The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-06
IN THE SENATE,
civil service Debate Leads 70 Criti-
cism of the CensuS

WASHINGTON Jan 5-The presenta
ton OF the replies Of members OF the cab
met for information as 10 the application
or the civil service law. together with the
consideration Of the bin establishing a
bureau for the twelfth census precipi-
tated sharp civil service debate In the
senate today
tuilom OF Illinois. author of the resolu-
tion. thought that notifications OF the
law ought 10 be made, as the authorities
have drifted far away from the original
intention OF the authors Of the civil ser
vice law.
Allen Of Nebraska charged that the law
was openly and daily violated, and said
1T was a hiss and byword among the peo-
pie.
Cockrell OF Missouri declared that Il
was presumptuous I'm Secretary Sherman
TO make recommendations to congress that
certain positions In his department should
be excepted from the classified service
when the president had full authority to
make the exceptions he recommended
He thought an effort was being made to
tie the presidents hands.
Teller spoke at some length In support
or the Idea that the census bureau should
not be partisan bureau, and that its
employees should. therefore, be placed In
the classified service. He was particu-
iarly anxious that honest, competent men
q
sus because he had knowledge OF inten-
tional mtsstatements and intentional fraud
that had been perpetrated by one statis-
tcaf department Of the government IN
making out that the worlds production
OF silver was $40 600 900 larger than Il ac-
tually was. He was prepared, he said
TO establish this statement, If necessary
to the satisfaction of jury. If the men
whose appointment lis provided for by this
To har
the protection of the Cleveland civil ser
vice law, Properly administered said he
the civil service law Is a wise measure
II has howeved been badly abused and
thus brought into disrepute. Civil service
has come TO stay in this country. 1t will
stand. and only reasonable notifications
OF i's application viii be made. Some such
notifications may be desirable
Chiffon. of Texas, in an extended speech.
discussed the work OF previous censuses.
He declared II was a scandal TO have is
sued many volumes as seemed neces-
sary TO cover the work OF the census OF
1880. and expressed hope that the efforts
of Hale 10 reduce to reasonable propor-
sons the topics TO he handled by the
twelfth census would be successful
Davis. chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, gave notice that he
would next Monday and daily thereafter
move that the senate consider In execu-
tive session the Hawaiian annexation
treaty until IL was disposed OF finally
Davis announcement was preceded by
some Tive work on the part OF friends of
the treaty prior to the opening OF the SEN
ate and also on the floor after the senate
convened. They do not feel absolutely
sure Of securing the sixty votes necessary
To ratify the treaty. but are today hopeful
If getting that number. II was positively
announced that the Republican side of
the chamber would be n unit In the vote
Tho supporters Of annexation also expect
the support Of the silver Republicans
with the exception of Pettigrew The
Populists will he divided and a majority
Of the Democrats are against ratification
There is no doubt that the situation in
China II largely responsible for the I'M
proved prospect OF the treaty. "a many
senators holds the opinion that for the
United States 10 hesitate in this matter
a. the present critical time would be TO
manifest serious weakness