The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-10
TOO MANY OFFICIALS
Lazy and Incompetent Employees
Roasted In Senate.
BIG PAY FOR NO WORK
USELESS ARMY OFFICERS CON-
TINUE TO DRAW PAY.
Supervising Architect Roundly De-
nounced For His Incompetence
Some Samples of His Bungling
Work-Senator Allen Pictures the
Abuses at the Capital.

WOrk@Senator Allen pictures the
Abuses at the Capital.
Washington, Feb. 9.-Throughout its
open session today the senate had I'M
der consideration the legislative, exc
cutive and judicial appropriation bill.
!, A lively debate was precipitated over
the appropriation for the support of the
office of the supervising architect of the
treasury, and that official was criti-
ciSed for the delay in the construction
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-
priation committee, induced a rejoinder
from Mr.. Chandler On. HI, which re-
suited in a sharp tilt between the two
senators.
A brief but lively civil service debate
was precipitated by an inquiry of Mr..
Cockrell of Missouri, concerning the eX-
penditure of money for the office of su-
perviSing architect. He maintained that
the work of the supervising architect s
office was done slowly, if not badly. The
construction of public buildings dragged
through year after year. Were these
buildings being erected by private indi-
viduals they would be completed in one
season.
Mr.. Gallinger of New Hampshire
pointed out in this connection that the
treasury department was now author
lied to invite competition of private
architects in the construction of public
buildings.
I'VE have very expensive bureau"
said he, yet we are dawdling along
with the public buildings of the coun-
| f1-xr in oh. Off 10 oil
of one of the most distinguished archi-
tects in the country who came to Wash
| ington to take the civil service eXamin-
alton for supervising architect. He did
not pass the examination yet, said Mr..
/ Gallinger, after we have secured such
| an architect as now occupies the office
we proceed to discredit him by letting
| out the jobs to architects who could not
pass the departments examination
Mr.. Cullom said the people did not
trust the supervising architect, and in
sisted upon special men. That was the
case in Chicago, where a special arch
itect was employed to construct the
government building there.
Mr.. Cockrell placed the blame for the
| situation of affairs upon the executive,
who, he said. had ample authority to
remedy it. The civil service law, he
said. had been carried to a most dele
ferrous extent, so that it had proved
most ignOminous and diSgraceful fail
ure-
SAN FRANCISCO'S COMPLAINT.
Mr. Perkins (Cal.) told of the serious
| time the people Of San Francisco had
had in securing such a government
| building as they needed and desired.
The San Francisco people were indig-
nant that an attempt should be made
| to force them TO accept a building that
did not compOrt with other structures
in the city. He then showed a picture
of the proposed building to senators.
at looks like a cotton factory" COM
mented Mr.. Tillman.
why" said Mr.. Perkins, "our Jail in
San Francisco is pleasing picture
compared to that"
Mr.. German (Maryland) regarded it
as a wise and proper thing to increase
the compensation of the supervising
architect in order to enable the presi-
dent to secure a man for the office who
was competent to fill it.
Mr.. Allen (Neb.) commented upon the
paragraphs 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 ma
jor generals, brigadieT generals adju-
tant generals and payTnasters who had
been appointed for the war with Spain.
and who We're now Sitting around
Washington, toasting their feet, eating,
drinking and being merry at the ex-
perEe of the government"
Mr.. Allison, chairman of the appro-
priatiOns committee, replied: 81 have
no special knowledge of the utility of
major generals and other officers to
whom the senator refers, but I take it
they are engaged in the work laid out
for them about q. year ago. When the
h
can make his point. This bill provides |
for the civilian employees Of the gov
eminent in Washington
TOO MANY SINECURES.
Mr.. Allen declared that the number of
these employees could be largely de-
creased. ''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.. Allison-I do not think there are
so many employees in Washington as
that.
Mr.. Allen-I should think there are
about $4,000.
Mr.. Chandler-There are just about |
10000.
Mr.. Allen, continuing his criticism,
declared that the farmers and working |
people of the country were paying |
taxes Ito support these worthless crea-
lures"
Mr. Chandler, in replying to Mr.. ALI
len, said there was doubtless extraVa-
gances in the government service, and |
perhaps too many employees, but the
charge of the Nebraska senator was al
together too general to have any eff
feet. either on the senate or on the
country.
THE senator" said Mr. Chandler,
has been here almost SIX years, and in
all that time has not made a PROPOSE
ton for a single specific economy"
Mr.. Allen explained that, not having
had the ear of the appropriations COM
mittee, he had never had the opportu-
nifty.
Mr. Chandler have heard that the
senator was a modest man, but I never
discovered it except in his own utter
ances.
Mr.. Chandler then declared that Mr..
Aliens periodical ''diatribes' had been
general in their terms, and net so direct
as to be useful.
Mr.. Allen-I hope the senator will
withdraw that word. "diatribes"
Mr. Chandler will, and I will sub
stitute for it the term, Periodical ad-
monitionS." Gaughter.)
The pending bill was then laid aside
for the day and at 3:15 p. m, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Hoar, the senate went into
executive session. At 5:35 D. m. the
senate adjourned.