Evening star., 1909-07-09
after Civil SERV|CEW|LL Be LIVE ISSUE
senate Plans for Thorough Comma Fuht Over Income
investigation. Tax Amendment.
RESOLUTION BY MR. BORAH LINING UP FOR THE FRAY
ne Object Is Correct Evils Sup Democrats Expected Vigorously
posed to Exist Champion Proposition
JSE OF Law FOR FAvORITISM OPPOSITION EAST
No
Testimony Matter
at Any Point II
RESOLUTION BY Mr.. BORAH
lne Object Is to Correct Evils Sup
posed to Exist.
JSE OF LAW FOR FAVORITISM
committee Will Have Full Authority
10 Sit and Take Testimony
at Any Point.

An investigation of the civil service, in
,iudlng both tho law and it's admnistra.
ion. is being planned by the Senate
II will be rs exhaustive as the standing
cmmittee on civil service and retrench-
nent. empowered 10 summon witnesses
administer oaths, employ all sorts of as
istants, sit wherever and whenever ii
sleases and spend all the money IT needs,
AN make it.
Preliminary plans for the inquiry will be
aid by the committee this summer if all
goes we'll. while the hard work is 10 be.
gin next fall.
Such is the purpose OF a resolution in
reduced today in the Senate by Senator
Borah of Idaho, who is cooperating with
senator Cummns of Iowa, chairman OF
ihe committee on civil service and re-
irenchment. That the resolution will pass
1t this session is regarded as a foregone
conclusion. 1t WIS referred, according
10 custom. 70 the committee to audit and
EoitfOi lhC SVItLHsthl cApShScS w tLS
Senate, and an early and favorable re-
port is expected.
For Purposes of Favoritism.
Back of the resolution is said to be a
sery general belief in the Senate that the
civil service law is being used for pur-
poses of faycritisn, and determination
10 get to the bottom of thes situation and
hn tIax -
sxist.
Senators today freely expressed the
opinion that at present the United States
civil service is nothing more than a
theory. What they wish to do is to make
ii a fact. They said 1t is being used to
promote and refuse promotion to clerks,
regardless of the rules. and to appoint
and discharge in the same manner.
1t 10 specifically stated by Senator Borah
that the criticism Is not leveled particu-
larly against the present commission,
but against the entire situation that has
grown up In recent years.
The immediate cause for the interest
of the Senate in the subject is that seri
Gus charges were made as to the adminis-
tration of the civil service law during
tine lively debate at the end OF the last
session of Congress on the census bill,
which resulted in the adoption of q para
graph In that bill requiring that every
applicant for civil service position take
an examination IN the state In which he
or she claims legal residence, and that
the applicant must be actually domiclled
In that state for al least one year pre-
vious TO taking the examination.
Part of the Law.
That provision applies not only 10 the
census employees, but to every branch of
the civil service. 1t was sternly insisted
upon by the Senate conferees, and after
a prolonged discussion finally agreed upon
in conference. 1t is now "a part of the
law, the bill having been signed by the
President a few days ago.
At the time of this debate on the CEN
sus bill a number of senators become so
interested in the reform of this branch
Of the government service that they de-
terInined to lose as little time as pos
s!bie in getting to work on 1t. Sena tors
Boral and Cummins became especially
interested and took the lead In the move
ment.
Text of the Resolution.
The Borah resolution introduced today
II follows:
Resolved. That the committee on civil
service and retrenchment be. and 1t is
hereby. authorized and directed, by sub
committee or otherwise, TO make investi-
cation 10 the civil service and az 10
the enforcement and administration OF
thc civil service Law, rules and regula
tons, and a full and coIrplete inquiry
Will reference thereto. and for this pur-
pose II is authorized to sit, By subconi-
tnittee or otherwise, during the recesses
or sessions OF the Senate at such times
and places as 1t may deem advisable. tc
send for persons and papers, to admin
lister oaths, and employ such stenograph
i, clerical experts and other assistant:
may be necessary, and to have suci
printing and binding done as may b,
necessary, the expense of such investiga
tion to be paid from the contingent fun,
Of the Senate
The inquiry will be a thorough one,
MIR. Borah said 10 Star reporter thi!
afternoon. There have been SO man,
adverse criticisms of the way the law i
being enforced that the Senate cannot af
ford 10 overlook them, and L don't believ,
hat it will overlook them. don't Sc.
low the resolution can be choked.
Committee to Act Soon
The committee, l think. will begin [,
ay its preliminary plans as soon as tn,
resolution passes, which ! think will b
before the end of the present special ses
sion. 1t will sit not only in Washington
out in any other part of the countr,
where il thinks there is important infor
nation TO be obtained"
Senator Cummins has long been inter
ssted in the question of civil service re
.orm, and when he came TO the Senat
and at the beginning OF the present ses
was given the craftsmanship of the i'm
portant committee on civil service and re
srenchment he was in his element II
determined without delay to see how IN
law and the administration of IL could
Improved.
"A short time after the debate on tn
census bill" the senator from Iowa sal
Loiay. II addressed letter to the chail
man of the civil service commission, ash
ng him to give me certain informauo
about the law and its administration. Il
Is now engaged I'm preparing an elabora'
report in answer to the questions wnic
| submitted to him.
"I am convinced. as are many otht
senators, that marked favoritism exist
in the government service In violation
the letter and spirit Of the CIVIL servo
law"