Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-14
MARGIN OF THIRTEEN
PROVISION FOR CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION STRICKEN OUT.
Action of House in Committee of the
Whole on the Legislative APP
preparation Bill.

Sitting in committee Of the whole yester-
day afternoon, the members of the House
of Representatives. voted by 70 to IS to
strike out the paragraph in the legislative,
executive and judicial bill making appro-
priation for the expenses of the civil service
commission, including salaries of commits
sioners, examiners, etc. This action was
the result OF the extended debate which
began Tuesday and extended throughout
practically the entire session of yesterday,
which was not adjourned until after 5
o'clock
This action in committee of the whole Is
not unprecedented, and there is not a very
strong impression at the Capitol that the
House will ratify it. 1t means that the bill
will be reported to the House with the
amendment recommended. The House will
then vote as to striking out the paragraph.
Representative Bingham, chairman of the
appropriations subcommittee having the
measure in charge, gave notice that he
would call for yea and nay vote when
the matter comes before the House.
Col. Hepburn Not Hopeful.
Col. Pete Hepburn Of Iowa, who had
led the assault on the civil service system
as 1t is at present constituted. admitted
yesterday that he did not think the with
holding Of the salaries of the commission
would accomplish the results desired.
This Is the only opportunity we have
for expressing our views on the subject"
he declared. land think it will result in
the creation OF such a sentiment as may
penetrate even as far as Massachusetts,
and may have some influence on those
purists of Boston who trammel us in this
way, and who are standing, as ] think, In
the way OF progress and in the way of
good government"
This direct challenge to Representative
Gillett of Massachusetts,, chairman of the
committee on reform of the civil service,
brought that gentleman to his feet. He
warmly espoused the doctrine of civil serv-
Ice and defended the present system val
iantly. Mr.. Gdllett, who within the past
few days has incurred the enmity of many
department clerks for his agitation of the
seven-hour law, resulting in the 4:30 o'clock
closing order, rushed to the defense of the
system that protects these same clerks
from the Vaccinations OF the politicians.
and which, if defeated, would leave them
at the mercy Of the spokesman" so often
referred to in the debate.
Halcyon Days Of the spoilsmen.
Il was quite edited yesterday" said
MIR. Gillett, ito hear those two veterans
OF the House, the gentleman from Penn
sylvania (Mr. Bingham) and the gentle
man from Iowa (Mr Hepburn), both of
regrets with each other because they
originally voted for this law and looking
back apparently with fond regrets to the
old halcyon days when there was no civil
service.
Il could but think how happy it would be
for them if there was none today. With
their long service and ability and influence,
what Is there in the way of offices which
they cOuldfnot today expect? There is no
doubt about it. the passage of that law took
the bread out of our mouths. do not pro-
fess to have any less fondness for bread
than any one else. and naturally members
of Congress can not help feeling some per-
sonal regret, perhaps. that We no longer
have that patronage which they had in the
days the gentleman spoke Of / confess /
thought possibly their opinions We're tenn
pered a little by that popularity of human
nature which is said always to make us as
we grow older. look back upon the days of
our youth as the happy days and the pres
ent as degenerate. ] really think If the gem
tlemen's sober Judgment could impartially
be applied to it. they would admit that the
civil service today is vastly better than it
was before this law. e}B
The Desire of the People,
For myself, long ago came to the con-
clusion that there was one principle which
l believed in and which / should stand by,
no matter what others did. and that was
the principle that the merit system is pet
ter than the old patronage system. believe
that the people generally have come to De-
heye that. ! believe that the people
generally would rather trust almost any
impartial test to decide what clerks shall pe
selected than to leave it to the congressman
to appoint their friends. The men who want
office, who are our personal friends, who.
perhaps, may make more noise than others
and directly influence us. may not feel so:
but the sober. reflective. freside opinion or
the United States, in my judgment, believes
in that system. and would bring defeat
upon any party which should overthrow It.
1t was originally passed under the lash ot
public opinion, and / think that opinion Is
now far more decided in its favor.
MI Grosvenor interrupted. asking:
Does the gentleman know any member
of Congress who advocates the appoint
ment of men to office upon the recon-
mendation Of members"
1.-THE repeal of this law means that" re-
piled Mr. Gillett.
May not this law be repealed by the
substitution of a better panE suggested
Mr.. GrosvenOr.
POSSIBLY. / am very glad that the gen.
tleman does not favor the repeal of this
law" Mr.. Gillett rejoined.
81 do not l never did; but l am only
wanting to get rid of great central power
in a free government that purveys the
offices of the government just exactly as an
arbitrary power in an ancient serfdom does
in that kind of country" Mr.. Grosyenor
concluded.
Why the Superannuated Are Kept.
Mr.. Gillett continued his discussion Of the
law saying:
1.-The only point where I think amend
ment is needed is in the approximation.
The gentleman says the officers have not
the power now to dismiss incompetent
clerks. They have, in my opinion. ample
power. Under the present law any officer
can discharge any person, and he ought to
do it IL the clerk is incompetent, and the
trouble Is not in the law, but in the de-
partment officers. Why they do not do 1t
do not know. / suspect there are three
reasons-first the natural sympathy they
have for the old men, who probably tell
them and very likely truthfully, that they
have nothing to live on, and they hate to
put them out in the cold world and be re-
sponsible for it, / think another reason is
that great many are old soldiers, and
that still further intensifes the unwilling
ness, and thirdly, there are cases where