New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The bill protect the independence of tho several de-
partments OF the Government was then taken up.
Mr. L H. ROBERTS CRep., n " advocated the BILL
He argued while the evils of civil service have
been exaggerated reform was necessary The respon-
Mr. BINGHAM (Rep Ohio) opposed the bill. He de-
clared that such bill was forbidden by the genius OF
tuition II was direct interference with the guaranteed
privileges of every citizen of the United states II was
miserable spectacle and nothing couid Do saiu u IT,
deem il from absolute contempt. 49,
Mr. DANSS P VITA Mai the v srvos b% h
opinion this bill did not reach the difficulty 1t was not
Mr.. GARFIELD Nep, ohiol made the closing speech
In favor OF the h' He reviewed the three cher once
tons urged against that it unconstitutional that
the Cvil Service pure and needed no reform and
the interests Of party required the mantenance OF
the Golden Rule of the Government. that the three
great departments legislative the EXecutVe; ana
and that neither should encroach on the other the spirit
an he mode in winch the Civil Service was admins
tered 1t could not be said with even shadow OF trutn
high functions nomination even without the constant
terrible pressure OF the whole body OF the LegssSe
Department. and for many years the Presidents OF the
United States had been crying out in their agony to no
pressure The present custom an apostasy from the
Government in its original purity-an ap9stasy OF ne
been thai even the Executive Departments should not
influence each other that he had scattered the public
buildings in the capital all over the city ,on,.,.,
Mr. BUTLER Rep Mass1W S j., VIII H. ma that
lLaughterl AS TO the other objection to the bill,
that the Civil Service pure and needed no REFORM
dent calling attention to need of reform. The House
had been told yesterday by Mr. Butler that the Pay
masters Department had done well during the war; but
whyl Because that a magnificent department Of
the service where every man was held to
every time that politician wanted to get
anQlher in his place; where the law , OF pro,
to class of service separated from the miserable Civil
service of which he was speaking There i, was not
3; yh andu connected
eminent had not been more or less separated from
tie evils in question He nsanced the Coast Survey as
a service in which the system of promotion by merit pre-
vailed and asked who would dare TO turn that service
Lighthouse Board. and with all parts of the public
service that honor and glory to the country
Of nsnuaOn which he could not pass over IN silence
They had been told in very plain language tnat TINS
whole Civil Service business was tiek on he pait Oh
people who did not Ike the PIesldent, ana Wno
sns1 ID sc had be ee in trap spread
him by Congress the nstigatiOn Of his enemies Be
6 how sase Of PS ae n Of @
that these words were used .,.,,,
, s' sTs3ce ad been C made ssSS four E 6S be-
fore the provision had been put IN the Appropriation
bl to which Mr.. Butler bad referred as the origin OF
the movement; that provision did not compel but
merely authorized the President to devise some means
of lettering the public service. Ten months a1erWa1d
the President had forwarded Congress the report of
the Civil Service Commission, and said:
carry Civil Service recommended by the COmm
And now on the 10th of April 1872, President had
sent Executive order with senes Of amended
rules. aud called upon Congress 10 support him
in carrying those rules into effect. The gentleman
from qenea, What he previously had said about the
trick by which the President had been en-
trappcd into the Civil Service net and had made the
remark-referring TO him GariedJ-that il he Butler)
chairman OF IA leading committee OF the House, ne
sSe apd not be the Residents enemy to the matter
MIR. BUTLER-Is 1t true what see IN THE TRlBgNE,
refused to indorse the Administrations
Mr. GARFIELD do not propose to be marched over
anvhody'a at anybOdy's behest.
NIr BUTLER-I would take very different horse.
MIR GARFIELD-The same paper says also. that the
entire Massachusetts, delegation in Congress refuses to
Mr.. BUTLER-And L ready to deny it. Is the
gentlemani say 1t is lie! Does he say 500 -
Mr.. PERRY Qiep, Ohio)-I call the gentleman to
order. These Interruptions are intolerable
rom ON he matter now ' 1
hand The impression made on my mind yes;e rday
Ills floor and represent that this Civil Service Reform
movement was thrust on an unwilling President and
miles, and not his friends. i have recOuned here the
steps by which this movement has reached it's present
dent that it has been followed up by the Presidents
but TO make myself dcHby sure called lastseysnns.
versed with him this matter OF Civil Service
reform, and I am at liberty to say, and will say,
whether / am at liberty not
Mr.. BUTLER-I call the gentleman to order. The ut
form by message TO the House. to be stated to
Influence question Of legislation.
Mr.. cox (Dem, n YJ-They do not influence us very
Mr.. BUTLER-Tne gentleman says he called upon the
President and that he at liberty to say
Mr.. GARFIELD-The rules OF the Mlddesex bar do
NOT apply here. Thisis not criminal court
Mr. BUTI.ER-No, Sir; because there is some decorum
and propriety in criminal courts. Laughter
Mr.. GARFiELD-I was in hopes that there would be
some here, but there is not Laughter. desire
TO say House that have had no impression made
on my mind from any conversation with any man. more
strong or more clear than this that In all this matter Of
the Civil reform the President is not only SIN
cere but he in earnest Every message that he has
nothing that have ever heard him say detracts one
VIII from
The sPEAKER~The Chair regards it as indecorum to
in TO conversation with the President
the United States. IL Is clearly against the spirit OF
the rule and against independence OF the House.
Mr.. BUTLER TO Mr.. Garfield Now do MT yon
wish this criminal court 30 as TO avoid that rules
Mr. GARFIELD-I call the Speakers attention to the
fact that have only stated my impression.
The SPEAKER-Tne wording ii in that way does not
relieve II from the objection. or relieve 1t from the par
Mr.. GARFIELD-I have only to say that II anything
have said trenches the line of propT1ey and parlia
here utterly unparalleled in the experience
had here In the form of insinuatiOn that those
who defend Civil Service reform are antagonists Of the
Mr. BUTLER-I did not say that. said that the enc
mics OF President the friends OF Civil Service
reform did not say all the friends Of Civil Ser
vice reform were'the enemies of the President.
day. that those who supported this bill would require
certificate that they were not going 10 Cincinnauf
such certificate from the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Garfield, and he VIII not give IT, lLaughterl
setts the keeper Of my political conscience.
Mr.. BUTLER-I never knew that you had any.
Mr.. GARFIELD cutting adrift from this personal COL
oquy. and addressing himself 10 the subject before the
U,use) argued that II matter Of imperative
sity that Congress should abdcae its usurped and pre-
tended g6 70 dictate appointments 70 the EIeeptye
the table, but at the suggestion OF several members he
withdrew that motion and the House proceededto vote
Mr. HOLMAN dem, IndD desired 10 amend that
motion by giving the Committee leave 10 report al any