Evening star., 1897-03-23
The Present System Severely Criti-
cised in the Senate.
SENATOR LODGE DEFENDS IT
Continuation of the Tariff Debate
in the House.
L Fl o S f W HO SPOK

Senate today by Mr.. Lindsay of Kentucky.
from the committee on judiciary. and took
| its place well forward On the calendar
Mr.. Hoar tMass) presented a resolution
proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
tion, substituting April 30 for March as
the date of the expiration of the terms Of
President, Vice President, senators and
representatives The resolution was refer
red.
efNi service Commission Criticised.
Mr.. Allen (Neb.) returned to his criti-
cisms of the civil service commission i'm
connection with removals at South Omaha,
Neb-, and offered resolution for an in
vestigation by the Senate committee on
civil service.
MIR. Allen declared that the real ground
for certain discharges was that the parties
supported Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.: Hoar doubted whether the Senate
should enter upon a field of investigation
which would bring before il thousands of
cases of alleged violation of the civil sery-
ice by the last administration and this ao-
ministration. The senator said he knew Of
cases in which the late President had
shown great kindness in retaining persons
in office who might have been removed. He
knew of other cases i'm which reckless dis
regard of civil service rules was alleged.
But the Senate could not go into these in
divdual cases Mr. Hoar moved to refer
the resolution to the committee, without
instructions
Mr.. Allen hotly protested against "snnoth-
erng the resolution, and in the course of
further remarks declared that this was a
part of the alliance between THE repuhli-
can party and the Cleveland wing OF the
democratic party.
Mr.. GnllfnRcr ArraiHns the System.
This brought on an unexpected debate on
the civil service system in general Mr.
Gallinger On. H) stirred the galleries to
several lively demonstrations during his
savage arragnment of the civil service sys-
tenn.
This civil service method is a humbug
from top to bottom and from beginning 10
end exclaimed Mr.. Gallinger. 'and 1
would be glad TO cast my vote to blot out
that system, and give to every man and
woman an equal right with every other
man and woman TO hold office" The gal
leries broke into loud applause at this state
ment, and the Vice President gave warning
that the galleries would be-cleared IL the
demonstration was repeated.
Mr.. Hoar interjected the remark that il
TIE New Hampshire senator advances such
views in the civil service committee. of
which they both were members, there
would be lively fight
Mr.. Gallnger RESPONDED good-nature,lly
that he was always ready for a fight.
Mr.. Allen interrupted to say that he cor
oially approx ed Mr.. Gallinger's arraign-
iitiil VI lit ciNI service system
He tAllen) considered the system and the
commissioners as the two monumental
humb igs in the United States" He would
gladly vote with Mr.. Gallinger to wipe out
the whole system.
They are about to hold a civil service ex-
animation in my state for cook in peni-
tentiary at Peals Island" remarked Mr.
Wilson Wash.D, amid laughter. He did
rot know whether the civil service COM
mission had standard cook book or
whether they proposed examining this cook
concerning the lost tribes of Israel, or on
differential calculus.
There would be another examination soon
after to secure a sawyer, at $500 per year.
The whole thing is E humbug, deu-
sion. snare and a fraud asserted Mr.
Wilson.
Continuing. Mr.. Galinger denounced the
civil service law un-American Chinese
legislation.
One of the requirements for entering
the government printing Office was that
an applicant must make twelve consecutive
hops foot.
Mr.. Stewart (NevD added his criticism "a
this Office brokerage establishment with
its gross favoritism and its dealing in Of
fees.
Mr.. Hawley Comm said he had been one
of the early friends of the civil service
law, and he stood by the principle of that
act But he recognized that the adninis-
tration of the system of late had been open
to bitter complaint for glaring incol.ipe-
tency. He cited case in which an en-
for river and harbor work, but was fnr-
nished with schoolmasrer from Rhode
Island.
Mr.. Lodge Defends Ii.
Mr.. Lodge MassD said the civil service
law could not be destroyed by sneers
1t had often withstood these attacks. The
jokes as to differential calculus and TIE
Chinese character of the system were old
and stale. If there We're absurd require
ments and questions under the civil serv-
ice let then be remeGied. Mr.. Lodge hoped
that there would be the fullest invesi.ga-
tion of all alleged Irregularities as it would
result in strengi heaing the civil service
system.
Tents for Flood Sufferers.
At this point Mr.. Berry (Ark) secured
immediate consideration for an urgent res
olLtion. He was in receipt of a telegram
fro m Helena, Ark, stating that 800 refu-
gees from the Mississippi floods had just
landed there, and asking that tents be
provided. He had learned at the war
Department that available tents had been
sent to Memphis and Cairo. He therefore
proposed a joint resolution for The inllne-
diate purchase Of 900 tents for use by the
flood sufferers. The resolution WAS agreed
to without division.
Mr.. Gorman's Sarcasm.
Mr.. German (Md) now came forward
with ironical expressions of sympathy for
his friends on the opposite side of :he
chamber in their anguish the civil
service laws. The party in which the New
Hamr shire senator tGallingel) was shin
ing light had given its full adherence to
the civil service.
But now," continued Mr.. German, with
smiling sarcasm. that party finds itself in
power, and the hungry are with them. The
anxiety TO provide for the hungry is nat
ural, and have the deepest sympathy for
the republican friends i'm their perplexity
over the civil service laws"
Mr.. German went on to state that Ii was
well known the law was not enforced fairly
and that il served as basis for
favoritism. But If IL was to be dealt
with at all 1t should be by broad
covering the entire system.
He did not believe the party in power
would have the boldness TO meet this
question. There would be no repeal of
the civil service law. No one will be de-
ceived by the declarations made In the Sem
ate. 1t would be well for the hungry to
know that they could not step into o;ree
The sooner they left the city. the sooner
they learned that the President was
p edged not to change the system. the bet
ter 1t would be for them. There would