New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-27
MERIT SYSTEM IN CONGRESS.
A LONG DISCUSSION OF CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM LIKELY.
SOME AMENDMENTS MAY BE MADE. BUT NO RAD
ICAL CHANGES CLEvELANDs ABUSE OF
THE sYsTEM-Tw ENTY NINE BILLS
ON THE SUBJECT OFFERED.


ncnt Congressman. in conversation with Tribune
correspondent. II expect that when Congress reas-
sembes IN January We shall have a long proftless
and probably somewhat uncvil debate on Civil Ser
vice reform, / know Of number Of speeches In
course OF preparation some OF which will be pretty
violent. Proftless tho discussion Will surely be-
In tho first place. It will not affect In the least the
appropriations for the enforcement OF the Civil
Service law and regulations and. in the second
place II will crente and leave behind so bitter
feeling that the passage of any sane and sensible
/ bill to amend tho law will be impossible al this
/ session"
I'm your opinion. then. some amendments Of
tho law would be desirable" remarked the corre-
spondent.
"oh. yes and that is the opinion OF men who
profess to be stronger friends and advocates
Of the merit system than l am ! believe Mr.
Irosius. who is chairman OF the committee. has
several bills tho calendar providing for certain
notifications and amendments OF the law"
The Congressman added: 81 have no idea that
any such indiscriminate and unreasonable on
slaught as now seems 10 be impending would have
been made thought OF II it had not been for
the abuse and pervcrsion OF tho spirit and intent
OF the law by the last Administration for partisan
purposes. 1t not until several thousand per
sons In the Civil Service were displaced because
they Republicans. and after their places had
been filed by the appointment OF Democrats.
without examination as to their fitness or qualin-
catons-because, and only because. they were
Democrats-that President Cleveland discovered.
or was made TO perceive. that tho interests OF the
Civil Service required these places TO be In the
classified service and issued his blanket order
II the incumbents had been required TO pass ex-
aInnations there would have been no serious
ground for complaint. although. in my opinion u
was wholly unnecessary, and In some cases actu-
ally absurd. to transfer to the classified service
many Of tho places which were thus transierreh-
Still. that is a matter OF opinion. and the tudg-
mcnt of the Democratic majority OF tho civil Ser
vice Commission may have been eound and cor
rect"
"Do you expect 10 take part in the coming oe-
bate" asked the correspondent
Most emphatlcally. no. II Viii ne useless ana
proness discussion. and VIII be carried on IN snch
sp,rit that no man can hope suggest or ADJ ocae
any change whatever In the existing status OF
things without being challenged as an enemy OF 'he
merit system. I do not choose 80 place myself IN
that position when no good could possibly result
Moreover President Mckinney has good deal OF
power under tho law IT stands; ne Is an earnest
sincere friend OF Civil Service reform. and have
fun confidence that ne. at least VIII administer
the law in harmony with It's split, and Intent
Since the beginning o. .he special session last
sprlng no fewer than twenty-nne bills have been
offered IN tho House OF Representatives. ana re-
fcrrcd 70 the Committee on Reform in the CIV!
Service OF which MI Broslus, Of Pennsylvania Is
chalrman-cght OF them since the beginning oil inc
regular session. OF tho seven bills for the repeal
O. the law -FOUR were offered az the speca! session
AMI three ut this session. Tho authors OF tho re-
peal bills IRE Messrs. Linney and Skinner. OF
North Carolina: Fenton. OF OAio: Dorr. OF West
Virginia: Pearson. Of North Carolina; Far'S. OF
Indiana and Arnold. OF Pennsylvania. On the sec
ond y OF the special session Mr. jenkins. OK WIS
consn. and Mr.. Low. OF New-York. both intro
ducei bills ITO amend tho Civil Service laws OF
the United States" and Mr. Hurley OF Ncw-York
offered one "ior the purpose OF pens0n!ns per-
sons in tho C.v! Service"
on ~" .Ine day brGr c US rSn"Ts r
poses OF which are indicated by their Jules. wh'ch
Revised statutes OF tho United states. relating TO
preference in the cru serylce 70 amend an
c!y ssr:s q tie ne YHsa states "a S e'' fai
the retirement OF Government employees In the |
cassaed Cy seIyec TO snsns 49, an act q, , sn
United states approved January &c. lss3."
General Grosvenor OF Ohio. has offered two bills
relating - The c!yl service. one 10 amend me
Law and mo other 'tO declare tho truo intent and
scope Of the c,vi Service r.s.,s act, ,o cxu
service reformer Of an advanced type. has intro.
a o% }%0 c.sn9 cv n ana nj tho
go exclude political influence in the appointment
Mr.. zenor an Indiana Democratic member ha,
prGBosed b!ii to amend he NV and M Yonng
In ne CIV Service o, h9nora9y DISCHARGED soldiers
sailors ana marnGs 1"S. h1r snes OF Ten Zen
he has offered a comprehensiye reform bill. tho |
% OF Thh Is w % e4eac s tne
commission, TO reorganlze departments. TO abolish
unnecessary bureaus 10 reduce salorics and OK
pcHscs. 10 reform pension list. 10 regulate our sys-
TEN OF internal improvements. and for other pur-
poses"
Mr.. Crumpackcr. OF Indiana. has offered a bill |
ITO limit the scope" Of the Civ. Service act, and
Mr. King. the Democratic Representative from
Utah. 'to equitably distribute tho Offices In
tho classified service" Besides his bin 20 repeal
the law. Mr.. Pearson. OF North Carolina. hns Of
fered amend II. and Colonel Evans. OF Ken
lucky. one TO modify i. Mr. Williams Mssls-
sippi Democratic member, has offered bin TO
NJ Tawncy. OF Minnesota who IS a member Of
law The list 10 date. ends with bill offered by
Delegate Callahan Of oklahoma. "nxng the
qualifications Of oficers. in Oklahoma. Arizona