The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-16
CIVIL SERVICE
GETS NEW AIRING
Law Is Attacked in the Senate
and Presidents Course Crit.
iCiSed In the House.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April Is. =
After day devoted to quite routine
proceedings, the senate was treated to
speech by Mr.. Bailey just before adj
Journment on the question of civil
service The subject came UP in con-
nectlon with paragraph in the sun
dry civil appropriation bill. Mr.. Bailey
announced in plain terms that he had
no sympathy with the "iridescent
dream" of civil service He declared
that each party should control the pat
ronage while in power and avowed
hlmseit spokesman. Mr.. Hale was in
accord with much that Mr.. Bailey said,
put declared that congress could not
De induced to change the law even
though convinced that it should be
changed.
The Panama canal bill occupied the
major portion of the day and was
passed without division Mr.. Spooner
made speech in support of the bin
ana was replied to by Mr.. Morgan
Mr.. Spooner spoke in favor of an
amendment proposed by Mr. Morgan
that the pardoning power rest in the
governor instead of in the commission,
lie moved also that new section be
added, providing that all salaries or
other compensation fixed by the COM
mission shall be subject to the approval
OF the president. The amendment was
ADOPTED, as we'll as others recurring
more rigid accounting to the president
by members of the commission.
Mr.. Bacon offered an amendment at
the end of the first section of the bill
providing that the payment of $10,-
100000 to Panama provided for in ar
tlcle IA of the treaty shall be made in
lieu OF the indefinite appropriation
made in the third section of the act of
June 20, 1902, and is hereby appro-
pr1ated. The amendment was adopted
after an explanation that this would
clear away all doubt as to the author
lty to make the payment.
BaIey's Blast.
The civil service appropriation bill
was taken up, when the amendment
authorizing the secretary Of the in
terror to appoint agents for the pro-
lection Of public timber without re-
gard to party affiliation" was reached,
Mr.. German made an inquiry concern
ing the civil service feature of the pro-
vision, whereupon Mr.. Bailey made his
attack on practices under the civil
service law. He spoke of the civil
service requirement as a "dream-an
iridescent Dream" and added the con-
Viction that the present president has
suspended the civil service law in or
more times than all of his predecessors.
He then announced himself a spoils-
man and said that he delighted in it,"
adding that he never had been able to
attain the intellectual enthusiasm of
those who would entirely disassociate
an applicant for office upon political
conviction.
II believe" he said, that to the vic
tor the spOils belong, and if had my
way under a Republican administra-
ton l would not allow a Democratic
Endorsement to be filed; nor would I
as Democrat permit the filing of a
Republican Endorsement under a Dem
ocratic administration"
He added that he would ask no favor
of political enemies, and said that if
such favors were granted he would
not think much of those who granted
them, as he would know that they
would expect faVors In return. He had
no complaint that the Republicans now
appoint their partisans, but he did
complain when there were violations
of the law under the political dilet-
tantism connected with the service I'M
der present conditions.
Scandals Plentiful.
There never had been more scandals
in the departments than since the pres
ent system was inaugurated, and if the
IIdQ USSIl dUlS " luII1 lIIS
Democratic rascals out of office when
they took control of the government
they would not now be able to plead
every time the pOstoffice scandal was
mentioned that one of the chief Offend
.ers had been a Democrat. Partisan
ship never ran too high to suit him,
provided 1t was intelligent enough to
discriminate. He predicted that if the
present system should be continued the
country would soon have civil pen
sion list
Mr. Hale interrupted with the state
ment that he fully agreed with much
that the Texan had said; yet he add
ed, it was impossible to get a change
because of the unwillingness of con-
gress to put itself on record. He call
ed attention to the fact that whenever
there was roll call on the subject in
the house 1t failed to sustain other
votes against the civil service system.
''In view of this fact" he asked, docs
the senator from Texas think there is
the slightest chance of changer"
Mr.. Bailey replied that he did not
think there was, and Mr.. Hale said:
us there not a sort of pail resting on
congress, which prevents 1t express