Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-07
APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE
REGARDED AS CERTAIN
President Expected to Veto Measure
Containing the Provision.
MANY SENATORS FAIL TO VOTE
Proposition Carried by the Legisla-
tive, Executive and Judicial Bill.
Which Appropriates Total
of $34, 1877, ,59I.le.

The Senate today gave its ap-
proval TO the proposal to fix tn.
tenure of Office of civil service en-
ployes of Uncle Sam i'm the Dis
trict OF Columbia to seven wears.
BY vote of 80 to 10 the upper
House adopted the conference re-
port on the Legislative, executive
and Judicial appropriation bill
containing the provision for
seven-year tenure and for the
abolishment of the Commerce
Court.
AS 1t seems certain that the
democratic House will also ap-
prove the Limited tenure principle.
a veto by President Taft is all
that can prevent this radical
change in the civil service law. a
change which its opponents say
means a return to the old spoils
system and will result i'm the de-
teriorization and decentralization
of the public service.
Small Vote Recorded.
Defeat came to those opposed to this
limited tenure principle soon after the
Senate met this morning When the vote
was taken 1t was noticeable that several
or the opponents of the principle were not
recorded. On.y two more than half the
members of the Senate voted on the prop
osition.
Fifteen republicans and fifteen demo-
Gratis voted for the conference report with
its provision for seven-year tenure Of
office for civil service employees. The re-
publicans voting for 1t were Senators
Bourne of Oregon, Brandegee OF Con-
necticut, Catron of New Mexico. Clark OF
Wyoming, Cullom of Illinois. Gallinger OF
New Hampshire Gronna OF North Da-
kota, McCumber of North Dakota. Nelson
of Minnesota, Page of Vermont. Perkins
o. California. Smith of Michigan, Warren
OF Wyoming, Wetmore OF Rhode Island
and Works of California.
Ahe democrats who voted for limited
tenure We're Senator'S Bankhead or Ala
bama, Bryan OF florida, Fletcher OF
Florida, Johnston of Alabama. Kern or
Indiana, Martin Of Virginia, OGorman OF
New York Overman OF North Carolina.
Pomerene of Ohio, Reed OF Missouri.
Shively of Indiana, Smith of Arizona,
Stone of Missouri, Swanson Of Virginia
and Williar of Mississippi.
The republicans who voted against
the conference report, chiefly because
of the limited tenure provision. were
Senators Borah of Idaho, Bradley or
Kentucky, Bristow of Kansas. Burton
of Ohio, Crawford of South Dakota.
Cummins of Iowa, Dillingham; OF Yer
mont, Jones of Washington, Kenyon OF
Iowa La Toilette of Wisconsin, Lodge
of Massachusetts, Massey OF Nevada.
Sanders of Tennessee and Townsend OF
Michigan.
The democrats in opposition were
Senators Ashurst of Arizona, Bacon or
Georgia Newlands of Nevada, Smith
of Georgia and Smith of South Caro-
lima.
Report Given Precedence.
The conference report containing the
limited tenure proposal was the first
business of Importance to be taken up
by the Senate after il convened at 10
O'Clock. other matters were laid aside.
on the assurance of Senator Warren, in
charge of the report. that the discus
sion had been concluded yesterday and
time was only needed for the vote.
Senator Borah, one OF Col Roosevelts
lieutenants in his fight for the regular
republican nomination at Chicago i'm
June, DELAYED the vote a moment. how
ever, to fire a hot shot at T. RS
pet doctrine-the recall OF judicial
decisions. He explained that he was in
favor of the provision. IN the conference
report. for the abolishment OF the Com
merce Court. The reasons were the same,
he said. as led him to oppose the creation
OF the court.
II am not i'm accord with the idea or
abolishing the court because OF some OF
its decisions" Mr.. Borah continued Il
am not in favor OF tho recall OF judicial
decisions in this way or any other"
Senator Crawford announced his oppo-
sition to the conference report because OF
the limited tenure provision
Il will vote AGAINST the adoption OF the
report he remarked. solely because OF
its civil service provision. Ii is, in my
opinion, SO vicious In its tendencies and
so serious that 1 cannot accept it,.
Senator Lodge demanded a record vote,
and there We're a number OF seconds.
Before the roll cali was half finished
it was evident that members OF the Sen
ate committee on appropriations and SEN
ators in charge OF other appropriation
bills upon which a fight is being made
were to stand by Senator Warren and
the conference report on this appropria-
tion bill and that the report would be
adopted.
Significant Feature.
The small number Of votes cast against
the limited tenure principle was a dis
appointment to the friends OF the civil
service system. 1t is significant, however.
that the vote by which II was approved
was not a two-thirds vote. This would
indicate that the provision could not be
passed over veto by the President.
When the result of the vote was an.
nounced the action of the chief execu-
tive on the bill was the immediate topic
OF discussion informally among senators.
Friends Of the civil service expect the
President to veto the bill because of the
limited tenure provision. and they have
hopes that this will bring about !ts de-
feat when the question comes to an issue
again in Congress.
As the legislative appropriation bill Is
agreed to by the Senate. on tie basis OF