The Washington herald., 1914-01-21
.SPOILSMEN bow
TO white HOUSE
Civil Service Rider Denied
Support Of the Good
Roads Project.
BOTH MAKE CONCESSIONS
Change in Program Follows An
nouncement Of Wilson's
Attitude.
By JOSEPH p. ANNIS.

Through concessions both by the spoIls-
men and good roads enthusiasts in Con-
gress to the attitude Of the Progressives
and the White House, the atmosphere
which has been ciouding around the post
ONCE appropriation bill cleared percepti-
bly, yesterday. These are the concessions:
/. The good roads people have agreed
not to attempt to tack their .o0a
authorization bill on the postofice ap-
preparation bill In the form Of a legis-
iative rider, and In order to railroad
through. under the protection Of one rule.
the spoils provision attacking the civil
service.
2. Chairman Moon and members of the
Postofice Committee have informed the
Rules Committee, before which Is pending
rule protecting the spoils provision and
other legislative riders from a point of
order that the Postofice Committee will
accept an amendment to the spoils rider
which will require assistant postmasters.
before going under the civil service. TO
undergo a competitive examination. sim
liar to that imposed upon fourth-class
postmasters by Postmaster General
Burieson.
Would Limit Debate.
,. Chairman shackIeford has introduced
| rule seeking TO make his good roads
| bill Immediately privileged and to limit
debate on the measure In the House to
eight hours. and TO limit substitutes Of
fered as amendments. to one
l. The Rules Committee has given Chair
man Shackleford to understand that some
rule. intended to expedite the passage
Of the good roads bill. probably will be
out by the Rules Committee. but that de-
bate will not be limited to eight hours.
The probability is that the debate will
stretch over four legislative days with
the final vote on the fifth. IL so much
time shall be required.
Whether this change OF program will be
acceptable to the President, is. Of course.
problematic. There is no question but
what ii was brought about by the strong
hints Mr.. Wilson conveyed TO his friends
that neither the civil service provision
nor the good roads rider to the postofics
appropriation bill would be acceptable
10 him. Mr.. Wilson made known his at
titude. as reported in these columns.
Monday, and yesterday saw an immediate
change of plan.
Not an Unmixed Victory.
The civil service compromise would
not be an unmixed victory for either
side. and does not promise any improve
ment in effciency over the present
method OF selecting assistant postmas-
ters. who come up from among civil
service employees in their respective Of
fees and at the designation of the post
master. I; would. however. be prefer
able TO the Moon plan, which contem-
plates eSempting these 2.2oo offices per-
manently from the civil service law.
II Is possible that the progressive ele-
ment in the Rules Committee will decide
to cut the civil service rider entirely
from the rule requested by Chairman
Moon, in which event the obnoxious pro-
vision would go out OF the bill on a point
OF order. General debate on the post
Office bill ended in the House yesterday
and the measure went under the five
minute rule.