The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-18

the question that more revenue can be
obtained by putting the rate OF taxatlon
at about 20 cents per gallon than AT aitS
other ilgure, as this rate would probaD-
ly reduce still further the amount OF III
icit distillation. The report recently sent
to congress by Secretary Gage in answer
to "a resolution Of inquiry introduced by
myself expressed the opinion that the
most successful revenue rate on us
titled spirits is 20 cents per gallon, But
II we 20 back TO the old rate which ex-
listed for so many years, 80 cents per gar
Ion, We shall get our former revenues
from this source back again and reduce
the Illicit distllation TO minimum anu
this l think we ought to 90. III we caii
put a stop to fraud upon the government
and at the same time increase the reNe-
nue. without increasing the actual con
sumption of distilled spirits, II seems only
a reasonable thing to do and think an
effort in that line will be made when inc
bill is taken up by the senate
one Of the most remarkable statements
yet made to the committee of the senate
| that is investigating the operation OF the
civil service was by Chief Clerk Collihs'
who has been an employe OF the govern
ment printing office for thirty years IN
1926 he was appointed member OF the
board of examiners He had received MS
tOHlIllSSlOn WHtIl Ollt hdy hC was N'e'eN
by the private secretary of Public Printer
Benedict. who significantly suggested to
| him that If he were as shrewd as he
| seemed to be he would not attempt to
| serve as a member of the board until q
formal request to do 50 was received
| from the public printer. Being n man OF
| experience and wisdom he took the hint
| and was never present at meeting OF
| the board.
The proper deduction from this as
| founding statement is that Mr. Benedict,
| the favorite of Cleveland, and public
printer during both of the Cleveland adj
| minlstrations, was the board of eXamin-
ers himself lie did not want the assist
ance of any one of experience and of non
partisan disposition to assist him to make
I his appointments. This throws lot OF
| light on the performance of Cleveland
| Just before he was retired to an obscur'
| ity that was welcome to all others II no
| to himself, when he placed the employees
| of the printing office under the Virtuou'
| shield of the civil service regulations. Mr.
| Benedict constituted himself the board
which should decide all questions of ad
mission. and when he announced to hi
| friend the president that he had per
| formed his work and reached the end o
his string in the business of removals
| and appointments, the president RAISED
his hands in devout thanks and solemn
| ~ spread over the whole charming ar
| rangement the blanket of tho civil ser
| vice laws.
There does not seem to be any sub
stantial reason for the report that ha
gone abroad that these dsreDutable dis
tortions of the civil service acts in bot
spirit and letter will result in repor
from the committee in favor OF any ma
terial modification OF the law or or !,
execution. The broade It testimony tha
has been given by any of the witnesse
against the law is that heads of bureau
should be permitted to appoint their I'M
mediate assistants. 4 member OF the IN
vestigating committee fIG Ikly assure
me that this is merely in the interest @
| opening such places for party use as ca
be secured without exciting the antaSon
ism of those who believe in n stable an
non-partisan civil service. Congressme
demand all the places they can get witt
out bringing odium upon themselve'
These are about the only places who's
release from the operations of the la
they dare ask, and the most the comm
tee expects to report in the direction {
modification of the law will be in lin
with the testimony referred to. There
| considerable doubt whether they will eve
go so far as this. They may do no NOR
than report upon the gross maladminiS
| tration of the law under the late Demo
| cratic administration,