The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-27
From the Washington Post,
IMPENDING
CIVIL SERVICE
FIGHT.

appointment to departmental positions in
this city. The operations Of the civil serv-
ice law have increased rather than dimn-
ished the number and the zeal of such as
plrants. Recent extensions of the rules.
which have placed under the protection OF
the law about all the officials and employees
except those whose nominations are re-
CURED 10 BIO sent to the senate. have
created an unprecedented condition. For,
while scarcely anything is left to reward
| the faithful services of the great army OF
young men who helped Hanna win the vic
tory for Mckinley, sound money, and pro-
lection. the rush for places Is even greater
than 1t was before the enactment Of The
civil service statute. So great is the pres
sure that concerted and formidable move
ment viii be made upon President McKin-
| ley for relief. He will be asked. and the
request viii be loudly put and strongly
backed, to pull up some. or all the stakes
that have been driven to extend the civil
service rules during Mr.. Cleveland's sec
ond term.
! We think that Mr.. Mckinley will feel
that he can not comply with this demand
lilo will perceive that he and his party are
| pledged TO take mo backward step" He
VIII be reminded that, Instead of pulling
/ ~ t'iA ''i"Niib bstNh Allt hltNHlall stakes.
his ayowod policy requires him to annex
new areas. If he can find them, 10 the civil
| service domain
BUT while he will be compelled by his
sense OF duty and propreiy to resist the
pressure. lie will be unable to allay the
storm. Ii viii break out In congress and
IN tho columns OF some Of the republican
organs. The next two years-the life OF the
titty- NTH congress will be critical
period in the civil -
mere are distinguished republicans in the
present congress and reelected to the next
VINO nave made up thsir minds that II tina
cleveland stakes are not set back, they " Ill
declare war on the Pendleton act and "a
10 their constituents for approval OF that
policy Some OF these statesmen are closoly
allied to Mr. Mckinley having worked for
his nomination against the field of bosses
and iavorite sons. They assert that. under
prudent management. the merit system"
might have stood and gradually extended
ITS lines but that the Wholesale sweep of
MI cleveland, including places varying
from $4,000 year to dollar a day, was
an indlscretion that calls for rebuke. IF
we can not induce Mr.. Mckinley to case
tho intolerable situation. We will do 1t our
selves. is a remark made by a prominent
republican congressman q day or two aeo
The Post is able TO state as a fact that
republican congressman are collecting data
Tor vigorous assault on the civil service
law, on the commission, and on the effects
OF recent extensions All this may seem
strange in view Of the attitude OF ~ re-
publican party toward this reform 1t aoss
not harmonize with republican votes in
congress or the declarations OF their plat
icrm- 1t rs, however, in perfect accord with
the attitude Of all congressman, of all par-
Ties, IN matter that affords a test of
their feeling toward the merit system.
In distributing the rich and abundant M
tronago OF both houses, congress has ~
ways disdaned to look at the "merlt s,s-
tom and has adhered to the old Jackson-
ian way. WIN It bo impossible to Induce
such statesmen to put the executive do
partmental service on level with the
legislative service?
From the Charleston News and Courier.
ADMIRAL BuNCE A dispatch fran,
Is ALL RIGHT. Old Point Comfor,
says that there is considerable diversity of
opinion among the sea lawvers', a, ~.