New-York tribune., 1898-01-12
GORHAM
Sterling
SilVerWareS
Roadway & 10Th St.
3 Maiden Lane.
Roadway & 10Th St.
3 Maiden Lane.
prsrrLT OF THE LONG AND TEDIOUS
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.


roN-wHAr REPUBLICANS WHO FAVOR
MODIFYING THE LAW WANT.
Isr rxIpo1AYH TO TIE TRIBUNEl
vashington- Jan 1.-THE inconsequent de-
s.,s on Civil Service reform in the House OF
conservatives was brought TO an end to-day.
-, ~, without O sharp tussle. and by a vote so
o,ose that me Speakers voice was required 10
..Ss Il II the Democrats and Populists and
Ao.a pepublicans who favor the repeal OF the
Nj, Service law had been Joined by oil the
p.nublcans who profess TO be IN favor only OF a
.na,Acsticn OF its provisions the motion 10
,ose debate would have been defeated by
ornd majority But the latter were divided.
s,s A majority Of their Steering Committee
h,ch consisted Of Messrs. Evans. Steele Lacey
PEARSON and Quigg were opposed 20 the con-
,,-psnce OF an ainless debate beyond to-day.
Nessrs Pearson and Quigg wanted ito Keep
an .he hght" when. a matter OF fact. there
nss nobody 10 hght. They did not dare. or
choose 10 attack the appropriation ior 'hc
maintenance OF the Civil Service Commission
which was the pretext for the debate tha' mas
consumed a week OF the House. No motloh hao
even been offered by anybody 70 strike OUT 'ne
appropriation. and nobody. apparently nao
thought ot making such motion. NO. oue lne
pouse had deliberately or otherwise oecioeo
. .,es,s q week or more In mere academic dis
cussion OF matter which was not before II
A,6 vet this long and in large part dull ano
,.aious debate has not been altogether parren
o,A II has again emphasized the fact that the
na,ooc-s = and their POpust allies are pollucai
s,ousrnen Of the most unwholesome and danger
ous breed and il has shown that there are very
few Republicans Of the same sort, and that any
a,-A-npt 20 undo the work OF the hepupIlCdl
Congress vhich enacted the CIVIL service ID"
and OF the Republican Administration whlch put
I, in operation ffteen years ago VIII result IN
ienominious failure. IL has also demonstrated
another important fact which Is mat no Dill
N modify the existing law can De pAsseo
through the LVth Congress which cannot com
uanc the solid support OF the RepuohcahS l He
Democrats and Populists Will vote TOT outright
repeal and for nothing short or IL
Wbat the Republicans who favor notifications
O, the law desire (and most of those VINO 90
r-ofess 10 Be true friends OF the merit system)
is set forth in the bill prepared by their com
1ni.,ee and introduced into the House on Thurs
a., ~, Mr Evans Of Kentucky. lie was Com
-o,ss,o,er % internal Revenue when the civil
s-r>,c. law went into effect in President Ar
,nr-,s Administration and is therefore tan!llar
r,i.h the administration Of that branch OF the
public service
This bin provides that the rules heretofore
made and promulgated. or which may hereafter
be made under the provisions OF the civil Ser
vice act shall not apply 10 nor regulate exam
nations for nor the employment or appointment
of any person TO any place in the Civil Service
ro- n removals therefrom except the following:
F4rs.-Clerks capyists. computers and draughts-
mn 30 receive Salaries OF not less than 500 nor
SstD
INSTITUTIONS commissions and bureaus IN me ciIY
vs-o5S nrblic Offices throughout the country IN
whch a. many as twenty-five persons exclusive
Second-Rsilwsy mail clerks. .u. ,bo,
Third-Lettor-carrers IN cltles ~here inUi mo- ,nd @
ten carriers exclusive Of substitutes are enpio!eu;
trev,ded tha, the provisions Of the act app'0veG1
Jsnuarv ls 1885 and rules made thereunder shaI
nontrnrnt or employment Of special examiners IN
he Bureau Of Pensions. nor 70 conhdsntial c.erKs
secretaries or stenographers OF any heao VI Hay @
tepartnent institution, commission or pu, ,tu ~
10 those OF any postmaster surveyor or coiTc,Oi :"
customs collector OF internal revenue: ~, c-
agert appraiser OF merchandise. the rhVa- oiIlcel
y, 80 I-n,fed states for any district. nor to any
person employed in the Office OF the Public printer
Section 2 provides that, so far as the act OF
1855 can De construed 10 authorize the pre-
scrbing OF rules for ernployments or appoint
rents TO or removals from any other place III
the public service. except as provided IN this
act the same IL hereby repealed. and all rules
which have been adopted or promulgated IN
Consistent with this act are hereby annulled and
resc.noed.
Section provides that the terms Of Office or
ernp!oyment under the provisions Of the act
shall be Eve years.
Provided the provisions OF ms section of ms
sc shall not In any manner aDfldse OF s,1eIa III &c e
rezc,oint remove transfer. reduce OF promote any
such ap,,ointee person. employe clerk in mis- d.
cretoa and Is a prOpe: regard FOR the good OF the
puolic service may. IN MS judgment require: ana
&S1yaea & o a3ntee is remo2ei Transferred
OF reduced the officer ordering or doing the same
stall sta.e In writing the reason and grounds there
for aod ehau Me such writing as a public record
IN MS ofics and provided; further nat no sufn en-
Removal. reduction, prOino;ion or transfer sh@4! DC
made for political or religious reasons
A very larze number. probably a majority,
Of the Repubncan members OF the House Of
Representatives would support the Evans bill
a. an original proposition, but fewer OF them
would Go 90 under existing circumstances. Few
Or none OF the Democrats would do 50 now,
eager as they would be 10 wipe the last Vestlse
o, Civil Service legislation from the statute
book Il 4 Democratic Administration We're in
power
Several Of the speeches to-day were interest
hg. and one. that o, Nj Brosius. OF Pennsyl-
vania chairman OF the Committee on Reform IN
the Civil Service, was Instructive as well Mr
Brosius IL d stanch and wel-equippec champion
Of the merit system. and his review and ex-
poslton Of 10 scope and operations viii com
rand well-ceserved attention.
good deal OF unspoken eloquence failed 10
get place in The Record" by the obduracy OF
Mr. Quigg who had not found an opportunity
70 lie heard and who insisted that another
chance would be offered, later In the session TO
everybody who might desire TO discuss the
subject. When that time comes Nj. Quigg VIII
oe prepared 10 drench the House with his ora
tory and do his part toward removing the
Obstacles which now obstruct the pathway OF
SO many OF those who desire 20 enter the Civil
Service