Evening star., 1897-05-17
D DEMAND D FOR OFFICE
Fight Against the Extension of the Civil
Service.
After Internal Revenue Plnces-Rank
and File Republicans I'm the
Border Case.

sentative of The Star today:
THE fight against some of Mr.. Cleve-
lands extensions of the civil service law
has hardly begun as yet, bit Il promises to
be lively when fairly on
How may the battle. in its visor.
be. eXpected?' was asked.
After the changes have been made in
the internal revenue collectorships and the
customs colectorships throughout the
country Then senators and representatives
will begin 20 feel pressure from their con-
stituents, a2d in turn will begin to bring
pressure 20 bear on the President. All of
that service is now under the protection of
the civil service law, and in times past it
has cut an influential figure in national
campaigns. Particularly is this true of the
internal revenue service, and in the border
southern states, which, after years Of
training with the democracy, supported the
republican ticket last year. In West Eir-
ginia, Maryland ana kentucky internal rev.
enCe offices are numerous, as they also
IN Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee,
where the republicans nave strong organ
izations AMI are hoping for party success
next time. These offices are now filled 10y
democrats who, unless MIR. CleyelaEd's
act is repealed, amended In some way,
Will continue iE commission; and that Will
prove very unpalatable to the rank and
HE of the republicans of those states and
very embarrassing to the local political
leaders.
Effect of the Extension.
Let me illustrate. Ir Kentucky there
are five internal revenue collection districts.
Each district is officered by a collector, a
number of deputy collectors, clerks in the
collectors office, and a much larger num-
Der of gaugers, 'storekeepers, and store
keeper-gaugerS, who are stationed through
out the district in charge of the whisky
d:siilieries. These places all pay well, and
are sought by men of influence and good
capacity. Under the old rule changes were
made from the collector down upon a
Change IN the White House. When Gen
eTai Harrison took office, the democrats
who were ofiiCering the internal revenue
gave way for republicans, and when Mr.
Cleveland came back, democrats were
again appointed TO these places by him Eue
after this latest Change had been mada
ana men OF four years experience had been
superseded by men of no experience. MIR.
Cleveland threw the protection of the civil
service law over all the places but that of
the collector and that of the shiaf clerk
ana there the matter stands today The
oiiiy places open today are the collector
shlps and the chief clerkship: all the others
and the number taking all the states TO-
seuer, mounts up into the thouSands-are
HIieu py democrats, who stood no eyamina
toh 10 secure them, who superseded men
Oh capacity and experience but who them
serves serve are now safe in their PLACES, as the
taM ,n, stdHus- MS is where the shoe pinches
lnose republicans of experience want 70
set pack mo the service. They insist thai
'hey are as well qualified today fo- tha
nolh as -they were four years ago. when
Icy were turned out to make room for
men who had yet to prove ou,li6ra,;o..
IHes are men OF influence and are de-
fhahoinS recognition at the hands of ,bair
senators and representatives. As I said ar
the beSlnning, when the new collectors
.ahe once, and matters come to a half
GIe v;,i iit patlie VIII begin. The rank and
me VIII 'hen make themselves heard
ignored In the Campaiup
But 1t was known in the campaign last
year that these places were all nro.ao,a,
py the civil service law" was suepas,ad
me TACT was known, but had not been
considered fully. There is a good da.I Of
protest now. L have myself seen a l.rca
NUMBER OF letters on the subject and ,be,,
al breathe purpose to try and hiring
ia,5,s huors chanse of some kind. Mr. Clevc.
ian iaId performance looks to these men
ilke partisan trick. They SO denounca n
III turning out men of experience and
capacity for men without experience nnra-
~ Tor partisan purposes, Mr. Cleveland
ttaiseil, n;Ills they declare Violated the prin-
Sipies OF civil service reform. They regard
MN In that matter, as in others. as having
peen a good deal of humbug i'm Office
Are they likely to succeed?'
something will be done. L gather that
much from pretty high sources. The ad
ministration is in favor of civil service re-
lorm, but it can't afford to iniure or i'm
peril the cause by sustaining all of Mr.
Cleveiand's performances In so-called sun
port OF IL: 1t is beginning to turn him
down on foreign affairs, and 1t will have
also to revise some of his capers in home
affairs