The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-21
CIVIL SERVICE In DANGER.
Only Power Of the Lead rs Prevents al
Attack Upon II.
A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR OFFICE
Makes Senators aud Members Inclined 10
Move for a Modification of the Law.
win Try to show That the Law
Was Improperly Executed

WASHINGTON, April 9-Special.-It
has become apparent that only the efforts
OF the Republican leaders in the two
Houses Of Congress can prevent Repub-
lican attack upon the civil service all
along the line. The demand for Office. aud
the desire OF Senator's and members OF the
House of Representatives TO reward their
place hunting constituents have become
so strcng that every day the probability
OF some modification OF the civil service
law become greater.
The immediate efforts OF the opponents
OF this law are directed towards showing
that the law was improperly executed by
President Cleveland. The whole purpose
OF the investigation started by the SEN
ate and entrusted TO the Senate Commit
tee OR civil Service, has this for It's OBJ
Ject. while the assaults upon the system
by Representative GrOsNenor and Othcf
kepubiicans In the House is for the same
SPOILS SYSTEM.
II Is argued by these advocates OF the
spoils system that the sutcst way 10 cree
ate sentiment IN favor OF either repeal
or a mOdincatiOn OF the law. Is TO show
that IL has not accomplished its purpose.
They have, therefore. begun their attack
with mlsrepresentauons OF what was done
ulOtl the last Administration 10 'oUttdt
their own inordinate desire 10 take pos
session OF the offices.
The sight Of Democrats drawing sala-
ries from the government and holding
down good Offices IL almost more than the
kepubnCan spoiismen can stand with
equanImIty. while the Republican Office
seekers are rendered furious.
IL an investigation fails to reveal the
violations OF the spirit OF the law, which
its opponents charge they Will then throw
on their mask anu demand It's repeal for
no other reason than TO give the oftlce3
| to the Republicans.
1t is this demand which the Republican
| leaders seek TO avert, and IL Is probable
| they Will try TO COnciliate the spolIsmen
OF their party by declaring IN favor OF
mobilization OF the regulations.
PAk1 Y PLEDGED To 1T.
The President and the whole Republican
| party are pledged 10 the present ciNii ser
vice system. but IL has become the iule
with all Of Them To sneer at the extensions
OF the system made by Mr.. Cleveland. and
to charge that his purpose was merely
10 protect Democrats IN office.
1t is difficult TO see the consistency OIL
the argument used by Republicans, ana
advanced also by some democrats llla'
while il is well to apply civil service resu-
lations to certain ciass of onices, II i
absurd to apply them To others AS a iaS''
the civil service law vas intended TO ac-
compiish two purposes. one was 10 Dieah
up the spois system and remove lts cor
rupting influence from politics. Inc other
was to ensure the appointment OF COM
petent men and retain them III ohice az
| long as they prove themselves Ndiuao'c
| 10 the public service.
No HALF MEASURES.
IL is impossible 10 see now ellner Pu,.
| pose can be entirely effected without max
| ing the civil service system so compIete as
| TO include all the offices which experience
| proves can be effectively subjected 10 the
civil service regulations -,
| This was the view OF the matter tassu ,h
| by Mr.. Cleveland and the members OF ms
| Cabinet The Republicans now insist.
however, that certain classes OF ohices
! should not be included In the system, ana
| they are endvavoring TO nnd a way 20 tahe
them out of the control or the cNl ser
vice Commission.
They have discovered that members or
pension examining boards who do not r"-
| ceive more compensation thsn s.oV year
| were Improperly placed within the classI-
| fled service by the last ADMINISTRATION
| and are preparing to get rid or every
Democratic surgeon who IS now a mem-
ber Of such boards. -..
OFFICES TO BE THROWN ofEN'
In every other direction where Is
found possible to nulify the orders OF Mr..
Cleveland, the Offices will be thrown open
/ TO the spoilsmen. and the law VIII be
evaded wherever possible. ,,.,.s
But this repeal cannot be accompilsheu,
because the President and MS adFiseiS
An indication of their feeling against the
law and Mr.. Cleveland inttFpTfttuon "a
Il was given at the very beginning OF Mf.
McKinleys term. When the retiring mem
bers OF Mr.. Clevclands Cabinet caliei
upon Mr. Mckinley the day following MS
inauguration he requested them 10 remain
| I'm Office until their successors could De
confirmed by the Senate and sworn m.
THE PRESIDENTS LITTLE JOKE.
Then he added: II am surprised ana
| gratned to find that you gentlemen are
not Included I'm the classified civil service
| This was. OF course. intended as Joke.
and was accepted as such. but II never
| thoioss showed what was uppermost In the
| Presidents mind.
Those Democrats OF the House and Sem
ate who think IL statesmanship TO oppose
| every proposition made by the Republ-
| cans. even II 1t be merely one 10 adjourn;
have unfortunately cut themselves OF
| from an chance Of effective opposition IN
| the Republican attacks upon civil service
| bv declaring In favor OF the spois system
| In the last campaign. Public sentiment
| however. though feebly represented will
| sim be sufficiently strong TO prevent the
repeal OF the law. which Is obnoxious 10
| politicians only.