The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-09

1t is softly intimated that one or two
suggestions have been made to President {
Mckinley relative TO the desirability of
having another Republican member OF the
Civil Service Commission, and number
OF names for the place have been sub
mitted to him, it is said Commissioner
Rice will, it is further limited, in the course
OF time not hurriediy but perhaps in six
months-tender his resigna ton to the
President, when the desired Republican
will take his place in the board This is
the gossip now relative to the commits
sion.
tits pointed out 10y experts In civil service
reform matters that the understanding
that two OF the commissioners shall always
beofthe eAdnliuistrationpa party is an anomaly.
The work of the body is supposedly y entirely
non-partisan, the ideal of non-partisan-
ship. There has heel this understa nding
10 the composition OF the commission, how
ever. The fact is that no one has ever
been removed from the commission for
politics, and IN reality the two commission
ers or the board have often been of the
opposite party to the administration. 1t is
an example OF the general understanding
being more or less at fault.
There have been several designations
from the board by gentlemen who had
offers of mere remunerdtive or pleasanter
positions elsewhere, and one or two be-
cause of difference in politics from the
administration In this way the prepon-
derance or political faith ON the board has
been changed from time TO time.
The firstremovalf from the boa rd occurred
in the last days of President Cleveland's
first admin stration, that of Alfred p
Edgerton- Mr.>Edgerton was "a Democrat
and one of Mr.. Ceveland's own appointees.
Commissioner Lyman resigned under a
slight pressure, not because of his politics.
Commissioner Johnston was a Democrat.
He was removed by President Cleveland
All the other designations have been entirely
voluntary, most of them To take other pO-
sitions, notably those OF Commissioners
Trenholm, 0berly and Roosevelt.
It is said that no one of the three com
missioners now in office believes in this
partisan majority rule or sees the ne
cesSiUy of any change, or the desiTability
of it,
1t is pointed out, however, tina Commits
soner Rice is New York man, that New
York has a large swing with this Ad-
ministraton, that Mr.. Platt is a strong
gentleman, and that it is probable that
moral suasion will be brought to bear on
Mr.. Rice for the benefit OF some New York
Republican. He will not be asked to re-
sign, but he will resign.
1t is thought that there is no possibility
that the other Democrat of the board,
Commissioner Proctor, via go. He is rec
ognized as an eminent civil service re-
former, and a valuable man His ap-
pointment was not in any sense political
one.
4 ne great calm that settled over the
White House when the President and his
party went away for their pleasure trip
down the Potomac, is still undisturbcd.
One or two gentlemen. who had not heard
of the absence OF the President, called this
morning. None OF them wanted anything
large They went hurriedly away, with
rather guilty lookso on their faces Wi hen they
found out their mistake Secretaries
Pruden and Boyle are in charge, but have
nothing to do ex cept small routine matters
Secretary BOYLE will remain at the
White House only a few days longer He
will be among his Ohio friends for two
or three weeks, and will sail for Liverpool
about May /.
Mr. Boyle is pretty well tired out with
his arluous work during the recent cam
paign and before that. Ma jor McKinley's
mail during and since che campaign, until
he became President, was enormous, even
greater than it is now. Mr.. Boyle had en-
tire charge of it. Part of the time he had
ten stenographers working under him
1t is understood that President Mckinley
would have liked to keep him at the
White House, but realized that he deserved
a change OF work The consulship to Liver
pool is a very pleasant position. The salary
is $1,000 with perquisites.
II is thought at the White House that the
President will return tomorrow Some time,
though there is possibility that the Dol
phin may come mp the river and land it's
distinguished cargo late tonight. When
the party left Mr.. Porter had made no
definite plan.