Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07
PROPRIETOR, BUFFALO LiTHiA SPRINGS, VIRGINIA.
w. S. THOMPSON, Agent, 7o3 18th St. ~ w.

and even if it should disappear from the
statute books / have an idea that our no.
htical institutions would struggle along in
some fashion or other.
Our friends from Ohfo-in fact they may
be described as the syndicate of anti-ciyiI
service reform enthusiasts from Ohio-fear
that unless something desperate is done
here today the people out there who rev.
eled IN their ferocious speeches in the last
session VIII begin to suspect that they were
not IN earnest when year ago they num-
bered the days of civil service reform.
Gentlemen ii is better on the whole that
the people of your districts should think
that you are not in earnest than that the
world should understand that the repubIi-
can platforms on this subject for the last
twenty years have not been in earnest and
have not spoken the truth (Apulause on
the republican side)
L for one think they have adopted a
very shabby. not to say a very childish
way of emphasizing their views and their
convictions upon this question. Here we
have law which has stood upon the stat
ute books of the United States now for
nearly twenty years. recommended by Cen
eral Grant, commended by every executive
OF Whatever political party from that time.
and approved in its general principles by
the Common Judgment of students Of no.
htical science throughout the country and
throughout the world
The Commission Commended.
I'VE have a commission fearlessly, pa
tently, laboriously doing the great work
committed to it by the law, and doing the
work in exact accordance with the law.
Yes, in every session of Congress we have
a motion made to strike out the provision
for the salaries of this commission. be-
cause these brethren complain that they
cannot get their bill reported from the
| committee on reform in the civil service
IN this House. What charming confess
sion of their situation is that Is there
any bill that can get before this House
unless We can get the committee to which
1t is referred to report it?
Why is it that for sixteen years,
throughout republican and democratic adj
ministrations alike, this proposition to dis
able the civil service law has never been
able to get itself reported from any COM
mittee of this House? Nav 1t not he on
account of the folly of the proposition
itself? An enterprise with an experience
like that behind it, instead of whimpering
and striking madly in all directions, ought
at least in the short session of Congress, to
assume the virtues of humility and silence
| have not particularly examined the bill
introduced by the gentleman from Ken
lucky: 1t is likely that there is merit in
1t and that it ought to be reported But
| behind it. as these debates show stands the
undisguised purpose to wipe out the civil
service law, or to cripple and impair it
Anybody can see why the committee has
| hestated and held back for sixteen years
| If gentlemen desire to enjoy the luxury of
| seeing the committees of this House report
! their bills the result will not be reached
! by depriving faithful executive officers of
| their salaries under the f1ve-minute rule
IN committee of the whole. Let them
| rather study to draw their bills in con.
| formtty with the public welfare of the peo-
| pie of the United States' applause on
| the republican side.)