The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-16
Illinois Politicians, However, Have
No Genuine Interest in the
Reform Movement.
AMENDMENTS ARE LOOKED FOR.
Governors Plan to Give Himsel.
Appointment of Fat Commits
sionerships Regarded as
Too Much Partially.
Br A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

! Bf STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Springfield. IL. March l5.-The Illinois
legislators again take up this week the
| bothersome civil-se-vce problem. 1t has
been ard will be productive OF much that
| Is srinnly humorous. considering the big
| ness of the issue and the way it is being
played with.
| The members of the Assembly who are
! most st!rctively modern polite ans s.
! whose ability 10 swing tieir districts has de-
! pehdtc largely upon a julicious pulling Of
| me wires 70: patronage. are an element
! whlcn IS shouting lodest for reform Then
allied With them AMI the Governor is Judge
Sherman. who. upon every other prouosi-
ton, has been kniting the Yates crowd re-
| ientlessly.
The truth is that everybody Democrats
and Repubiicans' is committed to civil serv
Ice by platform pledges ana that nobody
wants it unless 1t he Sherman: that in
none of the politicians. The vexing prob
lem s. to avoid open BETRAYAL of the pledges
to stand as the hero fighting for reform,
ana yet manage to eVade the conseotlerce-
enactment OF law
The general opinion now is that the low
er branch OF the Assembly: at least, will be
compelled to pass bill Of seine sort. that
II cannot 'evade the consequence" Their
"Iishteo us-indignation" plea against pres
ent abuses has carried them 90 far that
they cannot turn back and save their stand
Ing before their constituents. So it is likely
70 come to the point OF voting away their
n RhnS.lv
one indeed. especially il the Senate keeps uS
the good work and hands the bill to the
though the Senate combins" Is
TO foreteil what It will do
POLITICAL SUICIDE.
Thus the Asse:nblymen, MANY Of them
there are exceptions, Of couise-are not
overhappy In the consciousness that they
are. politically, committing suicide tust to
pass a bill that the majority of the people
want.
The civil-service bill Is still on second
reading and comes up as a special order
Wednesday. Then the efforts to amend 1t
Will begin again, and not a tenth of the
proposed amendments have had hearing
Inc most interesting OF the proposed
changes affects vital element of the meas
ure-the makeup of the Civil Service Com
mission.
sHERMAN'S STAND.
Shermans stand in favor Of the Gov
ernor's bill Is based on the belief tina; this
bill has the best chance of passing He
wants some kind of civil service. and is
willing to concede his arch enemy an adj
vantage TO get the beginning of thorough
system planted. Several of Sherman's fol-
lowers are with him. But the majority want
the bull amended and took sides with Rep
resentatiVe Shurtlef against the measure
a week ago.
1t Is possible that the Republicans will
endeavor to make the bill caucus meas
ure. In this event Shur,ier and some olher
OF the strongest enemies OF the bill may he
forced into line.
countered difficulties In complying with the
resolution requiring the itemizing of appro-
priaticn bills In the resolution as drafted
CURED only for the Information OF the COM
mittee. The House organization. wishing to
take credit for the move from Sherman,
Indy of Bond. Lindly's resolution requires
that the items be in the bills themselves.
But Indy overstepped himself. since bills
In this form, made up into the omnibus ap
preparation bill. would total into something
Ike mile in length.
The Governors bill would allow the Gov
restriction. and this would put some more
OF the Governors friends on good pay and
keep the rest o Of his organizationnmen now
part OF their natural lives.
Ihis would be taking the offices out OF
p poll according to ,he GoyeIn9r,s bul.
himself taken out of poIitics and are schem- |
ing 10 throw him out next election, and
Of employees left as legacy under civil SER |
vice to the State Of Illinois
This view of the matter is productive of |
an amendment constituting the elective |
State officers the Civil! Service Commission. |
This will give the heads of departments, like
the Secretary Of State. the Auditor and 1
the selection Of employees for their offices /
and take dictatorial power from the chief |
executive.
AS the bills have been thus far presented.
the resolution has not been complied with. |
The Sherman men have innocently de- /
that the organization stick by Its |
resolution. insisting that the rule be com
piled with or repealed.
VIVISECTION.
In this Appropriations Committee some
Of the most interesting work of the ses-
sion is being transacted. Sherman il watch
ns every development like lynx 1t is
here. as much as on the floor of the
House. that he Is occupied in pulling the
pegs out OF the administrations house Of
,ards. II is apparent. withal. that he takes
keen delight In his task of vivisection |
Others besides Sherman and Shernan's |
supporters In the Assembly. are much in
crested In what Sherman is doing. But 1t
g facility. These Others are all candi- |
latts for Governor to fill Dick Yatess |
hoes. Among them might be mentioned ].
VI. Rose Secretary of State: Attorney
General Hamin. State Attorney Deneen OF
chicago and Colonel Pash Warner. They |
III wont to reap the harvest after Sherman |
Ices the work. HASTINGS MacADAM. |
PARIS COMMUNE ANNIVERSARY.