Evening star., 1899-06-05
Reformers' Objections to the Civil
Service Order.
TT LETS DOWN THE BARS" THEY SAY
Establishes a Precedent for Future
Exceptions.
REPEALS LAW VIRTUALLY

The recent order of the President regard
ing the civil service continues to be the
subject for discussion among civil service
reformers and those who are antagonistic
to the merit system. The National Civil
Service Reform League has issued a state
II ent regarding the order, Interpreting it as
a serious backward step in civil service
reform.
Many of the civil service reformers in
this city consider the order especially
vicious in establishing a precedent, which,
at some future time. may be used for the
further notification of the civil service law.
They say that never before has President
excepted from the classified service place
previously included in it.
Exceptions fr the Past.
Exceptions in the past, they contend,
have been made at the time positions have
been classified, and in order to except GER
tain places from classification. Nearly all
civil service reformers have contended that
when a place is once classified it cannot be
taken out of the classified service except
by act of Congress; that the President, by
the civil service act, is given authority to
classify, but not authority to nullfy former
classiticatiOns. Great pressure was
brought to bear upon both Presidents Har-
rison and Cleveland to undo the work of
ceptions. but this view of the law was
urged upon them and they made no at
tempt to oppose it. The danger Of the pre-
cedent set by Mr.. Mckinley, it is claimed,
is in the fact that in the future it may be
quoted for further exceptions, and if it is
followed it might result in a complete nulll-
lication of the civil service law
Order ns to Reinstatements.
The Presidents order permits reinstate-
ments after dismissal, under certain condi-
tions beyond the one-year period pre-
viously fixed. and this, it is said, allows
what Congress refused to allow during Mr..
| Clevelands second term. At that time an
| effort was made to extend the period IN
| which such reinStatements could be made,
| in order that the 1,9oO railway postal clerks
| removed by Mr.. Wanamaker might be
given their places again. The fight for TINS
amendment to the law was begun. but 1t
made very little headway in Congress, be-
| cause of the serious results that it was
| feared would grow out of 1t.
Opportunity for Bryan.
Prior to the last congressional election
Mr. Bryan's antagonsm to civil service re-
| form was urged upon the country. and he
announced his int ntiOn tC do what he
could to substitute arothar system of ap-
poirtments in place of that now used. His
declarations against the merit system were
net by civil service reformers at that tina
| with the assertion that he could take no
backward step. and that if such action was
| had it could come only through an act of
Congress.
Many republicans now express the belief
| that in viaw of Mr. Mckinley's order Mr..
| Bryan will notify his political friends who
are anxious to. re-estabish the spoils sys-
| tenn that he will only have to follow Mr..
| MC<inleys example in order to nullffy the
| entire civil service law if he should b. re-
| nominated and elected. In that way they
| think Mr.. Bryan may gain the enthusiastic