Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-05
AGAIN IN SESSION
Reassembling Of Congress After the
Holiday Recess.
CIVIL SERVICE N BOTH HOUSES
Elaborate Defense by Representa-
tive Moody.
MR.. DOCKERY'S ATTACK

There wasea very large attendance in the
Hall of Representatives when the House
reconvened today after the holiday recess.
The galleries were crowded.
1t was noticed that, with one or two ex-
ceptions. the members of the Ohio delega-
ton. both democrats and republicans, were
absent Those who are not in Washington
are at Columbus, taking part in the SEN
atorial contest.
Without any preliminary business, the
House went into committee of the whole to
resume consideration of the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill. All
the features of the bill had been disposed
OF except the appropriation for the civil
service commission. upon which, by previ-
Gus arrangement, there was to be an in
definite general debate.
1t was then proposed that Mr.. Moody
(Mass.) and Mr.. Dockery (Mo.) control the
time for and against Mr.. Hepburn Qow9
suggested that it was a three-cornered
contest THE democrats" said he, desire
the entire repeal of the law. Some of those
on this side desire 1t to stand as 1t is,
while a large body of us desire whole
some modification of it's provisions"
Why does the gentleman aver that all
the democrats on this side of the House de-
sire the entire repeal Of the law?' inquired
Mr.. Clark (Mo).
and your side is always wrong" retOrted
Mr.. Hepburn, amid great laughter.
All suggestions to the control Of the
time failed at last, and the char recognized
Mr.. Grow Pa.), who spoke for twenty
minutes in support of the general principle
of the civil service law. He said he be-
lieved that the Presidents appointive
power should be confined to judges and for
eign representatives. The heads of depart
ments should appoint their confidential ad-
visers. The clerks should be under rigor-
Gus civil service system.
Mr.. Moody Defends the Law.
Mr.. Moody (Mass.) followed with an
elaborate defense of the civil service law
which he said protected officials who re-
ceived $7O,OOOOOO in salaries per annum
yet, he said. he had no sympathy with
those who believed the law was perfect and
should be modified only by extension. He
thought those who were placed under the
protection Of the Jaw by executive order
should be compelled to submit to test of
their efficiency, and he also believed that
some method should be found to preserve,
ii not restore, the efficiency Of the service.
BY the testimony Of q cabinet officer the
tree was dying at the top. The remedy was
not a civil pension list the first step to-
ward which had been taken in the Treas
Try Department, when seventy clerks had
been reduced to practically a pension sal
airy and given to understand that they
could WORK or not as they chose. The
merit system contemplated tenure only
during efficiency. lie maintained.
Mr. Moody said that II the plans of the
radical opponents Of the civil service should
prevail and the 17O.OO Offices should be
turned over to the present administration
to fill, congressman and sena tors would fee
from Washington crying: "oh, for q lodge
in some vast wilderness"
Mr.. Moody urged the Increase Of eff
cheney In the public service under the merit
system, and to show its economy contrasted
the saiarles paid Capitol employees, where
the patronage system prevailed, with the
salaries OF similar employees in the depart
ments WHO are protected by the civil serv-
ice law.
Mr.. Moody called attention to the differ
snce between the merit and patronage sys-
TENS as demonstrated in the employees Of
Congress and those of the departments.
He said that Congress has three times as
many employees as are needed, but owing
to the peculiar political conditions that ex-
ist this cannot be avoided.
He directed attention to the difference be-
tween the salaries paid. The chief engineer
OF the Senate gets $2,100. under the patron
age system, but the Treasury Department
can get a chief engineer for 81, 4UO. 1t costs
II ,2OU to run an elevator in the Capitol and
$5OO in the Treasury Department.
He was Wiling 10 ADMIT tnat man who
held his office through the uncertain ten
ure of politics should be paid more than the
man whose tenure Is fixed by his merit and
ability.
That was just the trouble, however. The
patronage system. il adopted. would cause
an enormous waste of public money. 1t
would also operate to keep in the service
those least qualified to perform the duties.
He defended the administration of the law
and the character of the examinations of
the commission. In conclusion he declared
that the hostility to the law was superb
cial. The sentiment of the republican party,
he insisted, was overwhelming in favor
of the party keeping the solemn pledge 1t
had given to the people.
MI. Dockery's Opposition.
Mr.. Dockery (Mo) opened the debate in
opposition to the law. which, he argued,
was odious to the American people and
should be repealed in toto.
He pointed out that the striking out Of
the appropriation for the commission would
accomplish nothing. as the commissioners
could sue In the Court Of Claims for their
salaries. The courageous thing to do, he
said, was to pass bill aimed directly at
the law.
THE SENATE.