The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-03
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Senator Vest Makes a Rafting
Speech.

Special Dispatch to the Globe Democrat
Republican,
wAsHYeroN, D. c., December ~
senator Vest had an appreciative audience
to.dav IN hear him give his views on civil,
sorvica reform. and before he concluded
eyerv seat in the galleries was occupied,
many ladies being noticeable. lie over
hauled the Republican party pretty THOR
onobly since its organization, but dWeit
naTticalarly upon the period which result,
Cd az he nuts il. in favor of FEATHER FRAUD
Uavesn He carefully reviewd the history |
/ - ~ transactions Of the Returning
/ Poard1 Of Louisiana and the rewards re-
Lied he its members for their share IN
10 presidential imbroglio. Following
/, bis he gaye extracts from the Dorsey let
/ trrs rscsntly published, showing that the
Repuhlicsn managers did not care iS
/ for civil service reform, but went N slfohS
/ Ia. osuoil.R lie aIal exhibited and read
a circular Of Tie Pennsylvania republican
State Executive committee, calling upon
voters for thar assessments, under peoalty
nj hajuS reunrted to the heads OF bureaus
whore tbey we're employed in Washington
for dismissal. Mr. Vest made such
, strour peint out Of this document
that Mr.. Allison, Of Iowa, felt cali
ed anon 10 deny that it had been sane
, ffhued by the Congressional Committee,
and he further denounced II as unworthy
nj Republican support. 1t was generally
conceded that iir Vest made the strongest
{ speach vet delivered on the Democratic
: side. and he was more eloquent than ever.
Mn WILLIAMS opposed the Civil Ser
\ vice Bill as impraetlcable ana Wof9hless'
Q The only practical attempt he haa seen
y made to reform the service was the propo
4 stion of his colleague Beck to inquire
+ into the abuses perpetrated by kepuoll,
II can officials in the last campaign, ana
= that was smothered by coupling 1t WIN
y another entirely irrelevant inquiry he
., was in favor of every real reform, but ne
u would not vote for this little sham, Tor th'
v same reason that he declined to vote at tn'
1T last session for that other sham, "Ihe LITTLE
e. revenue bill" This bill proposed sys
x TEN of competitive examinations Tor thu
ct lower offices, sort OF sausage-stuifer
Mt through which each man must pass belor
IN he could get into the general strings
to TLaughterl. There was great deal Q
a. nonsense in the talk about civll-servIc
n reform Real reform would consist in put
10 ting decent and honest men in high places
os- and letting them bring back the Govern
ment of the republic to the principles an
practices of its earlier and better day
He would like to see Democratic membe
Cs' Of Congress who would go back to his COZ
stituents and tell them he had voted
ro- make the tedure of the present ofiice-ho
by ders permanent in order to keep his frienC
from being tempted into office seekin
of TLaughterl How many voters woul
&C. that man get? Why he would be hoote
ct People think, and do too, that whichev
ner party is in power it has the right to p
my its friends in Office. AS for this poor lit
ion thing that is before us, / don't think
ON amounts to anything. Old Hickory JAG
ted son would put his foot upon it in a minu
any TLaughter1. | don't think it would be Ii
de- ii we passed it; yet it might bother us
ted little when we come on, and | don't wa
any Instructions in our way. Laughte
any The only way to reform is to elect an nc
rge est President in 1884, turn on the ho
wee give him y big hickory broom, and
act, him to sweep the platter clean. Lauq
ney ter.
Mr.. Plumb, of Kansas--He struck
yee good lead by showing how the bill tenJ
pro- to lessen the proper responsibility OF
lnge heads Of departments for the character
any their employees, and to devolve it on
or irresponsible board, whom the people
such not create and cannot reach or control
eld, Mr., Voorhees,, in very spirited spec
any deuouncing the bill, reminded the South
old Senators how the departments whore fiji
tion with class OF persons charged TO their
any speotive States ON the rolls, but with VIII
they had no identification, and who rel
ther scented the carpet-bag and scalawag
ates ment which had plundered and oppres
4 in the South.
any Mr.. Butler replied with good dea
any heat, and argued that the bill would ha'
cunt tendency to break up the evils in the |
IN Of lie service.