The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-24
CIVIL SERVICE LAW SCORED.
SENATORS GO FOR 1T WITHOUT
FEAR on FAVOR.

Mr. Allen Starts the Ball Rolling by
Asserting That Half "A Dozen Dis
missa1s of MicrOscopists Were
Made for Political II e y.
Messrs. GnlIinger and HOar object
TO a Proposed investigation.
Washington, March 23.-The Senate in
dulged to-day in an almost one-sided de-
nunciation of the civil service law and its
administration.
The matter came up in the shape of a
resolution offered by Mr.. Allen, directing
the committee on civil service to inquire
into the dismissal of some half dozen en-
ployes (nicroscopists) of the bureau of
animal industry in South Omaha, Neb.
His assertion was that the dismissals
were for political reasons.
Mr.. Gailinger, rep, of New Hampshire.
did not favor the proposed investigation.
because it would bring out so many hun
bred other like grievances: and Mr.. Hoar
objected to it on the same grounds-say-
ing that such a herculean task should not
special session. The civil service law, as
administered, was characterized by Mr..
Gallinger as "a monumental humbug" He
favored blotting out the law and return
ing to condition of things that would
give to every man and woman an equal
right to hold office with every other man
and woman"
This declaration of principle was APP
plauded by the galleries; and the galleries
were appropriately lectured by the Vice
President on that breach OF propriety.
Various instances of absurdities in civil
service examinations were furnished by
senators-AIr. Gallinger mentioning the re-
quirement of would-be compositors in the
government printing offices that they
should hop twelve times on one foot; Mr..
Wilson saying that civil service eXamina-
tons had been ordered in this state for
a cook in the penitentary and a sawyer
on an Indian reservation; and even Mr.
Hawley, who had been member of the
House committee, which reported the law
originally, admitting that the law had fall
en- into state of conspicuous incompe-
tency," and giving as an Illustration the
fact that when an army engineer in charge
of a public work on Long Island sound
had selected a competent inspector IN the
person of a steamboat captain who knew
every rock and sand bar In the neighbor-
hood, the commission sent to him "a
schoolmaster from Rhode Island"
The only senator who defended the law
and its administration was MIR. Lodge.
The upshot of it all was that Mr.. Aliens
motion was agreed to without a division
but amended so as TO instruct the com
mittee on civil service and retrenchment
to inquire and report whether che civil
service law should be continued, amended
or repealed.
Mr.. Turpie, dem, of Indiana made an
argument in favor of a constitutional
amendment to make United States SEN
ators elective by popular vote instead of
by state legislatures.
He summed up his argument in these
words: THE pending amendment is in
strict accordance with the great precedent
of progress and advancement set forth in
the preamble to the constitution. Our
purpose is to form a more perfect union
by bringing the national legislature in
complete accordance with the legislative
assemblies of the states; to establish j s.
tice by granting to the voters of the
states that equality of suffrage which
the present system denies; to perpeJuate
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity by a further and nobler
recognition of duties and rights inherent
IN all citizens, so that the supremacy of
the people, never gainsaid so often with
and maintained, shall at last be and be-
come d vital force, living presence, a
fact accomplished in the government of
the republic. This will give to our past
it's full meaning, to the future hope yet
more Astounding, for the present it would
place fixed star in the galaxy Of pro-
gress, visible in all the ATTITUDES Of lib
erty throughout the world.
AT the close of Mr.. Turpie's remarks the
Senate went into executive session. Aft
er a short time the doors were reopened,
and legislative business was resumed.
These three bills were passed by the
Senate
Directing the Secretary of War to sup
ply thousand tents to shelter and relieve
the sufferers from the food in the Missis-
sippi river
To establish the official survey of frac-
tional townships in Nebraska.
To amend the act repeating the timber
culture laws.
The latter bill was explained by Mr.. Pet
tigrew to be the same as was passed by
both Houses last session, but which the
President had been too busy fishing to
sign.
The Torrey bankruptcy bill (modiied)
was reported and was, on motion of Mr..
Hoar, made the unfinished business, not
to be called up Immediately, however. A
constitutional amendment to make April
30 Inauguration day was introduced by
Mr.. Hoar.
AT 345 o'clock the Senate adjourned I'M
til tomorrow.