Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-10
PROCEEDINGS IN
HOUSE AND SENATE
Lower Body Spends Day IN Dis
Cussion Of Bill Providing For
Next Census.
SENATE IS N NO HURRY TO WORK
Upper Chamber Members Place On
Calendar Over Three Hundred Pri-
vate Pension Ri;ls-Adj ournrren ut
Taken After Hour and twenty-five
Minutes ol,nston On Hazins.


WASHINGTON. ID. G.. Dec. ?.--tof
nearly five hours the House OF Rep
reyenta,iv"s tolay coneidt red the bill
providing for tn" taking OF the thir-
teeuth and subsequent d"cennial cen
suscs and passed it without material
change
From tn" very outset of li@ debate,
il became evident that the progress
of the measure toward passage would
be imp"dcd Prolonged, animated
and, at TIM heated, discussion was
precip',ateI over an amendment by
Mr.. Gillette OF Massachusetts. who
sought to have the exception of a
few minor positions appointed upon
the ba sis of competitive Instead OF
ncn-comptitive examinations.
He argued that the latter method
CD. ned the way for return to the
"spoils system which had Obtained
for so long.
spoi.s System In Vogue.
That the civil service was not a
buiwark against the spt..s system
was the contention Of Mr.. Robinson.
Of Arkansas. who sought 10 sLjstan-
tate his assertion by citing the re-
cent appointment of Daniel Keefe as
commissioner general OF immigration.
The only other -,business trans
acted was the reference to COM
mittee of a notice Of contest by II. c.
Yarmouth. Republican for the seat
OF Albert Estopinal. Democrat. from
the First Louisiana district. At All
p. m. the House adjourned.
The consideration OF the census
4 An nfyil
service.
Gillette Offers Amendment.
This came up on an amendment Of
fer-d by Mr. Gillette Of Massachu.
sets the effect Of which would be to
exclude from the non-Competitivc ex-
animation required as the basis OF ap-
pointment. messengers. assistant mes.
sengers. messenger boys. watchmen,
unskilled labOrers and charwOmt
Mr.. Gillette took occasion TO con.
denim the present plan Of appointing
clerks in the census office by non
competitive examination. These ex,
amina.ions." H. said. ought 10 he
competitive and no: mere farces."
The system OF appointments pre-
vailing heretofore. and which It is
DIOIOStu W VI NUtNh
the fitness OF an applicant and then
leaving IL 10 the Judgment OF the d.
rector Ct the census to make the
selection regardless OF the ratings OBJ
tanned. was defni'd by Mr.. Gyum-
packer. OF T"d'ana.
crumpacker fer Defense.
He remarked that TIE various civil
service reform asso; tons did not
know what they were taking about
when they wanted the temporary
census clerks appointed IN the regu-
lar way.
Why" inquired Mr. SuIzer, who
elected the answer that the salaries
were small and the period Of appoint
ment short.
In the course OF some further re-
marks Nj Gillette sad that non-com,
petitive examinations simply were a
rctrrn to The old spoils system.
This furnished cuc for Mr. Rob
'nscn. Arkansas who is opposing the
ame ndmen, vchemcn,iY to declare
that the "spOifs system" had obtained
in a large degre" in The days Of An
drew Jackson and has obtained in
large degree during the administra-
ION 81 Roosevelt
Argues for Consistency.
He Suggested that that doctrine
shcuid no; be repudiated and applied
AZ The Same time
II Representatives he said should
be required to pass competitive ex'
aminatinns. then high school boys
would hold seats in Congress
Illustrating his point that the spoil'
system prevailed now. Mr. Robinson
n"n'ionei the recent appointment Of
Daniel Krefc. as commissions oil
immi grafton
NJ Hepburn trained his batteries
or NJ Gillette. who he said was even
trv'nC - cmasculats the bill and pro
'oc, m. hers from opportunities and
tho pnss ." 30 IS that might result
therefrom
Government Needs Profession.
Why not protect the membership
81 tho Horse" n asked. from the
temptation to indulge IN speilation of
the government Mr. Hepburn laid the
ciyi, service had effected no improve
men, and that mcn he had had 40
pointed twenty-five years ago were
TODAY hotter clerks than those the
rivii service commission was proyid
ing