Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-02-02

was determined 20 support the Pres
ident in bis movement for railway
rate control, such action, it having
been argued, being dictated by
patriotic motives. which should
stand above partisan considerations.
Il Ia also true that the Democrats in
the SeEsts will stand solidly in sup
port Of any measure sent over from
the House which carries into effect
the Presidents recommendations.
although ID is entirely possible. even
probable. that Senator Elkins, as
chairman Of the Senate committee on
Interstate Commerce, will be able 10
prevent any measure, Of real value
being reported 20 the Senate.
"a
That there Is no possibility OF rail-
way Legislation az this session is
conceded by those familiar with the
Legislation at this session Is conced-
ed by those familiar with the legis-
lative situation. The Senate leaders
have craftily brought about q situa.
ton which precludes the possibility
oil any important Legislative enact.
ment before March 4. To accom-.
plish this end they once more made
tool OF the ever willing junior Seua.
tor from Indiana, Mr.. Beveridge.
Senator Beveridge was told to bring
in the Statehood bill and that the
leaders would help him pass IL,
although they never intended so
doing. Mr.. Beveridge, never loath
10 assume a roll which makes him
the center OF attraction, gladly re-
sponded and for days and weeks
the Statehood bill has dragged its
weary way through the Senate, Mr..
Beveridge believing he was making
progress, while the leaders declar-
cd that nothing could be done I'M
til Statehood was disposed Of land
all the while were laughing in their
sleeves. Now it has become evident,
even TO Mr.. Beveridge that he can
not pass his bill, but he does not
even now know that be has been
made the cats-paw of the leaders.
-
The best policies of the President
have no more spacious friend, no
more covert enemy, than Speaker
Cannon. The President recently
declared that any government en-
ploye who exerted influence with
members OF Congress to obtain an
increase Of salary must be discharg-
ed. This did not please Mr.. Cannon,
who is an arrant spokesman, and he
Immediately passed the word that
"lump-funds" must be abolished,
and so they are being. Lump
funds" are appropriations made in
lump sums for the several depart
nents, so made that the respective
cabinet officers may, at their dis
erection, reward worthy employees
with increases of salary. Opposed
to the "lump-fund" is the 'statu-
tory roll" that is list of places for
which Congress fixes the salaries.
Clerks in all departments are being
transferred to the statutory roll so
that their salaries cannot be increas-
ed except by Congress and those
who actually deserve and to whom
their chiefs would like to give in
creases, must appeal to members of
Congress or go without.
-
Another instance of Mr.. Cannon s
efforts to defeat the wishes OF the
President recently came to the at
tention of your correspondent. The
President extended the civil SER
vice classification to include some
neutrality-suspicious. 'laborers"
but doing clerical work and having
served several years. AS long as
they were "laborers" they could not
be paid over $50 a month. Several
Secretaries wished to promote the
more efficient of these employees and
to that end asked the President to
include them in the classified service.
He did soand Immediately the House |
provided that clerks so classified |
should receive a maximum salary Of |
SO month, thus defeating the in
tention of the President and demon
strating to the clerks that they must |
acquire influence" with Congress
if they even hoped to better their !
-
Instances without number could |
be cited where Congress has cover
tly defeated the efforts of the Presi |
dent to establish an efficient civil |
service where merit should gain |
promotion and political influence
nr0va nf M avail uharo H. f~;.L