New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14
MERIT SYSTEM ASS4ILED.
House Votes Not to Pay Expense
of Civil Service Commission.

,,,,,,s+o, Ian 19-After lively debate last
Ing three hours the House to-day In committee OF
the whole by vote Of rs to Go. struck out OF the
legislative Executive and Judicial Appropriation
IN .t. rorarranh providing for the salaries and
e,nenses of the Civil Service Commission The
action was taken motion or Mr. Hepburn (Aep-'
Iowa) He was supported by both Republicans ana
democrats. Those who spoke in opposition TO the
Cv,, Service system II now exists were Messrs
ITanhurn Crosvenor CRep-, Ohio and Bartlett
Dem. Ga) while among those speaking Tor the
service were Messrs. Cooper Rep.. WIS., and Glle'S
CRep Mass) Notice was given by MI. Bingham
13en penn In charge OF the BILL that an aye and
- ,,o+a will be demanded the amendment strik-
ing out the provision for the expenses OF the COM
mission when the bill Is reported In the House.
Civil Service Commissioners Cooley and Greene oc-
cpnied seats in the gallery during the debate.
Mr. C,rosvsnor asked why an appointment should
mot he a. properly made the recommendation of
a Representative OF the people as TO nave the
President appoint Fouke to be purveyor or al
| the appointments. He asked why the Committee
| on Civil Service Reform had been sitting on the
safetv valve saying that II vote was permitted
the Civil Service Commission would be stripped OF
q vast amount Of its power
Mr. Clark Dem. MOD suggested that a bill be
brought before the House so that the subject could
| be debated and voted on
Mr. Grosvenor said the gentleman from Missouri
could immortalize himself II he would Introduce
and pass a bill amending, charging. altering or
affecting the old law which, he said Is regarded as
the perfection OF human wisdom. When this law
wen, into effect" Mr.. Grosvenor went on, 1.-The
expenditure under the bill now pending here
amounted to about $50 100000; to-day it amounts to
$50 600 COO and we told that the for that
| is that 10 per cent OF this amount-that Is the
| estimate given to me yesterday-is paid to men
absolutely worthless to the public service so that
we have practically civil pension 1t Is enough to
| say that the expenditures under this system have
| Increased 30 per cent. 1t Is enough 10 say that
| under this system the wrongs and outrages and
irregularities and crimes that are charged to-day.
If they did not originate under the Civil Service
administration, have been covered through the ad-
| minIstrat.on OF that system up 10 date
| Mr. Lacey CRep., Iowa) said the present system
was not merit system as it now exists Men. he
| said had gone into government service without
| examination and had since been covered In the
| Civil Service, and are now irremoVabie
| Mr. Hepburn declared that he was not inclined
to crticise the heads OF the commission. but the
Civil Service as Is @ II da o boaS
sides OF the House. Mr.. Hepburn SAID that II the
traton of the affairs of the government the friends
that parry 70 1aqd az with hs head Of ds
| partment having over five hundred clerks who had
f5eir desks if the elevators in the building were
not running. and that should ne be permitted to
Win two hundred clerks;
/ IN The civil Service demanded to know why the
head OF the department in question did not make
his r own aeDb9fn replied that Mr. Get knew well
- nv one else that this could not be done under
S any ctcs which prevails. although the law might
permit it, -. yv,. y 1rantAd Mr. Ha,b,rn m
W uCbv he did not advocate legislative reform
s'Ee snhurn replied holly that with the present
NJ IF the committee controlling such leStsla-
MAJ if was We'll known that nothing could be done
ME- Gillett said he was in favor of q merit sys-
tS S srS+am is not perfect and can be amended.
me me- Gomuittee on Civil Service had considered the
| 10 nd he would not oppose bringing In a
;if the law. but good would come from
trt-i-r ont the para graph in the Dill providing for
| tba exnenses OF the commission
th ne npotion of Mr. Hepburn the paragraph provid-
- To- the salaries and travelling expense of the
| stiyil service Commission was then stricken from
- M Penublicans and Democrats voting together
| to strike out the paragraph
| !" n n, the committee without having
concluded consideration of the DILL and the House
- 5-o5 "a m adjourned until tomorrow.