Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-05-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette

The Senate committee investigating
the condition of the civil service re-
sumed its session to-day. Auditor
Howard presented a statement show
ing Sc per cent. of the employees to be
republicans and 40 per cent. democrats;
balance unknown. A sharp contro-
versy arose between Senator Pritchard,
chairman of the committee, and James
Selden Cowden, a witness, as to the
manner OF his being wor The chair
man asked that the witness pursue the
usual course of kissing the Bible. Mr..
Cowden objected. He said he had con-
scientious scruples to kissing the Bible.
He was ready, he said, to touch it to
his outer lips but not inside. Then he
proposed opening the book and pick
ing out a part that some one had not
kissed. Chairman Pritchard declined
to carry on a controversy with the wit
ness, and after saying he might affirm,
excused him temporarily. Public
Printer Palmer stated that he believed
it would be advantageous to abolish
the civil service system as applicable
to the government printing Office,
and go back to the former system.
Commissioner Proctor stated that the
examinations were not prepared by the
civil service commission, but by a board
from the government printing Office,
familiar with the requirements. The
public printer nominated the board, so
that he retained discretion over the ex-
aminations. At this point William h.
Collins, chief clerk of the government
printing Office, caused a sensation by
stating that ne held a commission us q
member of the board of examiners,
but he did not know the other mem
bers and had never acted. After being
appointed he had been called before
the secretary to Public Printer Bene.
dict, and advised that it would be de-
sirable for him not to serve until so d.
rected by the public printer. Mr.. Proc
tor and the Senators expressed surprise
at this statement and the commissioners
said he would learn the names of the
members of this board with q view to
getting at the facts. Mr.. Elkins brought
out what he regarded as an inconsist-
ency that the mechanical force worked
S hours a day while the clerical force
worked 64 hours at greater pay. Clerks
in banks, etc., worked nine and ten
hours a day. The law required seven
hours q day of government clerks, and
Mr.. Elkins estimated that the govern
ment lost $4,000 to $4,000 a day by
short clerical service. Mr.. Elkins said
it was strange the civil service commits
sion had not called attention to this
loss to the government and its injustice
to the labor of the country. The mem
bers of the committee agreed that the
public printer had the right to rearrange
the lists ofskilled labor, emitting stable
men, charwomen, doorkeepers and
others heretofore classed as skilled
help. Mr.. Palmer said if he had this
power he proposed to exercise
it, but he felt that the civil service
commission would interfere with his
action. Suppose they do" asked MIR.
Elkins, "what can they do to you?
They are not above the law. You
have as much right to construe the
law as they have. The trouble is
every one is afraid of this commission"
Capt. II. T. Brian, foreman of the gov
eminent printing Office, testified to the
need of q modification of the civil SER
vice rules. Other witnesses gave indi-
vidual complaints.
The definite announcement was made
at the Capitol to-day that a message Cd
the Cuban situation will be sent to
Congress by the President next Mon
day. 1t will deal specifically with the
question of the deprivations to which
American citizens are subjected in
Cuba, and it is understood that it will
recommend an appropriation for their
relief.
The following fourth-class postmas-
ters were appointed to-day in Virginia:
j. o. Jackson, Blackstone; Thomas
Brown, Hamilton; H. W. Eamich,
Lovettsville.
In considering ways and means of
affording substantial relief to such
American citizens in Cuba as are in real
distress owing to the war, the admins.
tration proposes to give notice
through the American consuls to all
alleged American citizens in Cuba that
the government will undertake to re-
move them from the island to the
United States if they so desire. The
proposed American exodus from Cuba
must be purely voluntary, and it is not
even proposed to present the alterna
tive Of denying supplies if destitute
Americans refuse to leave the island. 1t
is simply purposed to give them an op-
portunity to leave the island if they
believe they can better their condition
in the United States. 1t is the belief of
General Lee that many persons will
avail themselves of such an opportuni-
ty, and it is possible that his view
will be adopted by the President.
The State Department is now in CORE
spondence with its consuls seeking to
get this information az the basis for
any message the President may send to
Congress. The alleged sufferers are
mostly naturalized citizens. The agen-
cies to be used to relieve these people
are the q. S. consuls in Cuba, and the
Spanish government, through its min
lister here, so far from opposing the ex-
ercise of such charitable Offices by the
c%onsuls, has professed its readiness to
assist In every way in the distribution
of relief.
Among the applications for Office un-
der the Treasury Department filed to-
day was that of J. S. Bethel, to be COL
lector of customs at Richmond, Va.
Among the visitors here yesterday
was ex-State Senator Walton Moore, of