The New York herald., 1872-04-20

civil service was administered 1t could not he said
with even a shadow OF truth that the Executive
TIE CONSTANT TERRIBLE PRESSURE
| and for many years the Presidents Of the United
States had been crying out IN their agony to be re-
sistible pressure The pressing custom was an
apostacy from the governments In its one real
purity-an apOsacy OF the most alarming character.
Mr.. BUTLER, (rep) Of Mass.-Where viii find
| thatS
Mr.. GARFIELD-You will find 1t In the Globe to-
morrow. Q.aughterJ AS to the other objection to
the bil that the civil service was pure and needed
reform, Mr. Garfield referred to the first message
of the President calling attention to the need Of re-
form. The House had beeh told yesterday by Mr..
Butler that the Paymaster's Department had done
Well during ring the war but whys Because that was
was not removed
to get another in his place; where the law OF pro-
motion prevailed The army and navy belonged to
civil service of which he was speaking. There was
not q really high and noble service connected with
the government that had not been more or less
the Coast Survey as service in which the system OF
promotion by merit, prevailed, and asked who
would dare to turn that service into the hands of
politicians. 1t was so with the Lighthouse Board,
and with all parts of the public service that were
had been treated during the debate to class OF in
sinuation which he could not pass over In silence,
rhey have been tod IN very plain language that
part OF some people who did not like the President
and who wanted to get up the Cincinnati Conyen-
THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN CAUGHT IN TRAP
spread for him by Congress at the instigation Of
that downw 1t was in the Presidents Message of
the 5th OF December, 1870, that these words were
used:-"I call the attention OF Congress to an
abuse of long standing, which ] desire to have
reformed. refer to the civil service or the coan-
Tat st 1 ma Sad oeen San made n in four our
Appropriation bill. to which Mr.. Butler had re-
ferred as the origin of the movement; but that
provision did not compel, but merely authorized,
the President to devise some means OF bettering
the public service. Ten months afterwards the
President had forwarded to Congress the report OF
the Civil Service Commission, and said 81 ask for
ALL THE STRENGTH THAT CONGRESS CAN GIVE
to enable me to carry out the reform or the civil
service recommended by the Commission To take
effect ON the LIST Of January ls'a" And now, on the
ecqtive order, With body Of amended rules,
and called upon Congress to support him in carry
ing those rules into effect. The gentleman from
Massachusetts had taken upon himself yesterday to
repeat what he previously had said about the trick
by which the President had been entrapped into
referring him Mr. Garheld that If he (NIr. But
ler) were chairman OF leading committee of the
House he would endeavor to support the President
or the United States and
NOT BE THE PRESIDENTS ENEMY
in the matter
Mr.. BUTLER-Is it true, what see in the Tribune,
that the Chairman of the Committee on Appropra-
tions refuses to endorse the administration 2
Mr. GARFIELD-I do not propose to be marched at
over anybodys race course, ut anybody's behest.
Mr. BUrLER-I would take a very different horse.
Mr. GARF1ELD-The same paper says, also, that
the entire Massachusetts, delegation in Congress
fuses to endorse the administration.
Mr.. BUTLER-And am ready to deny 1t. Is the
gentemanY say It is lie Does he say soS
Mr. PEHE ep Of 0ho .r ra the
Mr.. GARFIEID--I have a few more words with the
gentleman from Massachusetts on the matter now
yesterday that the gentleman did assume to speak
by authority on this floor, and torepresent that this
4 civil service reform movement was
/ THRUST ON AN UNWILLING PRESIDENT,
| and that the men who defended 1t were the Presi
s sna hot S ms es ha re-
reached its present stage. have shown you that
it began with the President, and that it has been
followed up by the Presidents but to make myself
doubly sure called last evening, with colleague,
on the President himself, and conversed with him
on this matter Of civil service reform, and am at
liberty to say, and Will say whether am at lib
Mr. BUTLER-I call the gentlemen to order. The
utterances OF the President, except when brought
here in FORM by message to the House, are not to
INFLUENCE QUESTION OF LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Cox-They do not influence us very much
Mr.. BUTLER-The gentleman says he called upon
the President, and that he was at liberty to say
Mr.. GARFIELD-The rules of the Middlesex bar, do
not apply here. This is not q criminal court.
Mr.. BUTLsR-No, sir; because there is some
decorum and propriety in criminal courts.
Mr. GARFIELD-I was in hopes that there would
be some here, but see there is not (Laughter.)
/ i
preston 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 service reform
the President is not only sincere but he Is in
earnest Every message that he has sent us makes
me certain that that is so, and nothing that
have ever heard him say detracts one whit from
CALLED TO ORDER.
| The SPEAKER-The Chair regards 1t as an inde-
corum to refer In any manner to conversation
with the President OF the United states. 1t Is
clearly against the spirit OF the rule and against
IL inlpOpudence House.
Mr.. BUTLER ito Mr.. Garfield)-Now don't you wish
this was criminal court, SO as to avoid that rule
Mr.. GALFIELD-I call the Speakers attention to
the fact that have only stated my impression.
The SPEAKER-The wording IL in that way does
not relieve 1t from the objection, escape the par
liamentary taint.
thing have said trenches on the line of propriety
and parliamentary debate 1t Is because the as
sumption was made here in manner utterly un-
paraeled in the experience have had here in the
form of insinuation that those who defend civil
service reform are antagonists of the Executive.
Mr.. BUTLER-I did not say that l said that the
enemies OF the President were the friends of civil
service reform. did not say that oil the friends of
civil service reform were the enemies OF the Pres-
dent.
Mr.. PERRY, of ohio-Dld not you say yesterday
that those who supported this bin would require
certificate that they were not going to Cincinnati 2
Mr.. BuTLER-Yes; and have been trying to get
Mr.. Garfield and he will not give it, Qaaughter.)
ON POLITICAL CONSCIENCE.
Mr.. GARFIELD-The gentleman from Massachusetts,
Is not the keeper of my political conscience
Mr.. BUTLER-I never knew that you had any.
! Renewed laughter
Mr.. GARFIELD cutting adrft from this personal
colloquy, addressed himself to the subject before
the House and argued that it was matter OF i'm
perative necessity that Congress should abdicate
It's usurped and pretended right to dictate appoint
ments to the Executive.
Arguments in support OF the bill were also made
by Messrs. MCCORMICK, tdem.) Of Mo-, and FINKELN
BURG, rep OF Mo-
Mr. SARGENT, (rep) Of CAL, moved to lay the bill
on the table, but at the suggestion OF several mem
bers, he withdrew that motion, and the House pro-
ceeded to vote on Buffers motion to recommit the
bill.
Mr. HOLMAN, dem) Of Ind, desired to amend
that motion by giving the committee leave to re-
port at any time.
Mr. BUTTERFLY no means object
The bill was recommitted-yeas 90, nays 10, as fol-
| lows:-
YEAs-Messrs. Ames, Avcrill, Banks, Barber, Beck,
| Bgby, Bingham, Bird, Blair of Mo, Boles
bright Buckley Butler Of Mass, Butler OF Tenn Clark OF