Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1906 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Civil service reform has taken deep root. Almost three-fifths' of the three hundred thousand positions In the executive civil Service of the national government are open to competition whenever they fall vacant; and a large part of those to which, appointment Is made without competitive examination are either of such, a nature that they cannot be placed in the classified list, or such thht it would be unwise to bring them into the system. A large and Increasing number of States have adopted the merit test for filling clerical and other positions in their own governments and In city administration. Last year the Civil Service Commission examined, through its agents, almost one hundred and fifty tliousand candidates, and more than forty thousand of them were appointed to positions. Moreover, within a few years changes in the regulations have greatiy diminished the opportunities to evade the law by letting candidates who had not passed an examination Into the service by cunningly concealed “back doors.” It used to be urged that the present system creates an officeholding class, and that there is not sufficient rotation In office. Statistics show that this Is not the case, for the rate of change is sufficient to make a complete renewal of the personnel of the civil service every ten years. The situation at Washington Is not so complex as to puzzle a man of ordinary Intelligence. Public questions, even those approaching the importance of vital Issues, are seldom considered on their merits, by the lawmakers of this country. Legislation at Washington Is a political game. Parties strive for advantage in elections more than for public welfare. Individual Senators and Congressmen contend for those Interests which they serve. That a Congressman Is a Republican or a Democrat signifies less than ever before. That he is a representative of somogreat Interest tells the bigger story every time. For these reasons legislation partakes little of statesmanship. Congressmen seldom become great men in popular estimation. Success is measured by the points made In the game played. In seeking points In the game they play one against the other, being more desirous of securing personal advantage and benefit for the the Interests they serve, than of representing the people who elected them. It’s all In the game. Retaliation by Congress to punish railroads for discontinuing the Issuance of passes is threatened. Members, some of them classed among the leaders, are frankly discussing the form this retaliation shall take. Strangely enough there seems no disposition to punish the railroad by uniting In the passage of a strong railroad rate regulation law. The plan which receives most favor is to reduce the appropriation for the transportation of the mails. The railroads yearly receive from the government about $50,000,000 for carrying the mails. Under the plea of using money for extending the rural free delivery service, it will be proposed to reduce this amount by $10,000,000, Congressmen taking the position that whatever the railroads gain by cutting off passes should be so much money saved to the government

A new type of siege gun has been completed by the ordnance department at the Rock Island arsenal and has been shipped to the Sandy Hook proving grounds for a test. The new weapon throws a sixty-pound projectile. This is five pounds heavier than the projectile now -thrown from the fiveinch siege guns, which are to be replaced with the new model If the gun proves satisfactory. The chief characteristic of the new gun Is Its long recoil. It Is said that this gives a steady carriage, tfnd that the carriage will not Jump when the gun Is tlretj, as Is the case with the gun now In use. This will permit of a more rapid fire, ns It will not be necessary to place the carriage In position after each shot. Ia rlew of complaints to the Postofltoe Department of the brittleness of I>ostage stamps and their tendency to curl aud be detached after being affixed to letters, an Investigation was ordered, and It was found that the trouhlU was due to the bard guin used In summer and which Is affected by the cold, dry atmosphere of the winter season. All such stamps supplied to postmasters have been directed to be withdrawn by them until the summer months, and In the meantime new supplies are being forwarded tlmiu coated with a softer gum, which lamot affected by winter weather. ■ .... .. The National Itlvers and Harbors Congress, which met at Washington. Included a number of State governors, members of Congress and delegates frony at least 300 commercial organizations. A permanent organization was effected and the declaration was made in favor of an annual £80,000,000 rivet and harbor bill. The same vices which are huge and Insupportable In otliera we do not fesi I li