Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-10

THE CIVIL SERVICE DEBATE.
Perkins Tell. Of the Time ssu Fran
cisco Had In securing "a suit
able Building.

ccutivc and judicial appropriation bill.
a lively debate was prccipitnted over
the appropriation for the support OF
the Office of the supervising architect
OF the treasury. and that official was
criticised for the delay In the conatruc-
tlon Of public buildings throughout the
United states. a speech made by Mr..
Allen. In which he commented unfavor-
ably upon the methods Of the appro.
pfiatiun committee induced "A rojUiuier
from Mr. Chandler IN, III which re-
suited In sharp tilt between the Two
senators. Fifty.onc pages " the pend
linz bill were disposed Of before the
Senate went Into executive session fOr
the remainder OF the day.
The following bills were passed.
Authorizing the Sioux city b omaha
Hallway company 10 construct and
operate railway through the Omaha
and Winnebngo reservation In Thurs
ton county, Ncb.. TO restore 10 their
original status ns 20 promotion officers
81 the navy and marine corps who lost
numbers by reason Of the advancement
Of other officers Tor exceptional ana
mcritorious service during the war
with spain. authorizing tho Arkansas
Harbor Terminal Railway company 10
construct bridge across the Corpus
Christi channel In Texas. and for the
purchase or construction OF "A launch
FOR the customs service at Astoria. Or.
to cost not more than $500,
The executive, legislative and Judi
ciai appropriation bill was taken up
and consideration Of IL resumed. The
paragraph relating 10 the deposit OF
copyright works In tho national library
was stricken out with the intention Of
revising u IN conference.
a brief but lively civil service debate
was prccipltatcd by an inquiry " Mr..
cockrcil of Missouri concerning the ok
pcndl,urc OF money FOR the Office Of
supervising architect. lie maintained
that the work ~ the supervising ar
chitcctH office was done slowly. II not
badly. The construction OF public
buildings dragged through year after
year. Were these buildings bcing
erected by prlvgsc individuals they
would be completed In onc season.
Mr.. Gallingcrc OF New Hampshire
pointed out IN this connection that the
treasury department was now author
lied 10 Invite competition of private
architects In the construction ~ pub
lie buildings. I'VE have very cxpcn-
Siyc bureau" said he. yet we are
dawdllng along with the public build
inHH OF the country Ia shameful man
ner"
lie told OF one Of the most diHtin-
Ruiahcd architects In the country VINO
came 10 Washington 90 take the civil
service examination FOR supervising
architect. He did not pass the cxnmi-
nation. yet. said MIR. Gallinscr. after
We have secured such an architect na
now occupies the office We proceed to
dlHcr-dit him by letting out the Jobs
to architects who could not pass the
departments examination.
MIR. cullom said the people did not
trust the supervising architect and In
a
case In Chicago, where n special archi-
tcct was employed TO construct the
government building there.
Mr.. cockrell placed the blame for tho
situation OF affairs upon the cxecu-
tive, who, he said. had ample authority
TO remedy II. The civil service law. he
nnid, hhd been carried 10 most dele
tcrious extent, so that II had proved a
most ignominioua and dissraceful fall
urc.
In n speech opposing the civil service
law, Mr.. Stewart declared the law
would be an injury 20 the government
10 long nh u remained on tho statute
books.
Mr.. Perkins told OF the serious time
the people OF San Francisco had had
IN securing such u government build
Ing nH they needed and desired. The
Snn Francisco people were indignant
that an attempt should be made TO
force them to accept a building that
lid not comport with other structures
In the city. lie then showed a picture
OF the proposed building 10 senators.
1T looks like cotton factory" COM
mented Mr.. Tillman.
why" said Mr.. Perkins. "our Jail
In San Francisco Is a pleasing picture
compared 10 that %
Mr. German regarded II as wise and
proper thing to increase the compcnsa-
ton OF the supervising architect In or
der To enable the President To secure
man for the Office who was compe-
tent TO I'LL II.
Mr.. Allen commented upon the para
graphs making appropriations for odds
and ends Of office needs. Many OF them
he thought. were suspicious Turning
from this subject, he inquired why
there WAS no mastering out OF major
generals. brigadier- generals, ndjutnnt
generals ana paymnsterH who had been
and were now sitting around Wash.
ington. toaating their feet. eating.
drinking and being merry at the ex-
pense OF the government"
Mr., Allison. chairman OF the nppro-
prlntions committee replied; II be-
no special knowledge Of the utility OF
mnJor-RenornlH and other officers to
whom the senator refers, but I take Il
they are Engaged In the work laid out
for them about year ago. When the
army bill Is reached then the senator
can make his point The bill provides
only for the civilian employees OF the
government In Washington"
Mr.. Allen declared that the number
Of these employees could be largely de-
ercaHed There are 10000 persons In
every department OF the government
In this city who are rendering an
hours service TO the government In a
year"
Mr.. Alllaon--I do not think there are
20 many employees In Washington as
that.
Mr., Allen-i should think there are
about 10000.
Mr.. chandler-Therc are Just about
10000.
Mr.. Allen, continuing his criticism
declared that the farmers ana working
people OF the country We're paying
taxes TO support those worthless crea-
lures"
Mr.. Chandler. In replying to Mr. Al
len, said there was doubtless extrava-
gnnce In the government service and
perhaps too many employee. but tho
charge Of the Nebraska senator was
altogether too general 10 have any ef-
feet either on the Senate or on tho
country. The senator" said Mr..
Chandler. has been here almost six
years, and In all that time has not
made proposition for single specific
economy"
Mr., Allen explained that not having
had the ear Of the appropriation COM
mittee. he had never had the oppor-
tunity.
Mr.. chandler--I have heard that the