Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-03
bill Strikes S|vAeS
Opposition to Clerks Dismls-
sal Voiced in House.
JOHNSON URGES MEASURE
Other Members Rally to Support Of
Civil Service Rules
SEE "PIE COUNTER PROVIDED
Believe Tivs-Year Appointments
Would Open Doors for Flood Of
Democratic omesholdsrs,

"nen Representative johnson Of South
Carolina started to speak In favor Of the
legislative. executive ana judicial ap-
preparation bill in the HOUSE late yester.
day afternoon It was immediately ap-
parent that there would be q tremendous
nght against the provision in thst bill 10
throw out Of employment all govern
ment clerks 1t the ago Of sixty-fivS years.
Following the submission Of the minor.
ity report on this bill, a. narrated In The
Star Of yesterday. members Of the HOUSE
rallied to the support Of the civil serv-
Ice rules, and, actuated by Humanitarian
motives entirely. assailed Representative
Johnson's idea Of oustins the older
clerks. and Characterized the proposition
to make appointments in the civil serv-
| Ice Tor five years az q move toward put
| ting the service on what Representative
Norris termed the political pie counter"
It was shown yesterday by a member Of
| the appropriations committee that the
democratic idea OF having all civil serv-
| ice appointments cease July /, 1914.
would open the doors to q flood OF demo-
cratic appointments, succeeding the
change in administration for which
democrats are working.
Aims to Protect Treasury.
Representative Johnson made a broad
appeal for his idea. but practically ad-
| mitted that he did not expect the pro-
| vision to pass. saying that the pro-
vision was inserted merely to bring the
old-age matter to the attention OF Con-
gress.
Representative Johnson introduced
his remarks by explaining that in his
opinion q policy OF retrenchment is
1 nANaQaaFv IN tho country from n
state Of overwhelming expenditures in
| the future. He assumed the position,
for himself and the appropriations COM
mittee, OF a public trustee. personally
responsible for the use OF public funds.
Each one Of US" he said. ought to
be honest enough with himself and
honest enough with the country to set
up in his own bosom court OF con-
science, before which questions OF the
expenditure Of public money could be
tried.
1.-THE newspapers have indicated that
the committee has cut remorselessly. and
| mercilessly the salaries OF government
| employees. There has been practically nc
cutting Of salaries. I believe that less
than a dozen salaries have been cut In
this bill out Of the $1,000 people that are
| provided for"
Existence Of Lobby Denied.
After introducing the committees re.
port on the bill, Representative johnson
| said:
There is a great lobby in Washing.
ton engaged in the work Of endeavoring
to induce Congress to pass q civil service
BILL
Representative Hamill Of New Jersey
| who has introduced civil service pen
sion bill, said he had not heard OF such
| q lobby. Representative johnson said he
had heard Of a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| fund raised for the purpose OF LOBBYING
the civil service pension fund. Repre-
| sentative Hamill disputed this.
Mr.. johnson then defended the provi-
/ sion for hve-year appointments in the
| civil service. He said:
| I'VE have incorporated in this bill a
! provision that requires people who are
| appointed to the government service to
be appointed for specified period OF
time. and they may be reappomted with
out further examination. But as long as
people are appointed for life and there
| is a propaganda going on that they are
treated like slaves and that the govern
ment is acting as II it were govern
ment of barbarous people in not provid-
| ing for them-I think 1t would be very
well to change our method OF appointing
people and appoint them for specified
period Of time. Let them know that al
the end of their term their reappoint-
ment depends upon their service, and
think we would hear less OF bad treat
ment."