Evening star., 1898-12-03
Expected Action of President Re-
specting Civil Service.
DISCUSSED FROM Two SfANDPOINFS
Mr.. Siddons Regards the Action as
Step Backward.
MIR. STEW y RT'S VIEW S

=. Ab to htHp. is attracting muCh atten-
tion among the friends Of civil service re-
form Speaking on the subject to a Star
reporter today. Mr.. F. l. Siddons, secre-
tary Of the Civil Service Reform Associt-
tiOn of the District of Columbia said:
Friends of the President are mucn con-
cerued that he should have yielded TO jhe
opportunities Of the small-bore politicians
to the extent of exercising what 5, at
least. a questionable power in assuming
to take from the classified service posi-
tions that had been heretofore validly
covered into the service by executive aU-
thority for il l. to he remembered that
some Of the best lawyers in the coun-Ty
have given it as their opinion that under
the Law in question the President can re-
wise or alter existing civil service rules and
regulations only for the purpose of Inrlu-
sion: Of adding to the classified service,
and not 70 take from it. as is now pro-
posed.
Alarm and Regret.
Furthermore. in this order so eagerly
.ooked for by the politicians referred to.
The advocates of civil service reform rec
ngnize with alarm and regret the first step
backward taken by a President in this
vitally important matter since the Pendle-
ton bill went upon the statute books And
the political friends of the President who
are found in the ranks of the reformcrs
arr unable to defend him from the charge
now frequently made that demOTiliZatiOn is
evident in several importanE branches of
the civil service as the result of disregard
OF the wholesome provisions of the law
] am discussing. This IS notably true of
tha internal revenue service. 1t will be
recalled that when Scott, the present com
missioner was appointed. il was repeatedly
said that that service was to be reorganized
by him in the interest of Il second term
for Mr.. Mckinley. Scott. a shrewd poll
tician and national committeeman. repre-
senting West Virginia has busted himself
since his appointment in making changes
in the personnel of his burnau throughout
the country. The new appoirtees. getting
The cue from headquarters. hav. with de
!ightful sang froid. evaded or openly vio-
lated the civil service law: assumed the
control of local political affairs and gen
orally made uuisances of themselves.
Instances of the shameful disregard Of
the law by some of these appointeeS are
found in the offices of the collectors of in
land ore In this latter case the circum-
stances are particularly fragrant. and all
persons responsible for the scandal should
b. held up to public scorn and condemna-
ton.
The people Of the District Of Columbia
ere particularly concerned in seeing that
the civil service law is faitafull. carried
out. and they should protest with all their
>
rr the making of any exceptions in the de
partments of the government located in
W aShlNgt9n- For this reason they should
watch carefully the efforts continually be
Ing made to induce the President To with
EFaW from the classified service The govern
ment printing office. which for 50 many
years has been the prey of the So-caItd d
Statesmen who perpetuate themselves in
punhc life by the office brokerage business
rather than by the display of gifts Of state
craft.
Merely Whets the Appetite
Mr. Mckinley will find perhaps too late.
that in endeavoring TO conciliate or pIacate
the greedy sp0ilsmen h has but whctted
their appetite for more Offices. and it were
far better that he manfulIy recommend the
repeal of The civil service Iaw. and 50 give
himself and his subcrdiEates a free hand
than further to pretend i friendship for
the system the iaw was intended to rstah-
IiSh. ard al the same time deal that Svs;e.n
anu lass such fa-a! blows as this coming
order i-Aict~.'
The Opposite View
In q communication to The Star on the
same subject. Frank l. Stewart says:
There Will he no deter:o. alton from the
high Standard Of public opinion established
by President Mckinley: his notifications
al d revOcations will be along the line of
reforms in the rank partisan action of
cleveland when he covered by one fell
swoop .1,:'I2 places tMay 6, 1856 under the
sAeiterlHS wing Of the civil service and
erected a Chinese wall around the civil
service TO Keep out all active partisans IRE
pubiicaus'. and then had the effroo1ery
I" wtlte the following communication to
Congress.
FFom the annual message Of President
cleveland December. 1880:
M progress made in civil service re-
form furnishes a cause for the utmost con-
Erat lula sIcu. 1t has survived the do,lbts OF
its friends as well as the raacor Of lis
ti-emles, and has gained a permanent place
among the agencies destined to cleanse. nur
politics and TO improve. economize and ele-
Natc the public service
In the matter Of the government nript-
ing nrfir"- the Attorney General at the
fresidrtitS request. has rendered an opin-
j u WIN reference TO The illegality of the
tEi-HSi"n of the civil service law to that
oiiic~- +. W Palmer has been duly cor
suited. the public printer has executed the
law IN his department according to his in
depreciation nf it His action in the dis
ChaFse OF IN" duties incumbent to his Of
nee mas met the Endorsement and approval
OF the President. few civil service re-
formers 70 the contrary notwithstanding
and | feel assured that the public printer
VIII maintain the philosophical reforms he
past
Both sides Heard.
Senators GaIhnger. Hanna Platt and
Quay and Representatives. Grosyenor.
lands and Colonel Dick. representative
elect. and many other prominent legislators
and public men. including Henry Cabot
Lodge and Colonel Roosevelt. have given
their opinions, and the President has had
the benefit Of their knowledge on the sub-
lect- Both sides have had opportunity to
discuss the question. Thousands of Dati-
tons and letters have been forwarded 10
the President by civil service rgf9r-nars
but the PreDonderanCe Of evidence shows
The rank partisan character OF CIeveland-s .
a3.J2s civil service extensions, particularly
The 4l2U pension examining surgeons tower
the country, which are purely professional
and non political
Furthermore, these NJ. u 5 take an exam
nation 10 obtain their diplomas. Why they
should have been classified can only be ac-
counted for by CleyeIaDd's purpose to cover
every democrat as far as possible under his
blanket order. giving them life tenure in
Office.
'PreSideat Mckinley will shortly modify
the civi. service His weli-known reputation
Tor the conscientious consideration given
important public quest stiOns: his personal
character and the high esteem in which he