Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-20

I
mark referring to him (Garield), that If he
(Butler) were chairman of leading COM
mittee of the House, he would endeayor 10
support the President of the United States
and net be the Presidents enemy in the
matter.
Mr.. Butler-Is it true, what | see in the
Tribune, that the Chairman of the Commit
tee on Appropriations refuses to endorse
the administration.
Mr.. Garfield do not propose to be
marched out over anybody's race course at
anybody's behest.
Mr.. Butler-I would take very different
horse. [Laughter.l
Mr.. Garfeld-The same paper says also
that the entire Massachusetts, delegation in
Congress refuses to endorse the administra-
ton.
Mr.. Butler-And am ready to deny it.
Is the gentleman? l say it is
A Lie.
Does he say so?
Mr.. Perry, of Ohio.-I call the gentleman
to order. These interruptions are inteler-
able.
Mr.. Garfeld.-I have few more words
with the gentleman from Massachusetts, on
the matter now in hand. The impression
was made on my mind yesterday that the
gentleman did not assume to speak by au-
thority on this floor and to represent that
this civil service reform movement was
thrust on an unwilling President, and that
the men who defended it were the Presi-
dents enemies and not his friends. have
recounted here the steps by which this
movement has reached its present stage.
have shown you that it began with the
President, and that it has been followed up
by the President. But to make myself
dsubly sure, called last evening with my
colleague on the President himself, and
conyersed with him on this matter, civil
service reform, and | am at liberty to say,
and will say, whether am at liberty or not.
Mr.. Butler-I call the gentleman to order.
The utterances of the President, except
when brought here in form by a message to
the House, are not to be stated to influence
question of legislation.
MIR. Cox-They do not influence us very
much. [Laugbter.l
Mr.. Butler-The gentleman says he call
ed on the President, and that he was at
liberty to say.
Mr.. Garfeld-The rules of the Middle
sex bar do not apply here.
This is not a Criminal Court.
Mr.Butler-No sir, because there is some
decorum and propEety in Criminal Courts
[Laughter.]
Mr.. Garfield: 1 was in hopes there
| would be some here, but see there is not.
| ILaughter]. desire to say to the House
that | have had no impression made on my
mind from any conversation with any man
more strong and more clear than this, that
| in all this matter of civil service reform the
President is not only sincere but he IS III
earnest. Every message that he has sent
us makes me more certain that it is so, and
nothing have ever heard him say detracts
one whit from that conviction.
The Speaker: The chair regards 1t as
an indecorum to refer in any manner to a
conversation with the President OF the
United States. 1t is clearly against the
spirit of the times and against the independ-
ence of the House.
Mr.. Butler TO Garfeld-Now don't you
wish that this was criminal court, so as to
avoid that rule. [Laughter.]
Mr.. Garfield call the Speakers atten-
ton to the fact that have only stated my
impression.
Speaker-The wording of it in that way
does not relieve it from the objection OF
escape the parliamentary point.
Mr.. Garfield have only to say that II
| anything have said trenches on the line
of propriety and parliamentary debate it is
because the assumption was made here IN
a manner utterly unparalleled in the expe-
rience 1 have had here, in the form of an
| insinuation that those who defend the
civil service reform are antagonists of the
executive.
Mr. Butler-I did not say that. / said
that the enemies of the President were
friends of civil service reform. did not
say that all the friends of civil service re-
form were enemies of the President.
Mr.. Perry, of Ohio-Did not you say
yesterday that those who supported this
bill
would Require a Certificate
that they were not going to Cincinnati.
Mr.. Butler-Yes, and have been trying
to get such a certificate from the gentle
man from Ohio (Garfeld), and he will moi
give it. [Laughter.l
Mr.. Garfeld-The gentleman from Mas
sachusetts is not the keeper Of my politica
conscience.
Mr.. Butler: l never knew that you ha(
any. IRenewed laughter.l
Mr.. Garfield, cutting adrift from this per
sonal coIloquy, addressed himself to thu
subject before the House and argued that il
was matter of imperative necessity thai
Congress should abdicate its usurped ant
pretended right to dictate appointments Il
the Executive.
Arguments in support of the bill wer'
also made by Messrs. Mccormick an
Finklenburg.
Mr. Sergeant moved to lay the bill on th
table, but at the suggestion of severa
members he withdrew that motion, and th
House proceeded to vote on Mr.. Butler
motion to recommit the bill.
Mr.. Holman desired to amend the motto
by giving the committee leave to report a
any time.
Mr.. Butler-By no means. object.
The bill was recommitted-yeas, 9t
nays, 79. Among the yeas were Maynar
and Butler of Tennessee.
The remainder of the session was devote
to business of the District of Columbia.
Ku-KIux Message.
The Speaker laid before the House
message from the President in regard t
Ku-Kiux outrages in South Carolina. Re
ferred to Joint committee on the subject,
Mr.. Beck declared that part of the state
ments contained in the message were nc
true, referring to the statement that tn
facts were got from the select committee.
Mr.. Cox-It is not a true statement an
, we will debate it at any time.
Mr.. W. R. Roberts made aremark to IL
same effect.
Mr.. Dickey asserted the statement
were true.
The House adjourned till Monday.
!; UTAH.