Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-28
MERIT VS.. A PULL
Arguments Supporting the Civil
Service Law.
HEARING OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
Opposition Expressed to Repre-
sentative Evans Bill.
DEEMED A BLOW TO REFORM

The House committee on civil service re-
form held a special session this morning
to give hearing to William G. Low of
Brooklyn. Sherman s. Rogers Of Buffalo
and George McAncny of New York,
who had come to Washington to sup
port the civil service merit system 1t was
IL O'Clock before a quorum appeared, so
that the hearing could begin.
William G. Lows Statement
Mr.. Low first addressed the committee.
He contended that a system Of tests af-
1orded the surest means of procuring eff
cient service. He spoke particularly of the
effect the Evans bill would have on the
navy yards. 1t would be impossible to
build great battle ships and conduct other
great work now done in the navy yards
under the old spoils system. His exper-
tence with the old system in the navy
yards had proven to him its utter inefi-
cheney. He said that it was not claimed
that the merit system always got the best
man in the service, but that the average
efficiency of the service was greatly i'm
proved by it.
Mr. Rogers Describes Buffalo Scnti-
ment.
Mr.. Rogers next addressed the committee.
He said that he had been president of the
local civil service reform organization of
Buffalo since its organization. He said he
had been interested in reform of the civil
service since he had begun to take interest
in political affairs. No man representing
the city of Buffalo in Congress who ia
vored any legislation hostile to the civil
service reform system properly represented
the good people Of Buffalo. He meant by
the good people, he said, all the worthy, in
telligent and influential people Of the city.
he a (iy -ira raf
city.
He recounted the progress Of the civil
service reform movement in Buffalo and in
New York state generally. The movement
had grown in the good opinion Of the peo-
pie of New York from first to last, and
when anything was being done to the in
jury of the reform it met with the disap-
probation Of most people in the state of
New York. He said that the civil service
reform movement was a revolution of as
great magnitude as the revolution which
abolished slavery in the United States.
President Cleveland's Extension.
Speaking of Mr.. Clevelands extension of
the classified service just before going
out of office, he said that the contention
growing out OF this extension was purely
a political squabble. Republicans who
viewed the offices as political patronage
felt angry that Mr.. Cleveland should have
coopered up so mary Offices which they
wanted as spoils. He believed in the ex-
tension and was in favor Of it being made
by President Harrison. If Mr.. Harrison
had made the extension 1t would be the
democrats who were the kickers. This all
grew out of offices being looked upon as
political spoils. The merit system did not
consider politics in connection with the
clerical positions Of the government. The
advocates of the merit system regarded
these positions as business positions.
The Evans Bill Oppoxed.
Directing his remarks to the Evans BILL
he said that this bill was a vital blow at
the merit system.
1t was bill not to promote or help civil
service reform, but to destroy it. The BILL
he said, took 5000 employees out of the
classified service and threw them into the
scramble. 1t would be destruction of the
civil service reform. If this bill was pass
ed the members of the committee might
as well resign and Gishand the committee.
Mr. Ncrthway asked Mr.. Rogers what
offices he would have in the classified serv-
ice.
Would Include NOn-POlitical Offices.
He replied that he would have all no,l-
political offices placed and kept in the clas-
sified service. There might be great differ
ence of opinion as to where the line
should fall. He thought that officers who
had power to direct or modify the policy
of the state might properly be selected by
some method other than that of the merit
system.
He contended that the law was not being
extended beyond what was first contem-
plated. 1t was never contemplated that the
reform should be a small affair, taking in a
few petty offices. 1t was intended as a re-
fern of the whole system of the govern
ment service.
He said that there never was an infant
put into the world in charge of such a bad
lot Of nurses as had this infant-ciyil SER
vice.
Secretary McAneny's Views.
Mr.. McAneny, secretary of the National
Civil Service Reform League, spoke for a
few minutes. He addressed himself to Mr..
Northway's question to Mr.. Rogers as to
where the line Of classification should be
drawn.
He suggested that the terms of the law
leaving 1t discretionary with the President
to expand the classification, and, by infer
ence, to contract 1t. safe and proper
thing might be to allow the exercise of
this discretion to determine the line of the
classification President McKfnley's utter
ances on the subject indicated an intention
to exercise this discretion.
He said that there was mistaken i'm
preston as 10 the scope of Mr.. Cieveland's
extension. The number of places included
within the terms Of the extension was
31.372; but this number did not represent
the actual number of new places brought
into the classification. If all that were
technically covered by this extension which
were already in the classified service in one
way or another were excluded, the num-
Der would be reduced to 1900 or IA 900
new places brought under the merit sys-
TEN.
The committee adjourned until Tuesday
morning.
No senate Committee Meeting.
usn.- c..