Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-11-19
CIVIL SERVICE LAW
Strong Effort Will Be Made
to Secure Its Repeal.
OPPOSITION IN WEST AND SOUTH

Sufficient Number of Senators and Rep
resentatives Pledged to In
sure Its Abolition.
Washington, Nov. 16.-A strong
effort will be made during the coming
session of congress to secure the repeal
of the civil-service law. The support
ers of this movement say that they
have hal promises from a sufficient
number of senators and representatives
to cooperate with them to insure its
success, provided that all those mem
bers who have heretofore favored the
repeal are still of the same mind.
Thomas R. Mckee, the journal clerk
of the house of representatives, who
has long been bitter opponent of the
existing law, and who has taken pains
to ascertain the views of many of the
members on the subject, said today
that he was confident that If the oppor-
tunity offered for direct vote on the
question Of repeal, it would be carried
4 by large majority.
"While it is not true," said he,
''that have been engaged in making
/
bit is true that ] have talked with
great many members about it. I am
convinced that for such proposition
my own state of Indiana would give its
entire 13 votes, and believe that Ohio
and illinois are just as much opposed
to the law. AS for the Western states
1 do not believe that they will furnish
single vote for the retention of the
system, and in the South, both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, with only few
isolated exceptions, would welcome its
abolition. 1t is purely an Eastern in
stitution, and it is entirely unrepubli-
can and un-American.
''It was originated by the college
professors and educators of the East,
especially of New England, the center
of our educational system, for the ex-
press purpose of providing easy and
omfortable berths for such of their
graduates as were not physically able
to stand the strain of the professional
life for which they were trained, or
who found the professional ranks al
ready we'll filled. The manufacture of
college graduates went on SO fast that it
became necessary for the professors to
find some outlet for the young men
whom they were turning into the
crowded fields of law, medicine and
theology. So they turned to the gov
ernment and, with Dorman B. Eaton at
their head, himself lifelong educator,
induced it to require of applicants for
government positions preliminary ex-
animation, which, in many cases, they
L.. ,Ix,, f.o l. e11l
could pass successfully.
''It is fact that President Mckinley
is now having as much trouble in satis-
factorily filling the 800 or so places he
has to give away as Grant did to dis
pose of 900, 900 places. There is al
most as much eagerness and strife
around the White House today over a
little $500 position as there used to be
over the appointment of the minister to
Germany. This shows that the desire
for Office is still as strong, and it is a
natural desire. Representative Gros-
venor made strong point when he said
in his speech that the right of man
to participate in the affairs of the gov
ernment in other ways than by merely
casting his ballot was one that could
not be constitutionally taken away
from him. The heads of the govern
ment department should have the right
to make the appointments of their SUBJ
ordinates, and they should be held re-
sponsible for their actions The presi-
dent would then have less of his time
wasted on small matters of patronage,
and after filling the larger and more
important offices would then be able
to devote himself to affairs of state.
That there is strong sentiment in
the country at large-in favor of the re-
peal of the law I am sure, and / am
satisfied, also confident, that the senti-
ment will find expression in congress
during the coming session. The only
recent vote that has been had upon the
subject which gives any foundation
upon which to base calculation as to
the result, was had towards the close
of the last session of the 54th congress.
A proposition was made by Mr.. Brosius,
of Pennsylvania, to extend the opera
tions of the civil service law in cer-
tain particular. The question was as
to the consideration of the bill, and it
was defeated by two-thirds majority.
While this was not a direct vote it
afforded an indication, if not of the
strength of the repeal movement, at
least of the weakness of the supporters
of the civil service system.
''It is my opinion that if nothing
else is done, the civil service commits
sion will be abolished with all of its
cum mbrous machinery. In its stead
examination to determine
the fitness of applicants for appoint
ment in the government service will be
This would be very
proper, so far as the Washington de-
partments are concerned, but would
not require even this in offices outside
Of Washington, and I would limit all -
office holding tenures to, four years
each. The civil service commission
costs the people now $3.50, 600 year..
A number of others have spoken in
similar strain recently.