The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-09
SPOILSMEN ARE HAPPY
HAVING DECIDED THAT REVIEW
UE boobies ARE NOT IN
CIVIL SERVICE,
He TAKES A WHACK AT PUBLIC PRINTER
Decides That President Cleveland Had No
Right to Put the Government Print
Shop Under Civil Service
The Census of 1900.

Washington, Nov. S.-(SpeciaD-As-
sistant Attorney General Boyd is no
lover of the Civil Service. In truth he
is as much opposed to the law as the
Bull of the Brushes" Judge Boyd is a
good lawyer, and he finds it easy to in
terpret the law to suit a case from his
point of view.He has on several occasions
when called upon for decisions by the
dana rtm nnts IA ken fall out of the
civil service law. It will be remem-
bered that he rendered decision to the
effect that deputy collectors of Internal
revenue were not amenable to the civil
service law and that the civil service
commission could in no wise interfere
with the right of internal revenue col
lectors to select their deputies. In other
words internal revenue collectors could
appoint their deputies in the same man
ner as was done previous to the extern
sion Of the law by ex-President Cleye-
land. This whole matter, however, Is
held up. 1t is before Secretary Gage,
who is not yet ready to give out Off
cially the decision of Judge Boyd. The
latest decision written by Assistant At
torney General Boyd gives the civil ser.
vice law another hard rap. And it Is
calculated to call forth ferocious howl
from the civil service reformers in and
out of Congress. The decision in ques-
ton relates to the Government Printing
office. 1t is in effect that the printing
office is not an executive department,
but is an adjuncts of Congress AMI is
under the absolute control of that body.
And it was never intended that the civil
service law should apply to the printing
office. And therefore the order issued
by IN Cleveland extending the civil SER
we to the employees in Uncle Sans
print shop is null and void. This deci-
sion has long been anticipated by the
spoilsmen who have long regarded the
printing office as their special meat.
Attorney General McKenna, however, has
held up this decision. He breads the
criticism it will call forth. And it may
be that he disagrees with his able as
sistant. Certainly it would be a step
backward in civil service reform for the
President to tear away the safeguard
that protects the honest faithful EN-
ployes in the Government Printing of
fee, and have their positions to the
mercy of the yoracious spoiismen. Pres
ident Mckinley at this period of his
administration can hardly afford to break
his word with that large and Influential
citizen known as civil service reformers.
| am satisfied that Congress will make
some changes in civil service law There
is ample room for improvement. The
friends of civil service are doing much
TO bring the merit system into disrepute.
The proposition advanced by some of
the reforHaxS. to establish a civil pension
list is not likely to find much favor IN
this Democratic country. But there
are a number of influential men who
favor the civil pension list. And it will
be on this rock that the civil service
law viii be shattered.
The work Of taking the census of 1900
will be started under this aiminisms
ton. Already the word has gone to the
President that the force necessary to
take the census must be exempted from
the civil service. The bill making the
appropriation which will probably be
passed during the coming session of Con-
gress will contain a provision that the
employees to be appointed for taking
the census shall be appointed solely by
the Superintendent OF the Census. The
anti civil service men in Congress re.
gard the census as affording them m
opportunity to make direct attach on
the civil service law. The Superintendent
of the census whoever he may be vii!
have several thousand positions In his
disposal. And members and Senators
do not propose that they shall be robbed
of this patronage by civil service.