The Washington herald., 1912-08-09
HOUSE ACCEPTS
TENURE CLAUSE
Legislative Bill and Civil Service
Blow Now Ready for
Mr.. Taft.
VETO VIRTUALLY CERTAIN

The House yesterday accepted the con-
ference report on the legislative. ex-
ecutive, and judicial appropriation bill.
and that measure. Carrying with 1t the
aboiishment of the Commerce Court and
virtually the abolishment of n nom
political civil service. viii be ready for
the Presidents consideration to-day.
From excellent authority It is under
stood that Mr.. Taft will veto the bill.
partly because of the provision abolish
ing the Commerce Court and partly be-
cause Of the attempt to substitute the
spoils system for the civil service.
The course of the conference report
through the House yesterday was
stormy. but there was at no time dan
ger of It's defeat Representatives Mann.
Cannon, Gardner, and Gillett spoke in
opposition to the tenure of Office clause.
which carries with 1t the bestowal of
arbitrary powers of reappointment on
heads Of departments. Representatives
aid and Burleson defended the tenure
clause.
Ready to Amend.
That little trouble will be experienced
in repassing the bill in such form that
reasonable safeguards will be thrown
around the civil service, in the event
of a Presidential veto. was apparent
from statements by number OF Demo-
cratic leaders yesterday. Representative
johnson, who is credited with being the
author of the tenure provision because
as chairman OF the subcommittee of the
Committee which prepared
the bill, he was in charge of the mea-
sure in the House. told The Washington
Herald representative that, IL the bill
was vetoed he was ready himself to ad-
vocate reasonable precautions against the
return to the spoils system.
The clause against which the attack is
centered provides that the head of a
department may in his discretion" re-
appoint clerks whose record at the ex-
piration of the seven-year tenure shows
the maintenance of the standard of eff
cheney required. Mr.. johnson said yes.
terday that he would move TO amend
by substituting the word shall" for
may" and by striking out the words ''in
his discretion This would take away
the arbitrary power bestowed on depart
ments chiefs-by the bill in its present
form, while retaining the efhciencq re-
quirements. Other members whose att
tention was not called to the vicious
effects of the clause when the bill was
first before the. House are willing to-
vote against the present provision II il
is offered in a second bill.
VIII Change Vote.
II President Taft vetoes the bill. an at
tempt will be made to pass the measure |
over his veto. That such an attempt will |
fail either in the House or Senate. or
in both, IL the blow at the civil service is
retained is virtually assured. A number
Of members of both houses who voted to
agree to the conference report gave 1t to
be understood that they would not vote to
pass the measure over the Presidents
veto.
Representative Gardner of Massachu-
setts waged a vigorous fight against the
enure clause in the debate yesterday.
II do not want to be sensational" he
aid, but 1t has not been long since We
ieard of a scandal in the government de-
,artment caused by an appointive officer
borrowing money from his subordinates-
There are even rumors now that some
nen in the service have imposed upon
women who depended upon them for
heir position.
Is Petty Tyranny.
This seven-year tenure gives officials
'ower to make or mar a man or woman
n the government service. How much
more are you going to accentuate the
onditions I have spoken Of by adopting
provision of this kind?
There is no tyranny like petty tyranny.
nd this seven-year tenure prepares the
Tay for petty tyranny in our government
apartment. You do not want to put the !
ank and file at the mercy of any one like
his
Congressman Gardner said he did not
ropose at this time to enter a defense ,
4 the classified service.
Both Representatives Gardner and Gil
ett admitted that the classified service
eeds reformation. but they contended
he government should show some mercy {
D the superannuated employees. Il
This pSovision is assumed to give the 8
cad of the department a law to rid the
apartment of incompetents," said Mr.. ;
ardner. There is already a law to this !
feet but executive heads have not the ,
cart to enforce II. You propose now to :
ubstitute this plan for the backbone of ,
ne head of the department, and it will r
Of work