Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-03-28


is more or less debate upon PROPOSE
ton involving some attempted in
crease in the salary list. Efforts
are just at this time directed against
the legislative appropriation bill
where the compensation of congress
sional employees are fixed. The
same process was used in consider
ing the various departments and
seemingly efforts are being made
to curtail expenditures. However
careful an anlysis may be made Of
the appropriations, the saving eff
fected by pairing the salary lists will
amount to but little in the great ag-
gregate of government expenses. It
seems somewhat ridiculous to note
the efforts of members to adjust the
compensation of some department.
clerk downward and then to note
the vote of the same member on
bills carrying million dollar approp-
riations for some purpose or other.
~
The capacity of the average con
gresham is frequently brought into
requisition by his constituents and a
wide scope of labor is imposed upon
the man who heads one of the more
important committees. This is notab-
ly SO in the case of Congressman Bah
cock who as chairman of the district
of Columbia committee is called upon
to look into the details Of practically
all the legislation pertaining to the
government of city of three hundred
and fifty thousand people. There are
occasions when the exercise or this
duty produces legislation of greatest
Importance TIC the people of the whole
country. Acting upon the suggestion
of many of the leading members of
the medical profession in Washington,
Congressman Babcock made an in
vestigation of the manufacture and
sale of vaccine and as d result law
was passed providing for government
supervision and inspection of the
plants where this small pox preventa-
tive is produced. It required consid-
cradle strength to secure the adoption
of COngI e5sman Babcock's views By
congress but the law passed and as a
result the vaccine used throughout
the entire country must pass the in
spectfOr, as well as approval of com
PEI ent AT thOrities as to it's fitness aud
purity. Under the old system any in
dividUal could engage in the business
and it was discovered TIA 1t few sanitary
precautions prevailed in producing
this b Don to humanity.
-
Another proposed reform measure
which has been debated to consider
able extent recently, seeks to place an
age limit for the employment of clerks
in the departments, and this question
is giving the statesmen no end of
trouble. The departments have been
looked over by some of the memt ers
of the appropriation committee al it
is ascertained that there are many
clerks who ave long since passed the
sixty year limit of life aud who as is
claimed have alsJ passed beyond the
point of usefulness and efficiency.
These are under civil service and can
not be removed only for cause. It is
proposed or at least the question is
being agitated to fix the age limit at
seventy years and also provide for
tenure of office. Under the last it is
intended to limit service at the public
crib under the civil service to de-
finite period of fro ten to twenty
years and to also provide for rotation
50 that new clerks will not come in
during any stated period and thus
cripple the service.
~
the American p. ople are unalterab-
ly opposed to anything seeking of a
civil pension list, and git is not likely
that such plan would find favor be-
fore congress. The most feasible
proposition submitted is The plan of
retirement when a certain age limit Is
reached. The house at the present
time is debating the matter and it is
likely that legislation will be formu-
lated to fit the situation some time in
the next few years. The clerks of
course resent the impuJation that
service should be limited to an age
period and contend that senators and
COuSIeSSHIen nave nduy OI JUem
passed far beyond the point of retire
ment advocated by some of those who
contend for a change. In reply TO
this, it is pointed out that the mem
bers of congress are obliged once every
so often to go to the people for
a "a LITIGATION, as it we're, and thus the
people have right to pass upon IL cir
qualifications and refuse to return
them if they see fit. In The case Of a
government clerk under civil service
it is claimed that this means a life lob
With no one to pass upon fitness or
qualification.
The spring days cannot be far
away, as the surest sign of the sea-
son is in evidence when book beer.