El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-30
ATTACKS
THE CIVIL SERVICE
An Effort Being Made to Get More
Democrats Into JObs-WiIsOn
Expected to Intervene.

A-ApttAeu 10 intervene
Washington, d. C., June 5O.-The civil
service system may soon be attacked in
congress.
Unless signs change materially be
fore many days have passed, president
Wilson may be called upon to save his
party from one Of the most reaCtiOnary
moves it could take-thc tearing apart
OF the civil service framework in order
TO insert the old spOils system
The spokesman is working from sew
cral quarters. He is most dangerous in
congress. where three resolutions al
ready have been introduced in the SEN
ate, the effect OF which, If enacted.
would be to demoraliZe completely the
civil service system and undo a work
which, however imperfect, il has Ia ken
years TO effect.
of course an these attempts are made
under the transparent cover of at
tempts to improve the civil service. the
theory being. seemingly. that the eff
cheney of the civil service Will increase
i'm inverse proportion TO the number of
Republicans therein.
That president Wilson will effectu-
ally block these efforts in so far as
they look To- return to the spous sys-
TEN. IS taken for granted The presi-
dents stand in regard to civil service
reform has always been against the
spcllS system But president Wilson
may not be able to block i'll considered
and poorly thought out congressional
lnVeSu legations, the net result of which
would be a serious il temporary i'm
palrment of discipline and efficiency in
the civil service
Senator Overman. OF North Carolina,
has shown himself entirely out Of sym
pathy with all that the civil service
stands Tor on several occasions this
spring Moreover, he has shown him
self entirely out of symDathv with
movements looking to the Improvement
Of working conditions in or out of the
civil service. He did his senatorial best
to block the confirmation of DIT Charles
p. Ncill, until recently commissioner of
labor IN the department of labor be-
cause Dr- Nelll, when mis- division was
under the department of commerce and
labor, insisted that a report on condi-
tons in the cotton mills Of North Car
ollna should tell the naked truth. In
this contest. president Wilson stood out
firmly for Dr. Neill, although the lat
ter is Republican and was at first
Republican appOintee.
Senator DVerman again indicated his
reacuonary attitude when he voted
with nine others against the Kern res
otuuon calling for an Investigation into
the conditions growing out of the mine
workers strike IN the coal fields of
West Virginia. He received his second
bump there, the resolution passing by
large majority.
Senator Overman was the first to in
troouce q resolution calling for an in
VeSJlgatiOu of the civil service His ac-
ton was based supposedly upon start
ing lnLor nation from unnamed sources
showing dcplOrable conditions of parti-
san faVoriusm in past civil service ap-
continents. Shortly thereafter senator
i.omerene, OF Ohio. chairman of the
civil service committee of the senate.
was fired to introduce an even more
sweeping and i'll considered resolution
Of Investigation. Senator Overman-s
resolution called upon the civil service
commission for Information. Senator
Pomerenes idea was TO call upon the
clerks themselves. thereby Offering an
a chance to air their grievances over
the heads of their sUperiOrs TO the al
most certain disruption of discipline
and consequently Of efficiency in the
departments.