Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1898-01-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
Gossip From the HERALD Special
Correspondent
Riggs House. Washingto

/
digging up data and otherwise prepar-
| ing themselves for an assault upon
the law which will shake its founda-
| tionS. Commissioner of Pensions
Evans has contributed not a little to
| the aid and comfort of the opponents
| of civil service and supplied them
with considerable ammunition His
statements. already widely published,
to the effect that the best clerks in
his department were put there as
spoilsmen: that he could dispense
with 100 civil service appofntees with
out feeling their loss, and that he
could obtain better results from a
force absolutely responsible only to
the appointing powers are proba bly,
tEpe. ot
'Champ" Clark, the popular and
witty Democratic member from Mis-
stIlri talks pointedly on the subject
and tells some truths about the stu
alton in Congress. He says: The
civil service reform business as now
conducted is Il fraud of the first
water. 1t is one of the ineXp1icated
mysteries of this world how it ever
came to be adopted or how it is main
tanned. There are not two dozen
men in the House really in favor of
it; there never We're two dozen men
in any other Congress in favor of it,
and yet it appears impossible to re-
peal it. At heart the Republicans are
no more civil service reformers than
are the Democrats. Harrison con-
tinued Mr.. Clark, didn't pay any at
tentiOn to the civil service except to
use it for Republican ends; Cleveland
didn't pay any attention to it except
to use it for personal ends, and Nc
Kinley will follow suit notwithstand
ing a famous declaration that no
backward step must be taken in the
civil service He can't stand the
pressure. There is but one Mckinley.
Gen. Grosvenor is his prophet, and
Gen. Grosvenor is as hungry a SpoilS-
man as one would find in a months
journey | wish | could get Gen. /
GrosyenOr to agree to, go further
than he wants to go. L think l could |
make Il great man of him if he would !
take my advice, and that is, instead |
of amending the civil service law so
as to squeeze out a few Democrats to |
repeal the whole business. That |
would give him standing in the coun-
try and fame with the people 1t |
might make him President. There is
no telling. l would offer this amend
ment myself, but 1 am afraid 1 could
not get recognition from the chair,
could, and he is missing great OPP
portunity if he DON'T
When the Senate reconvenes Sen
ator Lodge will introduce a bill pro-
viding for the purchase of the Dan
sh Islands, st. Thomas, st. CroiX and
St John. The State Department has
with that government
and learns that not only is it willing
to sell, but that two European gov
arnments are now dickering for their
purchase. These governments are
to be Germany and Great
Britain. The United States, in 1868,
negotiated treaty with Denmark
for the purchase of these islands for
$4,000 600, but it was defeated by
Charles Sumner Every European ma
ion with a naval esta blishment has
l post in the West Indies, save Ger
many and that nation is making
great efforts to own these islands,
or the harbor of st. Thomas is the
pest in the West Indies and capable
IF holding the navies of the world.
senator Lodge believes the United
States ought 70 own them, and he is
confident that the appropriation for
heir purchase will be made by Con
,ress-@ -@------
1t has been 80 aIl.iost invariable
ule in the history of tae Government
Ia; whom cabinet official Is sartun-
tie or unfortunate enough TO tasF Il
stand on any public issstls !
lrectIy connected with his depart
nent he brings upon his devoted head
large share of abuse and a very
mall modicum of praise The rule I
las found no exception in the recent !
aSe OF Secretary Gssge-He has been
criticized by tie opposition
,ress. and even some of his own party
,rganS have deemed it wise to place
lin on the pillOry of editorial criti-
ism Shortly after Mr.. Cages fnan-
-iaI plan WAS promulgated. some
made the remarkable an I
lonucement that the President had
equested the Secretary's resigna-
ion This was Immediately follow
d by an official denial, and now it
eveIopS how this last report secured
irculation. 1t seems that the Secre-
ary in Il purely private conversation
With a friend stated that he believed G
hat a cabinet officer should always l
lOld himself ready to place reslg- i
IA ton in the hands of his chief when | {
ver he (the cabinet officer) thought I
hat the slightest eXigency demanded
d this into a Presidential demand
or his resignation. As matter of l
act, the relations between the Chief
Executive and his financial officer are 1
f the most friendly nature. and they {
re in perfect accord as to the fnan- ! |
ial matters interesting the country
y great deal of talk is being indulg- d
d in respecting the proposed plan to d
,ublish the pension list of the Gov l
rnment. Commissioner Evans is in
avor of this plan, while eX-Commis- I
ioner Tanner is vigorously opposing G
t. Those who favor the idea argue I
hat every honest pensioner would |
,e benefited by its publication. If, I
; it is charged. there are dishonest
eople on the rolls, by publishing l
heir names, service and alleged disa-
ilitieS. those who are i'll position to
now would be able to suspend them
rom the roll of honor, for the test- {
nony that would come in from the 9
would be sufficient to
ring about this result.
Some time during the early eighties q
his roll, then Il comparatively small c
ne, was published and no evil re |
ults followed. The gentlemen OPP :
Osing this scheme argue that no
God will come from the publication, G
hat it will cost Il great deal of money, !;
nd that it will simply be used by the
dvertisers of the country as Il means
0 flood the pensioners with circulars 1
nd advertising matter. They insist |
hat the pension department has 4
nough law and sufficient force at its I
iSnoSaI 10 strike every fraudulent {