The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-24
.RIDICULINC
civil SERVICE.
Mr.. GalIinger Says it is a Monu-
mental Humbug.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS DE,
NOuNCE THE LAW AS NOW AID.
MINIsTERED-IT rs AN OPEN
SECRET THAT. THEY DO NOT
LIKE IT BECAUSE IT PROTECTS
TOO MANY DEMoCRATs-pRoP-
oslTIoN TO CHANGE THE DATE
OF INAUGURATION.

Washington, March 23.-The Senate
INDUCED to-day in an almost. one sided
denunciaton of the civil service law and
it's administration. The matter came ND
in the shape of ~ resolution offered by
Mr.. Allen, directing, the committee OH
civil service to inquire into the dismissal
of some half dozen employs. microsco-
pists, of the bureau of animal industry in
South Omaha, Neb. = His assertion was
that the dismissals were for political rea.
sons.
Mr. Gnllinger did not favor the pro.
posed Investigation, because it would
bring out so many hundred other like
grievances and Mr.. Hoar objected to it
on the same grounds, saying that such
herculeaE task should not he thrown on
any committee at this special session.
The civil service law, as administered,
was characterized ny Mr. Gallinger as n
monumental humbug." He favored
blotting out the law and returning to
condition of things that would "give to
every man and woman an equal right to
hold office with every other man and
woman.n
This declaration of principle was ap-
plauded by the galleries: and the CALLER
les were appropriately lectured by the
Nice-President on that breach of pro-
priety.
Various instances of absurdities in civil
service examinations were furnished by
Senators-Mr. GallingeF mentioning the
requirements of would-be compositors in
the Government printing Office that they
should hop twelve times on one foot; Mr.
Wilson saying that civil service examina.
tions had been ordered in his State for a
cook in the penitentiary and sawyer on
an Indian reservations; and even Mr.
Hawley, who had been II member of the
House committee which reported the law
originally, admitting that the law had
fallen into IA state of conspicuous incom-
potency" and giving as an illustration
the fact that when an army engineer
officer in charge of public work on Long
Island Sound had selected competent
inspector in the person of a steamboat
captain who knew ever rock and sand
bar in the neighborhood, the commission
sent to him IA schoolmaster from Rhode
Island" THE only Senator who defended
the law and it's administration was Mr..
Lodge.
The upshot of it all was that Mr.. All.
lens motion was agreed to without d-
vision, but amended so as to instruct the
committee on civil service and reurench-
ment to inquire and report whether the
civil service law should be construed,
amended or repealed
Mr. Turpie, of Indiana, made an argu-
ment in favor of n constitutional amend
ment to make United Senators elective by
popular vote instead of by State legisla-
lures.
At the close of Mr.. Turpie's remarks
the Senate went into executive session.
After n short time the doors were re.
opened and Legislative business was re-
sumed.
These three bills were passed by the
Senate: Directing the Secretary of War
to supply 1000 tents to shelter the suffer
ers from the flood in the Mississippi
liver; to establish the official survey of
fractional townships in Nebraska; to
amend the act repeating the timber cul-
ture laws.
The latter bill was explained by Mr..
Pettigrew to be the same as was passed
by both Houses last session, but which
the President had been "too busy fish
ing' to sign.
The Torrey bankruptcy bill, modified,
was reported and was, on motion of Mr..
Hoar, made the unfinished business, not
to be called up Immediately, however. A
constitutional amendment to make the
both of April inaugural day was intro
duced by Mr.. Hoar.
At 3:45 p. m. the Senate adjourned un-
til tomorrow