The record-union., 1898-01-06
Civil Service the Principal Topic of Discus.
sion In Both Branches.
Senator CockriI1 of Missouri De-
clares That the Republican
Party is Backing Squarely
Down From Its Position on the
Question-Tel1er Defends the
Law, Believing 1t a Wise
Measure, if Properly Admin
istered.

Cabinet to the resolution calling for
information as to the application of the
civil service law to the various depart
ments of the Government, together with
the consideration of the bill, establish
ing a bureau for the twelfth census pre-
cipitated a sharp civil service debate in
the Senate to-day.
Cullom of Illinois, the author of the
resolution, thought that notifications
OF the law ought to be made, as The
authorities had drifted far away from
the original Intention of the authors Of
the civil service law.
Allen of Nebraska charged that the
law was openly and daily violated, and
said it was a hiss and by-word among
the people.
Cockrell of Missouri declared that 1t
was preSumptuous in Secretary Sher-
man to make recommendations TO Con-
gress that certain positions in his de-
partment should be excepted from the
classified service, when the President
had full authority to make the excep-
tions he recommended. He thought an
effort was being made to tie the Pres
ident's hands
Davis, Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations gave notice that he
would, next Monday, and daily there
after, move that the Senate consider in
executive session the Hawaiian annex
alton treaty until it was disposed Of
finally
There was only a small attendance
when the Senate met to-day.
Allen of Nebraska spoke on the immi-
grafton bill and declared in favor of
Consular inspection of immigrants.
Carter Of Montana called up the bin
to provide for taking the next census,
and argued against making the ap-
pointments through the Civil Service
Commission, saying it was a prelimi-
nary measure, and provided only for
thirty-two places.
Cockrell Of Missouri replied, declaring
that the Republican party was backing
squarely down from it's position on the
civil service question.
Teller of Colorado spoke at some
length in support Of the idea that the
Census Bureau should not be parti-
san bureau, and that its employees
should. therefore, be placed in the
classified service. He was particular
ly anxious that honest, competent men
should perform the work of the next
census because he had knowledge of in
territorial misstatements and intentional
fraud that had been perpe-
trated by one statistical depart
ment of the Government making out
that the worlds production of silver
was 100000 of dollars larger than It
actually was. He was prepared, he
said, to establish this statement if nee
essary, to the satisfaction of jury. II
the men whose appointment is provid-
cd for }xr hi
ought to have the protection of the
classified service.
Properly administered, said he, the
civil service law is a wise measure. 1t
has, however, been badly abused, and
thus brought into disrepute. Civil
service has come to stay in this coun-
try. 1t will stand. and only reasonable
notifications of it's application will be
made. Some such notifications may
be desirable.
Chilten of Texas, in an extended
speech, in which he discussed the work
Of previous censuses, and indicated the
enormous amount Of work, unnecessary
and irrelevant, that had been per-
formed. declared that it was scandal
to have issued so many volumes as
seemed necessary to cover the work of
pressed a hope that the efforts of the
gentleman from Maine (Hale) to reduce
TO reasonable proportions the topics to
be handled by the twelfth census would
be successful.
Quite Unexpectedly a lively civil
service debate was precipitated just at
the close of the session. Carter, in
charge of the bill, said that he would
have the measure printed with amend
ments that had been offered to it, and
for that purpose would consent to have
it temporarily laid aside. He then
moved that the Senate proceed TO con-
sideration of executive business.
Pending the passage Of that mo-
tion the President laid before
the Senate the reply of Secretary Sher-
man to the Senate resolution request
ing information as to the application OF
the civil service law in his department.
Cockrell Of Missouri was on his feet
instantly upon the conclusion of the
reading of Secretary Sherman's COM
nlunication-
Coming from Secretary Sherman,
who served long years in Congress, this
communication must be regarded as a
very remarkable document" said he
ne fTSSiQSlll IAIIiSEil, dS h1StttNdd y
Sherman well knows, has ample author
ity to modify the law in accordance
with the recommendations of his Secre-
tary OF State The extension Of the
operation Of the law has been made
from time to time by Executive and
not by legislative action For a Sec
retary of State to come to Congress
for such relief as Mr.. Sherman requests
when his own chief. the President OF
the United States, has full power tc
act, is presumptuous."
Allison of Iowa said that in making
his reply Secretary Sherman had sim
ply complied with the explicit request
of the Senate, and he had the resolu-
ton read to show that it called for rec
concentrations or suggestions for modi-
fications that Cabinet officials might
have to make.
Allison did not think that Senators
ought TO criticise members Of the Cab
inet for furnishing to the Senate pre-
cisely what il had asked for.
CockrelI thought it was a catch
resolution which had been framed by
the Senator from Illinois tCullom)
hut he thought it was unnecessary ts
consume the time of Congress in th'
discussion of this question. unless