Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-11
SpoiIs Grab in the Tariff Bill

1
| The Simmons Underwood tariff bill
| (H. r, s52D, as reported in the Sen
ate provides for the employment of a
large force of-agents, inspectors, depu
| ty collectors, etc, without complying
with the provisions of the civil service
! law. This provision was not in the
bill as it passed the House but was I'm :
serted by the Senate Committee on
Finance in amendment o pages 207.
2oS and 20s) appropriating $1,200.o0
for salaries and supplies required -
enforce the income tax law.
The National Civil Service Reform
League Is earnestly opposed to this
etttinpt TO secure patronage at the ex-
pense of the merit system and through
its executive officers has addressed Il
letter to all the members of the Sen
ate and House of Representatives ask
ing them to refuse to approve this par
ticular provision of the tariff bill for
inc following reasons:
In the reports of the Senate Com
mittee on Finance az printed in the
Congressional Record, no explanation
is given for recruiting this large force
outside the civil service law. The only
excuse for such a provision would be
inability on the part of the Civil Ser
vice Commission to supply an ade-
quate force within reasonable time;
as matter of fact the Commission
has upon its registers full compile
Elent of eligibles from which selection
could be made for these positions. In
view of the lack of any necessity for
going outside the eligible lists to make
these appointments, this provision in
the bill is gross injustice to those
who have taken the examinations and
qualified for positions in accordance
with the law and custom.
The number of clerks whose ap-
pointments are thus thrown open to
political influences will run into the
hundreds. Congress could continue
their appointment by further legisla-
ton at the end of the two year period
ant Senators and Representatives
would be importuned by the force so
appointed to grant an extension Sf
employment or transfer to the classi-
fled service. There is no precedent for
such widespread exception since the
days of the Spanish war other than
the unnecessary and III advised pro-
vision in the sundry civil apprporia
ton bill of last year allowing tempo
rary appointments in the pension office
for a period of one year. At the time
of the Spanish war emergency and in
the face of full lists of eligibles
large force was appointed without re-
gard to the civil service rules. Be
fore the lapse of any considerable time
1t was shown that this force was dis
tlnctly inferior in capacity to the reg
ular civil service employees. yet BY
subsequent legislation they we're COW
cred into the classified service
The proposed legislation is not only
contrary to the interests of the pubic
service, but is Numerically opposed te
the civil service planks in the plat
forms of the three great political par
ties. The plank in the Democratic
platform favored the enforcement
of the civil service law to the
end that merit and ability should be
the standard of appointment and pro-
motion rather than service rendered to
a political party" The Progressive
party went on record as in favor of
the enforcement of the civil service
law in letter and spirit" while the Re-
publican party stands committed to
4 h.,
forcement of the civil service law"