Evening star., 1898-01-27
TENURE OF OFFICE
Considered by the House Civil Service
Committee.
PLAN OF ]. ". ELY OF CHICAGO
Would Authorize Any Citizen to
File Charges.
B I LII OF MR.. EV AN

The House committee on reform in the
civil service gave a hearing today upon
the general subject of the merit system.
Mr.. ]. w. Ely of Chicago appeared before
the committee to oppose the repeal of the
civil service law, and in opposition to the
bill recently prepared by the anti-civil
service republicans of the House. Mr.. Ely
had been manager of the Illinois reforma-
tory and also member of the board of po-
lice commissioners of Chicago, during
which service he had observed the salutary
effects of a merit service
DO you advocate life tenure of Officer"
asked Mr.. Pearson of North Carolina.
II advocate the merit SYSTEM replied
Mr.. Ely. 1.-The conducting of the govern
ment on the same plan business man
runs his business, long as an employe
IS efficient. keep him.
us it not a fact" suggested Mr.. Tawney,
that in many cases clerks are retained
after they become inefficient, on account
of influence sentiment and sympathy?"
Mr.. Ely thought there might be some
thing in this view of the case, but said
this condition could easily be remedied
by providing by law for the investigation
and discharge of such persons. There
should he power to file charges of inefii-
cheney against such persons and require
them to come before the proper authorities
the right to any one to lay the complaint
against a clerk for alleged inefficiency.
do you not think it would be better to
fix by law definite period Of service?''
asked Mr.. Tawney.
by no MEANS replied Mr.. Ely. II hold
that man who has served for several
years, If his health and mind hold good, is
more competent than he was on the day
he entered the service
Mr.. Ely said one Of the most satisfactory
features of the civil service law was the
provision relating to promotions. which en-
ables competent person to enter at low
grade and win by merit a higher salary.
Mr.. Robertson of Louisiana asked Mr..
Ely if his proposition to allow any citizen
to demand investigation of a clerks COM
potency would not establish an odious sys-
Mr. Ely thought not. If the plan had
been in operation for twenty-five years
there would be more competent people In
the service.
Hungry Office Seekers on the Watch.
Mr. Lands Of Indiana said such a system
would put score of hungry Office seekers
to dog the steps of old age. to watch the
old employe and endeavor to find excuse to
get his place Mr.. Landis said there was
nothing in the so-called spoils system so
cruel as this plan.
Mr. Ely held to his opinion that when
man becomes too old to serve the govern
claim upon the government
Mr.. Ely was sharply questioned by MEM
hers of the committee upon his espionage
plan but he maintained his position that
any citizen would have the same right to
bring charges against an office holder on
the ground of old age or ineficiency, ana
bring him to baI in defense that one cit
izen would have to hale another before
a court of justice
Mr.. Ely held that there is undoubtedly a
strong sentiment throughout the west Ia
vCrable to the civil service law ana op-
posed any bill which would weaken It's ef-
feet. The city Of Chicago. by a majority
OF so. OOO voted a system of municipal civil
service for the government of the appoint
ing powers.
sentiment in the west indorsed the pres
ent adm inistration of the law.
Mr. Ely thought there might be some
opposition to the wholesale extensions OF
the law under the last administration
rs there any reason asked Mr.. Brosius
Of Pennsylvania, why man who has
been in office for five years should be re-
moved at the expiration of that term, as
provided by one of the pending bills. al
though the man might be at the height of
mis- aDiiIty?'
Mr. Ely replied in the negative. The
fve-year limitation simply opened the
doors to the invasion and breaking down of
the merit system.
Mr.. Evans Advocates His Bill.
Representative Walter Evans of Ken
lucky then addressed the committee in
behalf of the Dill which he has introduced
in the House and heretofore published in
Tie Star. modifying the civil service law.
Mr.. Evans said he had no objection to
the civil service law SO far as it was orig
inally intended by Congress to operate.
President Arthur had put this law into ef-
feet and limited it to the clerical force of
the departments. The operation has been
extended since then, and the pending bill
proposes to restore the operation of the
law to its original intent.
Mr.. Evans said the civil service law Is
now odious to the people Unless the OBJ
abolish the law. His bill, he said, would
satisfy the people and still the clamor
against 1t. He said his bill was aimed also
at the Improvement of the public service.
Mr.. Evans made the allegation that it
was better to put new men into positions
of authority in the bureaus and depart
ments than to promote old clerks. He
said he never knew a case of a clerk being
promoted to a chiefship that he did not
turn out a martinez and a man of narrow
thority all the petty revenges against his
subordinates that he had cherished for
years.
Mr. Evans held that there was no more
years term, as proposed by his bill, than
In turning out representative in Congress
after a two-years' term.
The committee at II o'clock took a recess.
until 80 o'clock
At the afternoon session of the commit
tee, Mr.. r. Francis Woods of PhiIadelphia
addressed the committee in opposition to a
repeal or weakening of the civil service
law.
Licenses Authorized.
The following named physicians success
hold hxy tha