The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
SENATE'S COMEDY OF ERRORS.
FRANTIC EFFORTS TO SAVE THE
PRESENT CENSUS FORCE.

menu Stutu IhuiSsu hh&t WYNN $3.50
the whole Census Force Into the
Classified Service, but FAN Amid
Roars or Laughter -McComas Finally
Saves All Except the Char-w omen
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-A comedy OF
errors was enacted in the Senate Chamber
this afternoon, which for more than an
hour kept the Senators on both sides OF the
chamber and the spectators in the gal
leries In a roar OF laughter. The bill cre-
ating a permanent census bureau was
under discussion and the mix-up was caused
by the desire, which was general among
both Republicans and Democrats, to adopt
an amendment making 1t dead sure that
the present census force Of 2,3oo or 400
employees should be transferred en- masse
into the classified service, 80 that no power
on earth could deprive them OF their place
on Uncle Sans payroll.
Every rule has its exceptions, and 30 In
this case there were a few Senators. a very
few, who opposed this scheme, and the
spokesman Of this little faction was Senator
Lodge Of Massachusetts,. He Is an original
civil service reformer and has been The
stanch and consistent advocate and de-
fender of the Civil Service law OF 1888 and the
various engagements Of it subsequently
made. Moreover, Mr.. Lodge was sup
posed to represent the wishes Of the Presi-
dent and the Civil Service Commission
when he offered the amendment providing
that only that portion Of the present census
force, estimated at 800, who shall be re-
tanned when the bureau Is made permanent
should be transferred to the classified
service.
There were two or three feeble little re-
sponses in the Affirmative when the vote
was taken on Mr.. Lodges proposition; then
a chorus OF resounding noes, and the fun
began. The moro or less grave and digni-
fled Senator's fairly fell over each other
in suggesting amendments that would
make it certain that employees or the
rolls on the date OF the passage Of the bill
should be transferred TO the eligible list
of the classified service.
The Democratic Senators, who on alb
stract questions in which their friends
and constituents are not interested are
always on the side Of economy and death
and damnation to the Civil Service law,
were more eager than the Republicans.
The temper of the Senate had been clearly
shown by its action a day or W ago in
fixing the salary of the Director OF the per-
manent Census Bureau at $500. in spite
Of efforts that were made to place it at
IS, 200, which is the amount paid to Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress.
To-day was a sort of half holiday In
Washington and the galleries were filed.
A large representation of young women,
who are census Office clerks or who have
been or who expect to be. occupied the
ladies' gallery and the Senators themselves
who always get intoa reckless, ~good-natured
mood when they nave TO work on Satur-
days, which is not often, We're primed to
do their best, which in this case proved
10 be their worst. More han a dozen
Senators, including both Republicans and
Democrats, endeavored TO frame an amend
ment that would be certain 10 re tain the
present census force permanent ly in the
classified service, and one after another
they failed, amid the laughter of their coll
leagues, until, when it was all over and an
amendment was at last adopted, Senator
Bacon suggested that it would probably
be necessary to hire a lawyer to find out
whether the clerks had been saved or dis
charged.
Senator Lodge, the scholar OF the Senate,
tried his hand first, and at his suggestion
the Senate adopted an amendment which,
if it had been allowed TO stand, might have
served the purpose, but somebody feared
that under its terms employees known
as skilled laborers' would be left out
in the cold. so Senators Foraker, McComa f.,
Spooner, Teller, Tillman, Mallory, Burton,
McCumber and half n dozen more, each
tried his hand with more or less success.
Al IL II ,l,fr Hwa.aaa1 a.-a-4a.y-
were bowled out. however, when just about
TO be adopted, because some senator would
express the fear that IL might be so cons
strued as to drop out some class of en-
ployees that il was desired to keep in.
Senator Tillman in his Characteristic way
putting the whole kit and caboodle" Of the
census forces under the protecting wing
of the classified service and let il 20 at
that. This is exactly what the Senate
was trying to do; but Mr.. Tillman's sug-
gestion was frowned down as unworthy
Of tho Senate, and this gave Senator Scott
of West Virginia a chance to den9unce
the Civil Service law. the Civil Service
Commission and everybody connected with
the cause of civil service reform, which
he said was an outrage upon the people
of the United States and a disgrace TO the
Government.
Senator Gallinger OF New Hampshire
also CAV voice TO n loud and long COM
plant that the civil service employees
from the State of New Hampshire did no
political work and made no campaign
contributions, and were under no obliga-
tons to the Senators from that State. They
simply did their work, drew their salaries
and were absolutely independent.
No attention was paid TO Scott and Till
man and Gallinger, and with stern faces
the Senate set itself to the task of acom-
piling n resolution hat would say lust
what the Senate wanted so say. After
everybody had taken a hand and mixed
things up so hat even the presiding officer
was unable TO say whore he was at, tho
venerable Senator Mallory of Florida
suggested That he had an amendment
which would clear the atmosphere instantly.
He thereupon stated his amendment, but
when asked TO put It intwritingiwas unable
10 repeat il. much TO his discomforture