Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-13
Door to the Public Ser
vice Opens But
One Way.
INCOMPETENTS KEPT
Classification Reform Demand
ed in Congress.--Several
Bills Amended.

Washington, March -13.-The house
at once began the consideration of the
legislative. executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill on meeting today. The
bill carries an appropriation of S29,-
$4,000
In explaining the bill, Littauer of
New York said it provided salaries for
IA, ,406 public servants. embracing the
entire service. He at once proceeded
with an elaborate critical explanation
of the increasing power of the govern
ment bureau chiefs and the helpless
condition of congress in controlling
the expenditures of appropriations.
Classification Necessary.
Classification of the salaries of gov
eminent clerks was, he said, a crying
necessity. Men doing exactly the same
work now receive, some $1,000, some
$1,000. some S1,400 and others $1,000.
All this tended to demoralize the sery-
ice. He suggested a commission TO go
into the question. If business methods
were applied, Littauer maintained, it
could be conducted for half the money
it now costs and with three-fourths the
number of clerks. The door of en-
trance TO this service was wide. but
once in. il opened only wide enough to
let the coffin out. 1t was a life tenure.
Power Not Used.
GrOsvenor asked if there was no
power TO get rid of an incompetent
clerk.
There is. but it's not lived up to-"
answered Littauer. who continued by |
declaring the government should not
be made a charitable institution and /
its service a home for the aged and in
firm
Proceedings of Senate.
When the senate convened Scott pre-
sented an amendment to the railroad |
rate bill requiring railroads to make |
connection with intersecting lines, with |
proper facilities for the transfer of bus
mess and exchange of cars.
Money for Investigation.
The house committee on interstate |
commerce today decided to make IA
vorable report on the Townsend joint |
resolution providing for an appropria- |
ton of $4,000 to enable the interstate
commerce commission to investigate
railways and monopOlies under the
Townsend resolution also corrects 9TH
er defects pointed out by the presi-
dent
Government Powder Plant.
The senate committee on appropria-
tons has added an amendment to the
Notifications appropriation bill provid
ing for government powder factory.
Publishers Busy.
The third of a series of conferences
in which practically every branch of
the publishing interests of the country
is represented began at the library of
congress today for the purpose of COM
pleting for the action of congress the
codification of and amendments to the
copyright laws.
Relief for Naval Militia.
Washington, March 13.- The house
committee on naval affairs decided to-
day to make a favorable report on the
Foss bill for the establishment of naval
militia by various states. 1t extends
the provisions of the Dick army militia
act to the naval militia.
See II Prohibition VIII Prohibit.
The senate committee on privileges
today instructed a subcommittee to
examine several bills before the senate
to prohibit national banks from con-
tributing money for campaign purposes
and report whether, in their opinion,
any of these measures, if enacted into
law, would prevent such evils in fu-
ture.
To Raise Pensions.
The senate committee on pensions
va 10 fnI 70 ofca he l
of Mexican war veterans from s12 to
$40 per month, and that favorable re-
port be made on Senator GalIinger's
bill for that purpose.
Caucus Postponed.
Washington. March 13.-On account
of the reception here tomorrow night
to Gov. Pennypacker, the republican
statehood caucus has been postponed
until Thursday.