The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-06
CIVIL SERVICE.
Debate Takes Up Almost the
Entire Time
Of Both the House and the Sem
ate.
ALL AFRAID OF 1T.
Many Seem Anxious to Do
Away With the Law
But They Want Somebody Else
to Be Responsible For 1t.
ALL AFRAID OF 1T.

/ Washington, Jan. EN- the senate yes
terday Mr.. Teller (Col) spoke at some
length in support of the idea that tho
census bureau should not be a partisan
! bureau and that it's employees should,
therefore, be placed in the classified serv-
| ice. He was particularly anxious that
honest. competent men should perform
the work of the next census. because he
had knowledge of intentional nisstate-
ments and intentional fraud that had
been perpetrated by one statistical de-
partment of the government in making
out that the worlds product of silver was
ten millions of dollars larger than it act
uaIly was. He was prepared, he said,
to establish this statement, if necessary,
to the satisfaction of jury. If the men
whose appointment is provided for by this
bill are competent, they ought to have
the protection of the classified service.
Properly administered, said he, the civil
service law is wise measure. 1t has,
however. been badly abused and thus
brought into disrepute. Civil service has
come to stay in this country. 1t will
stand, and only reasonable modifcat tons
of its application will be made. Some
such notifications may be desirable.
The vice president laid before the SEN
ate the reply of Secretary Sherman to the
senate resolution requesting information
as to the application of the civil service
law in his department.
Mr.. Cockrell CMo) was on his feet in
stantIy upon the conclusion of the read
ing of Secretary Sherman's communica-
ton.
Coming from Secretary Sherman. who
served long years in congress, this COM
munication must be regarded as very
remarkable document said he. THE
president himself, as Secretary Sherman
well knows, has ample authority to mod
ify the law in accordance with the recon-
mendations of his secretary 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
rotary 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 to act, is pre-
sumptuous.'
Mr.. Allison said that in making his re-
ply Secretary Sherman had simply COM
piled with the explicit request of the SEN
ate, and he had the resolution read to
show that it called for recommendations
or suggestions for notifications that cab
met officials might have to make.
Mr.. Allison I'd not think the senators
ought to criticise members of the cabinet
for furnishing to the senate precisely
what it had asked for
Mr.. Cockreu thought it was a catch
resolution which had been framed by the
senator from Illinois CAr. CuIlon) but he
thought it was unnecessary to consume
the time of congress in the discussion of
this question unless there was a desire
on the part Of the presidents party to tie
his hands
Mr.. Cullom Qll), the author of the res
oIution calling for the information, in the
course of some remarks bearing upon it.
said in a general way that he was in ia
vor of the civil service law He was free
to say, however, that notifications in its
application might be made with advan-
tage.
Mr.. Cullom was interrupted by Mr.. AL
len CNeb) with the charge that the civil
service law was openly and daily vio-
lated by the heads of the government de- |
partments.
LAS it is administered said he, !
cit is a hiss and a byword among the
people"
Mr.. Jones (AlD.) declared that it was
evident that the authors of the law had
not intended that inefficient persons
should not be removed by the heads of
government departments. He held that |
the executive heads of departments ought |
to have the right to remove incompetent |
employees without reference TO the action |
or opinions of the civil service commits |
sion.
On the motion of Mr.. Carter, the senate |
went into executive session and soon
after adjourned.