Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-22
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
The Bill Extending It to District En-
ployes Strongly Advocated.
Commissioner TruesdelI, President
Woodward Of the Board of Trade
and Others Speak for 1t.

After The Stars report Of the hearing be-
fore the civil service committee in the House
closed yesterday afternoon several advo-
Gates of the extension of civil service rules
to the District government addressed the
committee.
Commissioner Truesdell said the expert
ence of the Commissioners as executive
officers had made them converts to the civil
service system. They were thoroughly con-
WINGED that the best interests Of the city
would be promoted by extending civil serv-
Ice over the District government, and they
had so recommended to the President. IN
der the law, as it now stands, the President
is unable to extend civil service, and IL will
require congressional legislation to do it.
He said the Commissioners have Volun-
tarily adopted what is virtually civil serv-
ice system, but they desire to have it re-
ceive the sanction of law, and to make that
which is now voluntary compulsory. He
said the benefits which the District govern
ment has already derived from the form of
civil service now in existence justify a con-
llnuance OF the policy under sanction of
law.
Mr.. Edson's Remarks.
President Edison of the Civil Service Re-
form Association of the District of Column
bia told the committee how much in earn
est the people Of Washington are in this
matter He said the sentiment was prac-
ticauy unanimous in favor Of the extension
OF civil service to the District government.
various associations had recommended ii,
and President Cleveland himself had told
MT. Edison that he favored it, and was sorry
that the present condition of the law would
not permit him to make the extension him
SELF Mr.. Edison said that it was perhaps
true that the recorder of deeds and the
register of wills would not favor this legis-
latlon, but their opposition was based iron
political grounds
Mr.. sfddons Explained the Bill.
Mr.. Slddons, the Trainer of the bill ex-
planned its provisions to the committee.
lie entered into severe arraignmeat Of
the management Of the recorder Of deeds
Office, and declared 1t to be very badly con-
Quoted He said the property interests Of
citizens are jeopardized by the errors made
in this office, and the errors are the result
OF clerical appointments made under the
spoils system. He said the Office OF regis
ter or Wills was not in as bad shape as that
OF recorder of deeds, but that the service
In this office could be improved under civil
service rules. Mr.. SlddouS said the knights
of Labor are in favor of the extension OF
the civil service.
President Woodward of the Washington
board Of trade told the committee of the
strong sentiment existing in this commu-
nifty in favor Of the extension of civil serv-
ice to all possible branches of the govern
munt He said citizens are convinced that
it would be to their best interests to have
the District government offices placed I'M
der the system. He outlined briefly the adj
vantages which would accrue If this were
done.
Rev DR.. Mackay-Smith, ex-Civil Service
Commissioner Lyman, MIR. Edwin Willetts
and President Proctor of the civil service
commission also briefly advocated the bill