New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-25
CUMMINS'S INQUIRY
Would Reform the Girl Ser
Uice Commission.
IRON me Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. Nov. eff the plans Of
certain Senators are carried out the work
OF the forthcoming session Of Congress
viii be confined to an investigation of
various branches Of the public service
There has been talk Of investigating the
customs frauds at New York the Balm
ger-PinchOt controversy. the Tennessee
Coal and Iron consolidation, the Tobacco
Trust. the Water Power Trust. the rec
lamation service. the navy yards, etc.
That the Cook-Peary dispute is not % be
made the subject Of investigation Is prob
ably due 10 the fact that in the multitude
of other promised fnquisitions il has been
overlooked.
The latest addition to the list Of those
slated for investigation is the Civil Ser
vice Commission. The promise is made
that this investigation will be a sweep
ing one and that II will result in i'm
pOrtant reforms In the government ser
vice" There is pending in the Senate
resolution authorizing the Committee on
Civil Service and Retrenchment 70 make
such an investigation Senator CUMMING.
chairman Of this committee has let ii be
known that he will make an effort 20 have
this resolution adopted early in the ses-
sion. He has told his friends that he will
go into this subject with great thorough
ness with view to finding out whether.
under the present system. promotions are
made on the basis OF merit.
II IL develops that Mr.. Cummins is really
in earnest in this matter il is probable
some Of the older Senators will be found
supporting his efforts in behalf OF an in
vestigatiOn. As one Of the most prominent
members of the so-calIed ''insurgent'
group in the Senate, it was thought that
Mr.. Cummins's entire time this winter
would be devoted TO efforts 10 make more
drastic the interstate commerce law. the
antitrust law and similar measures for
curbing the powers Of great corporations.
If he wishes to divide his energy and de-
vote part Of his time To- the pleasing and
innocuous pastime Of looking into the af-
fairs Of the Civil Service Commission. it is
regarded doubtful if the Senate leaders
will put any obstacles in his way.
Experienced members OF the Senate are
inclined 10 view with amused indulgence
the desire OF new Senators TO investigate
the affairs OF the Civil Service Commission.
They realize perfectly that the country at
large feels that the average member of
Congress looks with a longing eye toward
the pastures now controlled by rhis COM
mission II l. a matter Of history that
/ Congress has not always been actuated by
wholly uHselfish motives IN its efforts 70
strengthen the civil Service Commission
/ An unkindly critical public is even dis
I posed al times 70 cherish suspicious that
! those members Of Congress who seek tc
[ reform the commission are actUateC
/ rather more by the hardship OF a spells
famine than any genuine desire 10 perfect
| and improve the system of federal appoint
\ ments and promotions For this reason
any ambitious insursent who may desire
10 devote his energies 10 making inquiry
as to what ought 10 be done TO make th'
/ Civil Service Commission more effective
| probably win enjoy the benign encourage
ment OF the leaders. who will gladly wit
I ness Industrious insurgents devOting thel
I energies 10 such reforms" while thet
seniors devote themselves 10 the really i'm
I pOrtant affairs of the session.