The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-06
Bill Prepared by a Special Committee
of Republicans Ready for Pre-
sentation to the House.
WILL LEAVE MANY PLACES
TO BE FILLED BY PERSONS NOT Elk.
AHMED BY THE COMMISSION.
Changes Suggested by Cabinet Officers
in Their Replies to Senate Res
OiutfOn of Inquiry.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The bill for the
reform Of the civil-service law, which has
been drafted by committee of Republican
members of the House of Representatives
opposed to the system in it's present form,
makes sweeping changes in the present
system, the most important of which is the
establishment of a five-year tenure of office
for those government employees who are
brought within the terms of the bill. The
measure limits the application of the civil
service system to the departments in Wash
ington and to such other localities where
the total number of employees exceed TWEEN
ty-five. All appointees are commissioned
for five years, with the power of removal
clearly regulated and vested in the appoint
ing power. 1t is provided, however, that no
removal shall be made for political or re-
ligious causes, and in case of removal the
causes shall be specified and the papers
made a record of the Office. All persons
now in public service are to terminate their
service five years from the time that the
act takes effect. The measure recognizes
the general eligibility of these persons for
reappointment. 1t includes in the civil
service postal clerks and letter carriers in
offices having over ten employees, exclusive
of subordinates. 1t limits the civil-service
regulations to clerks whose compensation
is from $500 to $500 per annum, and in
cludes as clerks copyists, computers, coun-
tiers and craftsmen
1t is pointed out that the essential idea
of the foregoing bill is to take out of the
civil service all responsible and important
offices, limiting it only to clerks in Wash
ington and certain large cities, and in these
cases fixing tenure of office of five years.
The members of the special committee
framing the bill are well pleased with their
labors, saying that the original purpose of
the civil service has been retained and that
its radical expansions have been cut off.
The bill was submitted to the Republican
conference this evening and was adopted
unanimously, with few amendments.
Representative Evans, of Kentucky, was
instructed to introduce the measure in the
House tomorrow. 1t will then be referred
10 the committee on civil service reform.
A steering committee, to wait on the com
mittee on rules, to secure the fixing of
some date foB consideration of the pro-
posed legislation, and to ascertain the sense
of the House and the exact support that
will be given it, was appointed as follows:
Messrs. Grosvenor of Ohio, Hepburn of
Iowa, Evans of Kentucky Pearson of
North Carolina, Quigg of New York, Lacey
of Iowa and Steele of Indiana. The confer
ence was held in the House interstate-com-
merce committee room, and about twenty
five members attended, including Messrs.
Hepburn, Grosvenor, Pearson, Evans,
Steele Linney, Lorimer, Brown, Brownlow.
Barber and the entire West Virginia dele
acknowledging, Reeves, Pugh Shattuc,
Bromwell and Fenton. The report of the
special committee which has been going
over the various civil-service bills on the
calendar during the recess as a basis for
the one now framed, was made by Mr..
Evans.
When the section relating to postoffices
was reached Mr.. Steele of Indiana moved
to strike out the provisions which exclude
part of the postal service from the opera
ton of the law. This, however, was de-
feated, and with the exception of several
minor suggestions and changes made, there
was a general unanimity among the con-
ferees. The leaders of the movement are
not yet able to definitely fix the number of
government offices affected by the bill, but
they say it will certainly leave $4,000 posi-
tons under the civil service, while there
are now over $1,000. 1t is asserted that there
is a majority on the civi-service committee
in favor of notifications of the existing
law An effort will made to have the bill
reported TO the House by Friday and ac-
ton had Immediately.