Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-07
SILVER AND PAPER
Senator Alien Introduces a Free Coin
age Resolution.
Mr.. TELLER DENIES CURRENT RUMORS
Attorney Generals Statement on
the Civil Service.
PROVOKES SOME COMMENT

At the opening of the Senate today the
reply of the Attorney General to the Senate
resolution calling upon members of the cab
met to inform the Senate what, if any,
changes should De made in the administra-
ton of the civil service law was read.
The Attorney General recommended that
Justice and deputy United States marshals
ought to be excepted from the operation of
the law
The letter follows:
In response to the resolution of the Sell
ate OF december As. 1891, directing the
heads OF the seN eral executive departments
10 inform the Senate what appointlye posi-
items, If any, in their respective depart
menIs should, III their OPINION, be excepted
from the operation OF the laws governing
the civil service. or the rules established by
the civil service commission, and 10 inform
the Senate what changes or amendments TO
the present civil service rules seem to be
desirable, as indicated by their experience,
L have the honor TO reply that by an
amendment of rule III of the civil service
rules. the CLASSIFIED service is made to in
clude all ofncers in the several executive
departments. This necessarily includes
Uegard.ng the letter of the provision) all
attorneys and assistant attorneys, includ-
ing ia the latter class assistant ulstrlct at
torneys.
There is an exception made by rule VI,
as follows:
&C, Attorneys or assistant attorneys in
any department whose main duties are con-
nected with the management OF cases III
court
Passing without comment the ambig
uity OF this provision, the distinction 1t
makes between the duties or attorneys Is
artIncial ard unSound. Attorneys ana as
sistant attorneys, inciuuIng in the latter
assistant district attorneys, should be re-
moved from the CLASSIFIED service
In this recommendation L have only con-
sidered the civil service law and ruieS by
themselves and without reference or regard
TO statutes which may be SAID to modify or
conflict with them, and the same comment
nay be made as TO the recommendation IN
regard deputy marShaiS. Once deputy
marshais are said to be included in the
classified service by that part of rule Ill,
which provides as follows:
80 The departmental service
shall include officers and employees, fol-
lows: :" tb) All executive officers
and employees outside of the District of Co
iumbia who are serving in cler-
ical capacity. or whose duties are whole,
or in part, of a clerical nature.
There is, however. conflict of opinion
as to the effect of this provision as against
certain provisions of the Revised Statutes.
The controller of the treasury holds that
the terms of deputies expire with those of
their principals. This view has been sus-
tanned by Judge Rogers of the western dis
trict of Arkansas, and opposed by Judge
Jackson of the district of West Virginia.
1t is not necessary to decide between these
views. Considering the relations between
a marshal and his deputies. the latter
should not be in the CLASSIFIED service
and all doubts should be removed by all
explicit amendment to the rules.
THE other positions in this department,
as Indicated by my present experience. may
fairly said to be properly within the reason
ard purpose of the civil service law.
'By amendment TO the civil service
rules. made May u, 1896 there were created
in tine classified service positions termed
excepted positions ard these were defined
80 ne. by decision, (e) rule /, ANY position
within the provisions of the civil service
act. hut excepted from the requirements of
competitive examination or registration for
appointment thereto In this class are all
attorneys and assistant attorneys. even
though their main duties are connected
with the management of cases in court.
The position is an unsatisfactory one.
Every removal will he invidious and COM
planned of as being for political reasons. 1.
therefore. recommend that the excepted
positions be abolished"
Mr.. Cockrell (Mop said that these recon-
mendationS ought to be made TO the PreSi-
dent of the United States, as he had full
power to act regarding them. He gave no
tice that he would move to refer all the re-
plies of cabinet officers to the Senate reSo-
luton to the President himself.
MIR. Hoar tMass.p said that the trouble
with all these communications arose from
the ill-advised action of the Senate itself.
1t seems TO me- said he, "a most extraor-
binary proceeding for the Senate to direct
the heads of depart mentS to give their
opinions as to the wisdom of the Presi-
dents order. That is what we have done,
Inadvertently. no doubt. Had my attention
been drawn to 1t / should have moved to
rescind the order
silver and Government Paper.
Mr. Allen CNeb), offered a resolution de-
daring that the United States should. in
dependently and without delay, begin and
3oEtinue the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 10 to ], that such coinage should
Se supplemented by a safe and sound ma
Sonal paper money to be issued by the gov
9rEment without intervention of banks,
the notes to be full legal tender and to be
issued in an amount sufficient TO meet the
business demands of the country; that any
Increase Of the Understanding debt should
be prohibited and that government
bon is should be issued or sold except by
specific act of Congress. and then only in
cases of pressing necessity; that the gov
eminent in the discharge of its obligations
should use its option as TO the kind of
lawful money in which it should be paid
end that such option should never be sur
rendered.
MIR. Allen spoke briefly in favor of the
adoption of the proposition set forth in his
resolution concluding with the statement
that he would at some subsequent time go
more fully into the details of his reasons
and the reasons of the populist party in
favor of the plan he had set forth in the
resolution.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Aliens remarks
Mr.. Teller (Col) rose. He said that he did
not often give heed 10 publications con-
corning himself or the conviction of those
who believed as he believed upon the finan-
cial or other questions. but he felt that a
statement recently published, which Is, In
fact, now going the rounds of the press,
was gratuitouS insult to those who be-
lieved upon the financial question as he be-
Heved. This statement shows" said he,
that many of those who attempt to deal
with this question have no proper COM
prehension TO do it. They regard 1t as
merely local matter, to be considered and
discussed from the standpoint of their own
selfish or local interests"
Mr.. Teller then read from a newspaper
the article of which he complained In
brief, it charged that the recent reports
10 the effect that the Secretary of the
Treasury had rendered his resignation
were the result OF a conspiracy to create
trouble between the President and his Sec
rotary OF the Treasury and perhaps to dis
rupt the cabinet.
Il resent this charge" said Mr. Teller
with great emphasis. Il do not believe tha,
IL comes from the Secretary of the Treas
ury or that he believes any such thing
We. those who believe on the financial