
5 ments to the urgency deficiency bill wen
, concurred In