The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Messrs. steele, Landis and Others Ex-
nress Themselves.

Representative George w. Steele, of the
Eleventh district is one of the most con-
spicuous personages sought after by those
attending the conference. Mr.. Steele, in
speaking of the situation in Congress, yes
terday, said that there were about as many
ideas as 10 whai ~fhauld constitute none
tarv reform as there are members of the
house committee on banking and currency.
81 think however" said he, that the
progress toward a crystallzatlon of views
is far advanced. There is some fear, of
course that the Senate cannot be prevailed
upon to do anything along monetary lines
but this need not interfere with any action
that the House may see fit to take. There
are some Republicans that feel that some
thing ought to be done for silver and that
the plan proposed by Secretary Gage is
going ii little too strong. / think my
self when the Dngley law begins 10 pro-
dl1ce sufficient revenue to meet the
penses of the government. which seems
probable in the near future, that the
finan -ial problem will in a large measure
be SOVed
Mr. Steele who is looked upon as in op-
position to the civil-service CLAW, having
voted against that measure In 1883, said
respecting the workings of the law that
they were such as to require some radical
notifications in the statute, de hoped that
the President might exercise his discretion
tually correct the wrongs arising from the
measure now enforced. This would re-
move move the necessity for acton i by Songress. ~
to repeal the measure, but there is a feel
ing that it would be better to repeal ii
altogether than allow il. to stand as II Is.
though / did vote against the present law:
1 think that the civil service is beneficial
in some departments and notably i'll the
postoffice There will be a week devoted to
a discussion of the law Immediately after
the holidays
Speaking of Cuba, Mr. Steele said that
the conservative members of Congress are
disposed to give the present policy of the
administration fair opportunity of prov
ing its wisdom. THE question of the an
nexation of Hawaii" sad Mr.. Steele, lis
quite different from that respecting Cuba.
Party lines are badly divided in the Senate
on the matter and the sentiment is so evenly
divided that it would be impossible to predict
the ultimate outcome
MIR. lands ON CIVIL SERVICE.
Representative Lands, of the Ninth dis
trict, was among the arrivals last evening.
Mr.. Lands has been prominent In the OPP
position to the present method of admins
tering the civil service and when asked
about this matter last night said:
mo good friend of the civil-service prin-
ciple will maintain that the law, as at pres
ent administered, is perfect, and Il sacred
thing not to be touched. The basic prn-
thing, but there are a very great many
points in which the administration of it
could be improved, and there is in the law
itself one defect that l regard as very dam
gerous. This feature of the law is inter-
preted TO me that it lies entirely in the
hands of the executive to extend or curtail
its operation That means that if a Demo-
Crat should be elected our next President,
standing upon the same declaration of OPP
position to the law that Bryan did last year
he could absolutely annul it. On the other
hand it is maintained that the executive
could by u stroke Of the pen extend it to
cover every appointment in the service.
Now / do not believe that the trainers of
the law ever intended that it should create
Il life tenure of office, that 1t should require
an academic education for 1anitor or that
ii should compel man like Pension Agent
Leighty to iRtrust the business of handling
millions of dollars, for which he and his
bondsmen are responsible, to the supervision
of deputy I'm whose choice he has prac-
tically no voice. 1t happens that Mr.. Leigh
ty was able to find the right kind of a man
upon the eligible list but If he had not
found upon the list man he was willing
to trust with this vast responsibility, it
would have been just the same.
''The outlook for currency reform" con-
tinued Mr.. Lands, in reply to a question,
lis much better now than il was month
promptly take up and pass "a sound. con-
servative currency measure, and l do not
regard the matter of getting such measure
through the Senate as hopeless. Last week
we had a little informal gathering of the
Indiana delegation and discussed this SUBJ
ject among others, and it extremely
gratifying to, note that the Indiana dele
CATION is a unit on this question. 1t Is
peculiarly fitting that this should be so. for
Indiana is the birthplace of the movement
and has played a conspicuous part in hold
ing the country to the common sense level
upon the currency question / doubt
whether you realize what a power of
strength 10 this movement Mr.. Hanna of
this city. has been Since l have been in
Washington no man has come there upon
any mission who has inspired so much OF
respect esteem and confidence as he has.