The Press., 1897-04-29
Washington Letter.
Washington. April asth, ls


 The war on the civil service rules seems to have begun in dead earnest. President Mckinley has had long conference with the members of the civil service com mission and. while 1t cannot be officially stated that the conference related to a modification of the extension of the rules made by President Cleveland, there are excellent reasons for believing that 1t did, and that President Mckinley has about made up his mind to modify those rules to considerable extent, on the general ground that some of those extensions are calculated to iniure the government service, rather than to help 1t. Two mem- bers of the cabinet have taken this stand being conducted by a senate sub-com- mittee composed of Senators Pritchard, of N. c. ; Elklns, of W. Va, and Chiffon, of Texas. Secretary Wilson appeared before this subcommittee and advocated the exemption of the agents and inspect ors of the agricultural department from the civil service rules, because age and experience were just as necessary as tech niesa knowIsdge, to properly nil these places. He cited an instance. He applied to the civil service commission for . man to flll a special place, and the commisson sent him boy 22 years old, who had the technical knowledge to pass the examina- ton, but was entirely lackingIn the ex- perieDce needed to perform the work. He added that President Harrison had left tho civil service law in good condition, and that he would like to see 1t restored. Secretary Gage wrote letter to the sub committee, expressing the opinion that modification of the civil service rules might be made with advantage to the public service. and especially recommend ing that deputy collectors of internal revenue should be exempted. Represent Ative Dorr, of W. Va, has gone still further, by introduelnga bill to repeal the civil service laws. It Is too early to pre- dict how the war will end, but the fight ing Is getting lively all along the line.
 There Is much gossip as to why Presl- dent Mckinley changed his mind about sending Judge Day to Cuba as a special commissioner, and nominated him to be First Asat. Secretary of State also con- corning tho nomination of Ex-Congress- man Bellamy Storer, of Ohio, to be minister to Belgium. It ia said that one of the reasons why Judge Day did not go to Cuba was that his going there had been so widely advertised that President Mckinley concluded that he would be un- able to learn anything useful or new by going. Onlcials will not discuss the matter, butrumor says that the announce mont of the intention of the admlnlstra- tion to send Judge Day to Cuba was made to throw the Spanish officials on their guard, and that another man was sent and has about completed a thorough in: vestigatlon of the situation on the Island without making use of any official cre- dcntails from this government. Mr.Storer wanted to be assistant secretary of state. and the place was promised him. but Senator Foraker made such a hot fight that he became convinced that if he was nominated for that position, the senate would reject him, and be compromls d by accepting the diplomatic place, which Senator Foraker had no objection to his having.
 This will be an ofT week in Washington. The president, his cabinet, and many other officials have gone to New York to participate in the ceremonies attended upon the dedication of the Grant monu- mont. Both branches of congress met today and will meet again Thursday, but in accordance with previous underestimate ing, nothing was or will be done. Neither branch had . quoru.l today. The object of this adjournment on the part of the senate is to allow the members of the finance committee to devote their entire time to the tariff bill, which 1t is expect cd will Do ready to report to the senate next week. In the house lt ls merely carrying out the usual program, except that the agreoment not to attempt to do anything left members free to leave the city, if SO dispOaed.
 Senator Jones. of Ark, who has had some experiences in the handling of tariff bills In the senate, says the DIngley blll Will not got through the senate before Juno 18th, and that It will take nearly or quite e month after that for the house and the senate to agree on the amend mentB-
 0eneral Nelson A. Miles, commander of the army, has ct hls own request been ordored to proceed 10 Europe for the purpose Of ohearvina the military move mnnam In tho war between Turkey and Greece. and he will start as soon as the nsOousMry arrangements can be made, probably next week, unless the war is fought to a oloso before ho cmn get ready.