Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-03
Agreement to Amendment to
Deficiency Bill Calls Out Re-
publican Comment.
CLAIM THAT ACTION
IS MOVE FOR SPOILS
Provision Takes From Civil Service
Deputy Revenue Collectors and
Marshals.

The Senate today gave its approval to
that committee amendment to the urgent
deficiency bill which takes out from
under the civil service system deputy
collectors Of internal revenue and dep
uty United States marshals who are COM
PEELED to give bond for the faithful per-
formance of their duties. The appoint
ment of these deputies henceforth will
be made by the collectors and marshals
directly over them
This action was vigorously criticised by
republican senators. including Senators
Burton, Ohio, and Bristow. Kansas, who
charged that this was direct assault upon
the civil service system for political pur-
poses. They declared that the demo-
Gratis were proposing to use the public
treasury for political purposes.
This amendment is the most danger
Gus attack upon the merit system as
sadopted for the civil service that has
been made In years." declared Senator
Burton.
THE President has the authority under
existing law to take these deputy collect
ors from under the civil SERVICE" said
Senator Bristow. Why should we now
be asked to legislate them from under the
civil service system? / say that this is
deliberate attack upon the civil service
system. 1t is an effort to cripple that
system, an effort to get at the public
treasury for spoils.' The change will
be used for political purposes. 1t Is an
outrage
Point of Order Lost.
Senator Burton made a point Of order
against the amendment. on the ground
that it was new legislation in an ap-
propriation bill. But the Vice President
ruled against him, holding that the
amendment was germane. since 1t called
for a decrease in appropria tons for the
civil service commission for the purpose
of holding examinations.
Senator Burton appealed from the de-
cision of the chair, but his appeal was
laid on the table by vote Of 33 to IS
One democrat. Senator Lane of Oregon.
voted with the republicans against the
decision of the chair.
Senator Overman, in charge of the BILL
declared that there were certain classes
of employees. like deputy marshals and
deputy collectors of internal revenue who
were frequently called upon to make ar
rests of dangerous criminals or to raid
illicit stills He said that these employees
could be selected with better results by
khe officials directly over them than
through a civil service examination. In
of Missouri.
Senator Norris of Nebraska. however.
challenged this statement.
What kind of a civil service examina-
ton would you give a man VINO had to
go into the mountains of Arkansas or
Kentucky and raid an Illicit stil?" asked
Senator Reed. Would you question him
about arithmetic or trigonometry. No.
what you require is man of nerve who
can shoot straight.
II believe that the civil service COM
mission could devise an examination
which would test a mans duty and also
his nerve was the reply Of Senator
Norris.
There are two systems. and the one
YOU advocate calls for political appoint
ments. If you were going to appoint
deputy collector the first question you
would ask would be whether he was a
good democrat or not The other system
calls for the appointment through a nom
partisan commission.
..Would you have United States sena-
tors undergo a civil service examination" 2"
asked Senator Reed
Il do not believe that would be practi-
cable. though it might result In improve
ment In some instances" was the reply
of Senator Norris.