The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-10

no man whose capacity ranged above
that OF an oyster could think the pro-
vision had any other object than 10
remove the barrier which protected
the partisan applicant. Cleveland had
come into power under promise, ex.
pressed and not implied, that he would
observe in all respects not merely the
letter but the spirit of the civil service
law. He read with expressions OF
commentator the civil service mes
sage of the President and declared
that the majority in tle House was
undermining to overthrow the Pres-
dent and induce him 10 break the
pledge he had given to the people.
There might be a difference OF opin-
ion as to the propriety of the law, but
| If 80, why did not the Democrats come
forward IN a anly way and repeal il
They did not do SO; but while talking
with the voice OF Jacob they reached
out with the hand of Esau to seize the
spo.ls. Laughter He then quoted
from the message OF Gov. Hill in favor
OF civil service reform. While he had
criticised Gov. Hills methods, he
wanted to applaud him to the echo for
the utterance there made. Hill wrote
like stalwart, like a man Of expert
ence, like a man who sought to secure
honest government for his State end
the city OF New York. Gov. Hill
might be the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency, but he suppoyu6
that the Democratic party would not
support him unless his utterances
upon civil service reform were ex-
plunged. He Mr.. ButtsrW )rth) took
off his hat to those uttersnces, but
while the President and the Governor
of New York proclaimed that civil
service reform was the apple OF the
Democratic eye, the leaders of the
Democratic party here we're attempt
ing to gouge that eye out, not in a
manly manner, but in a way that
could not commend Itself TO the judg-
ment of the people. There would not
be a Republican vote in favor Of the
provision, and the strange spectacle
would be presented OF a President, in
| endeavoring to carry on good adj
ministration, being driven for support
TO those who had attempted to keep
him out of his high office. But gen.
tlemen knew that the provision could
not pass, and he was glad to observe
that there we've men On the other side
who, however much they might criti-
else the distribution of offices,
stood by the law and held this Con-
gress above the small conduct of city
councils or ward politicians.
Mr. Townsend III. commended, in re
ply to Mr.. McComss's speech, that the
figures would show that the Demo
cratic party had always been, and still
was, the party of economy. II the
gentleman would examine the appro-
priations since the time the Demo.
cratic party had had its share in the
administration of the government he
would discover that the Democratic
party had been faithful to the pledges
it had made to the people. The fig.
ures demonstrated clearly that since
the Democrats had come into power
there had been steady and success
full effort on the part Of The majority
to reduce the expenditures OF the
government. He quoted from tables
to show that since the Forty-fourth
Congress the Democratic party had
successfully reduced the expenditures,
and he called attention to the large
increase made in the Forty-eeventh
Congress, when the Republican party
had been in control of all branches Of
the government. He ALEC quoted
from table to show that
during the year the Democrats had
had control of the House, estimates
had been submitted to the amount Of
| $176,S46,000. Democratic Houses had
reduced these estimates $344, 13S,000
but extravagant Republican Senatef
had added over $114, 000,0 900 to the ap'
preparation bills passed by the Houses.
Passing on then TO defense of the
Pension Office, he attributed the as
saults made upon Commissioner Black
to the aggrieved feelings on the part Of
Republicans that Mr. Cleveland had
not appointed as Commissioner Oh
Pensions some man who had served
in the Confederate army, in order
that their stump orators might go be-
fore the country and declare tnat the
Confederstes had captured the Capitol
Mr. Henderson la. suggested that
the Republican party had plenty Of
cases to go to the country ON without
Mr.. Black.
Mr.. Townshend said the Repub lean
stump orators had gone over the
North charging that if Democrat
President we've elected the Confed.
crates would capture the Capitol, the
Union oder would be deprived Of
his pension, the rebel debt would be
paid and the negroes again enslaved
By such demsgoguery on the part Of
the Republican orators the Democratic
party had lost many Congressional
| districts in the North. He declared
that when Commissioner Back came
into Office there was not Democrat
on the list Of special examiners.
Mr.. Gsllinger IN. H. inquired how
he, knew that fact,
Mr.. TowDshend replied that he had
authority for the statement.
Mr. Gallinger-What authority?
Mr.. ToWnshend--0f Federal author
! ity from the Pension Office.
Mr.. Reed Ne From whom?
Mr.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES oiyour bust
mesa; state l have it from the Pen.
sion Office, and every word of it is
true, and l believe the gentleman
knows it to be true.
Mr.. Gallinger-I would not take
your word for it. These men have
not te ,tified that they are Republi-
cans.
Mr.. Townshend, proceeding, said
when e EN-. Black took charge OF the
Pension, Office, of the 1865 employees
there were but seventeen Democrats,
The 6rst seventy-one special exam
liners appointed by Commissioner
Black had been Republicaus, yet Re-
publicans sneered al him as the viola
tor of the civil service law. Discuss.
ing the civil service reform provision,
he stated that while he thought that
The rules of the commission shoNld be
changed, as proposed, be was notin IA
yor OF doing this by arider On an apPro-
pristion bill. lie w5s willing to leave
the power ia the hands of the PEesi-
dent. He had confidence in the Pres.
ident, in his integrity and in his judg-
rnan+