Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-14

Those who spoke in opposition of the
civil service commission as it now
exists. were Hepburn (Rep., Iowa.;
GrosyenOr Uep., Ohio: and Bartlett
Den, Ga); while among those speak
ing for the service We're Cooper (Rep.,
Wis.,: and Billette (Mass).
Notice YVES given by bingham, in
charge of the bill, that yea and nay
vote will be demanded on the amend
ment striking out the provision for
the expenses Of the civil srvice COM
mission when the bill is reported in the
House. No conclusion was reached in
committee on the legislative bill.
The House resumed consideration of
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill in committee of the
whole.
Bartlett, Ga, taking up the report of
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Bristow addressed himself to the
civil service system, referring to
statements made by Mr.. Bristow.
Bartlett charged that in the appoint
ment of the chief Of the supply divi-
sion of the post office department ac-
cording to the report of Gen. Bristow.
Il call attenti9E..5 he said, because it
is on the verW threshold of this re-
port. 1t meets you at the start, at the
very door and stands out as a bold,
bald violation of the law and the man
who violated it, the man who encour
aged it, the man who started it, the
| man who asked it, is q former assist
ant postmaster general, Perry S.
Of hn oil
Republican committee"
Cooper, Wis, said that every one of
the men under indictment except one
in connection with the alleged post Of
flee frauds went into the service under
the spoils system.
Cooper read the letter of explana-
ton addressed by the late Civil Service
Commissioner Proctor to the postmas-
ter general in reply to statements con-
tanned in the Bristow report relative
| to the Louis appointment, prefacing
| the reading with the statement that
| Mr.. BriStOw had done a great and he
| rOic work and that he was absolutely
| fearless.
Grosvenor. Ohio, spoke against the
| civil service as it now exists, asking
why appointment should not be as
properly upon tIie IcCOIiuleIldd-
| ton of Il representative of the peO-
| pie as to have the President appoint
q FOuike to be purveyor of all the de-
partments. He asked why the commit
| tee on civil service reform had been
sitting on the safety valve saying that
if Il vote was permitted the civil ser
vice commission would be stripped of
vast amount of it's power.
Clark Mo-, suggested that a bill be
brought before the House so that the
subject could be debated and voted
upon.
Grosvenor further said: "When this
law went into effect the expenditures
under the bill now pending here
amounted to about $40, 900. 900; today, it
amounts to $50, OOO. 900 and we are told
that the reason for that is that 16 per
cent. of this amount is paid to men
a absolutely worthless to the public SER
vice, SO that we have practically civil
pension. 1t is enough to say that I'M
der this system the wrongs and out
RACES and Irregularities and crimes
that are charged, today, if they did
not originate under the civil service
administration, have been covered
through the administration of that
system up to date"
Grosvenor said the gentleman from
Missouri, Clark, could immortalize
himself if he would introduce a bill
amending. charging, altering or affect
ing the old law. which he said is re-
garded as the perfection of human wis
dom. Concluding his remarks, Grosve-
nor said that an Oligarchy of three
men had been built and up to a recent
date, was controlled by one man.
Norris, Neb., spoke in favor of the
civil service because he said it takes
the appointments from partisan poll
tics.
Civil Service Commissioners Cooley
and Greene occupied seats in the gal
lery Of the House during the debate on
the civil service.
On the pending motion of Hepburn,
Uep, Iowa.. the paragraph provid-
ing for the salaries and travelling ex-
penses of the civil service commission
was stricken from the bill, IS to 65,
Republicans and Democrats voting to-
gether to strike ont the paragraph.
Bingham gave notice that in the
House he would demand the yeas and
nays.
At L. NJ. the committee rose with
out having concluded consideration of