Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-27
CIVIL-SERVICE LAW.
REPUBLICAN CHAGRIN AT REPUB-
LICAN ATTACKS on 1T.
4 RICHMOEDER ON PULLMAN BERTAS
They Are TOO short for Him, and So
He Doesn't Like to- Travel
other Personal Notes-Post-Ofice
Affairs.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 2S-(Spe-
ciai)-Secretary Cages letter 10 Senator
Pritchard's committee. in which he stated
his general commentator of the civil
service law, is being criticised extensive
" by leading Republicans here. Mr.. Nc
Kinley's Secretary of the Treasury is
not in sympathy. they believe, with his
chief on the subject of the civl-service.
Mr.. Gage thinks there should be excep-
tons. and he instanced deputy revenue
collectors, who, he thinks, should be APP
pointed by the revenue collectors TO whom
they are responsible. personally. Mr..
Gage should know that all the employees
Of the department are personally" re-
sponsiole TO their chiefs and he should
also know that the civil-service system
is a Republican measure which is de-
signed TO protect officials who are re-
quired by the law TO be personally" re-
sponsible to the heads of their depart
ments.
Senator Pritchard's object in "investi-
eating the civil-service system" may be
very commendable from q Republican
partisan spoils point of view, but there
are numerous members OF his party, who
will make a stubborn fight before they
will consent to any modification of the
civil-service law as it now stands.
Speaking of the matter q leading Re-
publican said to-day: 1.-The friends of
civil-service reform are discouraged by
the attacks made upon il in Congress
and In some OF the State legislatures"
''It is still more disheartening, he con-
tinued, ito know that these attacks come
from members of the Republican party,
which has done so much to place the
civil-service laws on the statute-books
and to further reform. One attack in
Congress came from Republican MEM
Der. the bill for the repeal Of the Illinois
law was introduced in the Legislature
of that State by Republican member.
and the Republican Governor Of New
York is endeavoring to induce the Legisla-
ture of that State to practically nullify
the cvil-service provision of the States
Constitution" .. .. ...
REPUBLICAN PARTY ATTITUDE. =.
Further, this Republican said: ut shout I
be made known emphatically TO those
men who were trying TO weaken, II not
destroy, civil service reform. that they
cannot have the support of the Republi-
can party in their crusade. If they per-
sist in carrying ii on. they must do II on
their own responsibility, and they must
not prostitute the name of the party 10
aid them. The Republican party has been
the chief friend and supporter Of civil
service reform. 1t was Republican votes
that enacted the first civil service law;
IL was a Republican President that hrst
put il into force, and it is the expressed
Intention of President Mckinley TO con-
tinue it's operation and to enforce it,
This activity in favor Of clean civil
service should have convinced its few Re-
publican opponents of the futility OF an
attempt to use the party as an instrument
TO injure the cause. The Republican
press is speaking out In unmstakable
tones in opposition TO the effort to weak
en- the civil service laws. Nearly all the
Republican organs Of the country have
declared that they will give no sympathy
10 the anti-civil service movement. Re-
Gently the Union League Of Chicago,
PASSED resolutions reciting the benefit
which has resulted from the civil service
law OF that State. and strenuously pro-
testing against its repeal or modification
nv the Legislature. These utterances are
sufficiently indicative OF the position or
the Republican party on this question
THE PULLMAN BERTH.
Norman V. Randolph, one Of Richmond $
most enterprIsing and energetic business
men. was here few days ago. Ee is
stjll bopefuliy looking for the prosperity
nromised by Mr.. Mckinley, and while he
admits that he has not even seen the
sadvance agent" says the country is safe.
and the people will eventually straighten
out matters
Mr.. Randolph has to do a great deal
of travelling but he dislikes II.
"Why don't you ride In sleeperT' /
fnnocently asked.
81 do" said Mr.. Randolph. but I
cant go to sleep in Pullman's berths."
'swhat Is the matter with the berths?'
''Weil. they are too short / know
George Pullman. He Is a short chunky
man about feet. inches In height.
and he imagined he was an average
sized man. With this Idea, he had his
berths constructed TO suit men OF his
own stature and size. lie never took
into consideration men who measured 8
feet inches. as l do. When ] get into
one of his hunks, l can't stretch out.
NV head Is jammed against one end
and my feet against the other, while my
knees make tent-poles for the blankets
midway. Then. trying 10 be comfortable
and 10 court slumber. i plant my mead
In the farthest corner and let my feet
hang over In the corner dlagonally OPP
posite, pushing the curtains into the
middle OF the aisle. As | begin 10
browse. some fellow comes along and
bangs his head or his legs. as the case
may be. according 10 whether ] am in
an upper or lower berth. end he usually
says something not very complimentary
TO me- or course. ] have 10 take my
feet IN. and resume my crarnped up posi-