Evening star., 1909-04-20

states for their quota of employees to be
made up of people who take no interest
in the activities of those states
Senator Carter of Montana wanted to
know whether the civil service commits
sion couldn't prevent the "subterfuge" by
merely promulgating a regulation.
Mr. Lodge replied that the commission
had much power, and did exercise rea-
sonable amount of caution. requiring affl-
davits. but the affidavits were never hon.
estly given.
Mr. Carter suggested that every appH-
cant should be required to be qualined
elector. except the women, who shouiu
have exactly the same qualifications as
an elector. He was disposed to hold the
commission accountable to Congress ana
the country for the present practice
La Toilette Defends Report.
At this point Senator La Toilette, chair
man Of the census committee, and one OF
the conferees took the floor to defend
the conference report. In the first place,
he said the abuses of the civil service
law were homewhat exaggerated He be-
lived that there were some abuses. but he
stated that one-third OF the government
employees today under the civil service did
not come in by examipation, subject TO
the present law of apportonment, but ny
executive order. or by being covered In oy
the law.
The fault was with Congress, not the
commission, in Mr.. La Follette's opin-
ion. The commission could not possibly
Investigate each case specially.
Furthermore, Mr.. La Toilette held that
q large number of these persons to whom
objection had been made were legally
residents of various states. though not
according to popular definition. for they
maintained that residence and they
went home frequently to vote.
Senators Hepburn. La Toilette and Nc
Cumber then got into a tangle over the
question whether or not the son OF an
employe retaining his legal residence IN
state could also claim that residence.
Mr.. La Toilette held that he could
and the other two that he couldn't. Mr..
La Toilette said 1t was done, and the
sons went home to vote. and the other
two said they had no right to.
Mr.. La Toilette then suggested that
the best way to correct what abuses
might exist would be to introduce a sepa-
rate bill and refer it to the committee on
civil service and retrenchment. He said.
for instance. that If the McCumber
amendment should become law an eXcep-
ton should be made In the case of scienti-
flc or technical employees. in order that
the government might select this class OF
men from the widest possible area. He
said the Senate conferees had met with
firm opposition from the House on the
McCumber amendment and other amend
ments and the conferees had made mutual
concessions. Personally he thought the
purpose of the amendment was all right.
McCumber Wants Bill Sent Back.
1t was the opinion of Mr.. McCumber
that the Senate ought to send the bill
back to conference and make another
effort to have this amendment retained.
This opinion aroused Senators Hale
and: Bailey. the two other confereeS.
1t gave Mr.. Bailey fine opportunity to
ger off another one of his famous anti
civil-service speeches. If education should
be the test. said the Texan there oughtn
to be any state limitation. He didn't
think much of the civil service as a
whole. but if 1t was to be applied it
could not properly cover emergency work.
He recalled a case where 1t took six
months to get an assistant engineer in
one of the departments.
This remark caused Senator William
Alden Smith to say that the civil service
rules were keeping many fourth-class
postmasterShipS vacant.
The census work. according to Mr..
Bailey. must be done with dispatch. and
IL would be a great mistake IL the d.
rector were not allowed to get the best
workmen he could, wherever he could
find them quickest.
The debate then switched to the ques-
tion of the purchase of site and erec-
tion of a new building for the census
office. ...