The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-06
FOES AND
FRIENDS.
Both Sides Heard From
On Civil Service.
THE BETTER ELEVEN
Judgment of Leader in the Modi-
Tying Movement.
DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

Washington, Jan. s.-The debate on
the civil service began In the house yes
terday. based on the item in the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
bin for the maintenance Of the commis-
sion. 1t promises To continue at least
until the end Of this week, with pos
sbility that IL may run longer. IL Is
generally admitted on both sides that the
appropriation bill will stand, as the anti
civil service reforners do not seriously
contemplate an attempt TO strike IL cut.
The debate. therefore, is only preliminary
TO any program which the enemies OF
the law may agree upon. The members
OF the house are divided into three camps
on the quastion-those who stand by the
law. those who advocate its entire re-
peal, and those who desire its modifica-
tion.
These divisions were apparent In the
debate yesterday. the nature Of which was
not as stirring as had been anticipated
Mr.. Moody Rep.. Mass), a reformer.
said the civil service law protected Off
cials who received $40. .0O0. 900 I'm salaries
per annum; yet ne had no sympathy with
those who believed the law was perfect
and should only be modified by extension.
He thought those who were placed under
the protection of the law by executive
order should be compelled 10 submit to
a test Of their efficiency, and he also be-
lieved that some method should be found
10 preserve. IL not restore. the efficiency
OF the service. The remedy was not a
civil pension list. the first step toward
which had been taken in the treasury
department when 20 clerks had been re-
duced to practically a pensioo salary and
given 10 understand that they could work
or not as they chose The merit system
only contemplated tenure during ef-
ficiency, he maintained. Mr.. Moody said
that IL the plans of the radical opponents
OF the civil service should prevail, and
the 900 Offices should he turned over
TO the present Administrations to FL con-
gressmen and senators would fee from
Washington crying: "Oh, for lodge
in someTast wilderness"
Mr. Lands tRep., Ind favored a modi-
fication Of the law which. he said. would
doubtless earn for him a reputation as
n spokesman. He sneered at the profess
sional civil service reformers. He had
never known those who called them
selves the better element"s who were
not narrow, Selfish. bigoted and danger
Gus. They had bulldozed and cowed
national conventions and hypotized
presidents while they managed them
selves to sit continuously at the ban
Quet table. Mr.. Lands denounced Mr..
Clevelands methods i'm his second ad-
mnistration. describing particularly
l,a nj In "a
ing office, TO the head of which he said
Mr.. Cleveland appointed n man who
would do the dirty work" on a single
day, he said, Public Printer Benedict
discharged 80 men. That was known at
the government printing Office as bloody
Monday" ON another day he discharged
i20. When 1900 removals had been made
and 1900 Democrats appointed, Mr.. Cleve-
land pressed the button. and the civil
service blanket was thrown over them.
He read what purported to be a literal
Transcript of the reasons assigned for
the discharge of the Republican en-
ployes in the secret record of Mr.. Bene-
diets private secretary. Some Of them
were very amusing and kept the house
In a roar.
When he had concluded the reading.
Mr.. Perkins Rep., Ia asked IF il was
proposed to return to a system which
made such a recital possible.
NO" replied Mr.. Lands. but we
want to modify the law"
Mr.. Henderson Rep.. Ia protested
against the production OF the record of
one man in condemnation of the best
system yet devised for the publication
of the government service.
Mr.. Richardson (Dem.. Tenn) in re-
ply TO Mr.. Lands. asserted that the
record showed that when the civil service
was extended 10 the government print
ing office only 81 percent Of the employees
had been appointed under a Democratic
administration. while 50 percent had
been appointed by a Republican public
printer.
AT 4,h5 the house Adjourned