Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-04
EFFECT OF THE EVANS BILL.
1t Would Take Over $4,000 Out of the
CLASSIFIED Service.

1t Would Take Over $4,000 Out Of the
CLASSIFIED Service.
The House civil service committee today
voted to close up their hearings on the
Evans bill at the conclusion of Commits
sioner Procter's argument in opposition.
Just after the committee was called to
order this morning, Mr.. j.. 4. Kennedy
made an argument to prove that the gov
eminent prii ting office did not properly
come within the classified service. He ar
gued that the employees Of this printing Of
hce-compositcrs, bookbinders, pressmen.
etc.-were wofkmen: and that by the terms
Of the civil service law itself and by acts
Of Congress they were exempt from the
classified service. He stated the act Of
1859. which authorized the government
printer to employ the workmen of the
printing office after such tests as he might
adopt to determine their efficiency; and
further called attention to the fact that
this sane provision of law was re-enacted
in 1895, subsequent to the civil service law.
Civil Service Commissioner Proctor at the
conclusion of Mr.. Kennedy's argument pro-
ceeded with his argument in opposition to
the Evans BILL He first controverted MI
Kennedy's position with reference to the
government printing office, insisting that 1t
was rightly within the classified service
and that workmen meant unsktlied work
men. From this Mr.. Proctor proceeded
of the Evans bill and urging upon the at
tention of the committee the great injury
which it would cause to the service In all
its branches.
The civil service commission has pre-
pared for submission to Congress some In
formation as to the effect Of the enact
ment into law Of the Evans bill, now pend
ing in the House. This bill removes from
the operation Of the law all positions now
in the classified service below the 500 and
above the 1900 grade. besides limiting its
application in other respects. According
to the commission there are now 6SS post
offices in the classified service. with 26.OW
employees. 636 OF whom, with 1900 en-
ployes. would be Withdrawn If the bill
were passed. The number of customs
houses the force in which is now classi-
fed would be reduced from 103 to g. The
employees of the following named bureaus
OF the executive departments would be
withdrawn from the service under the OPP
erations of Mr.. Evans bill: The steam
boat inspection service, the marine hospf-
tai service, the light house establishment,
the life saving service. all the assay Offices.
the revenue cutter service and in addition
several positions classified by President
Arthur when the present law went into eff
feet.
classified service Is 81. $40. 81 ,253 Of which
would be taken out by the operation of
the Evans BILL and of those remaining 1888
are in Washington and PAPA in other
cities.
meeting of the Senate committee on
civil service and retrenchment was called
for this morning. when 1t was expected the
committee would make its report on the
civil service, in view of the testimony
which had been taken on the practical
operation Of the public service law. No
action was taken. in view of the absence
from the city Of Senator Elkins and other
members OF the committee. 1t is likely that
Senator Pritchard will make the majority
report Of the committee at a meeting to
be held Monday morning. and this report
will be on lines already indicated in The
Star
Senator Lodge will probably concur in
most of the recommendations of the ma
jortty report, but will submit a minority
report.