Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-06
REFORM OF orvIL-sERvrcE LAW.
Bill Drafted ny Committee of Repub-
Iican Congrexsmen.

itctu touSreSsmeus
WASHINGTON. January 5.-The bill for
reform Of the civil-service law, which has
been drafted by a special committee of
Republican members OF the House OF
Representatives, opposed to the system in
its present form. makes sweeping changes
IN the present system. the most impor
tant Of which is the establishment of a
fVe-year tenure Of office for those govern
ment employees who are brought within
the terms of the bill The measure limits
the application OF the civil-service sys-
tenn TO the departments in Washington.
and 10 such other localities as where the
total number Of employees exceeds TWEEN
ty-iive. All appointees are commissioned
for five years. with the power of removal
clearly regulated. and vested in the ap-
pointing power. Ii is provided. however,
that no removal shall be made for politi-
cal or religious causes. and in case Of re-
mCval, the causes shall be specified and
the papers made of record in the Office.
All persons now in the public service
are to terminate their service five years
from the time that the act takes effect.
The measure recognizes the general elgi-
bility of these persons for reappointment.
Ii includes in the civil-service postal
clerks and letter-carriers in offices having
ONti AtH tIuplOyttS, exclusive OF ouDOE-
dinates. 1t limits the civi-service regu-
lations to clerks whose compensation Is
from $500 to $500 per year. and includes
as clerks, copyists, computers, counters,
and craftsmen.
II is pointed out that the essential idea
Of the bill is TO take out of the civil-ser-
vice all responsible and important offices.
limiting it only to clerks in Washington
and certain large cities. and in these
cases fixing a 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 pur
pose of the cvil-service law has been re-
tanned, and that it's radical expansions
have been cut off.
BILL ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. January g.
AS the result Of a conference of the Re-
publican members of the House opposed
to the present system of civil service the
bill outlined in to-day's dispatches was
adopted unanimously, with few amend
ments. Representative Evans, of Ken
lucky was instructed to introduce the
measure in the House Tomorrow 1t
will then be referred TO the Committee
on Civil-Service Reform. A Steering
Committee, TO wait on the Committee on
Rules, TO secure the fixing of some date
for its proposed consideration, and to as
certain the sense of the House and the ex-
act support that would be given. was ap-
pointed, as follows: Messrs. Grosvenor
Of Ohio. Hepburn of Iowa, Evans Of Ken
lucky, Pearson of North Carolina. Quigg
Of New York. / acey of Iowa, and Steele
of Indiana.
The conference was held in the House,
in the Interstate Commission room. and
about twenty-five members attended.
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 post-ofiices was
reached Mr. Steele, of Indiana. moved TO
strike out the provision which excludes
part of the postal service from the ope-
ration of the law. This however, was
defeated and with the exception of seve
raj minor suggestions and changes made,
there was general unanimity among the
coAferrees.
The leaders of the movement are not
able to definitely fix the number of gov
ernment offices affected by the bill, but
say IT will certainly leave $1,000 positions
under the civil-service law, while there
are now over $1,000.
1t is asserted that there is a majority
In the Civil-Service Committee in favor
Of material notifications of the existing
law.
An effort will be made to have the bill
reported to the House by Friday. and |
action taken Immediately.