National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-09

iOh AlhDama nau knowingly make false
Messrs. Hepburn and Wheeler insisted
that permission should be given them to
make remarks pertinent 10 the subject Of
Mr. Kelley's motion, but, after discussion
upon points OF order, Mr.. Morrison, Of
Illinois, cut short further discussion by
moving to refer Mr.. Kelley's resolution TO
the committee on rules. Agreed to-yeas
20, nays 81.
The House then went into committee of
the whole tMr. Blount, OF Georgia, in the
chair) on the legislative, executive. and
judicial appropriation bill.
Mr.. Holman said the bill involved an ap-
preparation OF S90,500,1 1p, while the an
preparations made for the present fiscal
year were SCI, i00,es5. lie wished 20 call
attention to the startling rapldlty with
winch the expenditures OF the government
were being increased and In no case was IL
more apparent than in the civil list OF the
government. He read, In support OF his
argument, comparative statement show
ing the gross appropriation made since the
torty-second Congress. There had been,
he said, very little accomplished in reduc-
Ing the expenses OF Congress itself; one or
two Offices had been abolished and one or
Two salaries reduced, but nothing Of im-
portanoe had been done. He trusted that
the action Of the House In regard TO that
part OF the bill affecting the expenses OF
Congress would be such as TO sustain here
after the committee on appropriations in
making a more thorough revision OF ex-
penses.
Passing. on to consideration Of the
clause making an appropriation for the
civil service commission, he stated that the
amount appropriated was the same as that
given for the present fiscal year-$2i, 400,
but there was a provlso added requiring the
eeru fication OF the entire list Of applicants
from each state who had passed examina-
ton. This requirement, he argued, was
not change In existing law, but was sim
ply Limitation on the expenditure Of the
money.
Mr.. Butterworth inquired whether the
provision did not nulllfy the most important
provision Of the civil service law, and
whether Its object was not to enable the
friends.
Mr.. Holman answered most emphatically
In the negative. IL was, he commended, a
matter OF Justice TO the applicant who was
successful In passing the examination.
Il. b. Taylor, OF Ohio, inquired whether
the main object Of the provision was not to
secure the appointment of more Democrats.
Mr.. Holman replied that so far as the
motive was concerned he must answerjn
the negative; he would say however, that
II the provision had the incidental result of
increasing the number of Democratic en-
ployes, he did not think the gentleman
ought to complain. He was convinced that
that would be the result, but his motive
was justice to the applicant and justice to
the government.
Mr.. Findlay, OF Maryland, inquired
whether the object OF the provision was not
TO enlarge the scope Of choice for political
purposes.
Mr.. Holman. To enlarge the scope Of
choice l admit, but for governmental pur-
poses, for purposes OF even handed Justice.
Mr.. Findiay. am opposed to certifying
all the eligibles up to the appointing officer.
am in favor of The administration being
carried on with the highest regard to honor
without regard to party.
Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois, thought that be-
fore the Republicans accused the Demo-
Gratis OF undue partisanship, they should be
willing to divide the classified service with
the Democrats. Until the classified service
was half composed Of Democrats, he
thought that gentlemen on the other side
should be silent on the subject OF civil SER
vice reform. Until this time, the Demo
cratic party would continue to press this
point.
In the debate upon this general subject,
which continued through more than two
hours, Mr.. Cannon argued that this pro-
posed alteration was out OF order on an
appropriation bill, being plain change of
law. II this provision were put on the bill,
u would be done In defiance Of the rules OF
the House. He cited cases in which the
provision would work an injury to the gov
eminent and to the applicants, and re-
marked that the will Of the majority Of the
committee on appropriations to repeal the
law by indirectness was good, but II was
not very happy in Its method of repeal.
lie criticised President Cleveland for not
having taken action In regard to the circu-
lar sent out by the Postmaster General,
which he declared had started at every
cross.road In the country q smut machine
70 bring charges against Republicans. Gen.
Black had so manipulated the civil service
law as to violate every provision of II.
what did the President dor He got mar
Red. Laughter.l Had the gentleman
from Illinois Mr.. Morrison) or the gentle
man from pennsylvania (Mr. Randall) been
PRESIDENT, and fifteen months after their
declaration In favor OF the civil service law,
mat law was violated by subordinate,
hey would tell that subordinate to step
Town and out.
The President stood by, saying, "Good
Lord, help me to enforce this act," while
le permitted his suboTdiates to drive
through 1t In four-horse team.
Mr.. McComas, Of Maryland, criticised |
he "civil service reform provision" OF the |
I'LL, declaring that 1t would be much more
manly In the Democratic party to come out |
openly and ask for repeal Of the law and |
% cry out, "Away with the Mugwumps;
way with the pretense of civil service re- |
ormp But It dared not come out before |
he country and alright the Mugwumps by |
attempting to repeal the law. But Il put |
his provision on this bill as a threat to the |
commission that II would be starved unless
would surrender to the spokesman, and |
his within sixty days after the receipt of a
Message from the President recommending
hat the law should be jealously guarded. |
Vow, the President was up In the mountains
4 Maryland. ''When the cats away the
nice will play" and the Democrats were
ibbling at civil service reform.
Mr.. McComas then engaged In colloquy
With his colleague Mr.. Compton) respect
ng the administration Of the law In Mary
and, and declared that civil service re-
orm In Maryland, with its Higgins's and
,homas's, had been mere farce. Mr.. Me-
,omas then entered into colloquy with
Or; Randall in regard to the law, Mr.. Ran
all admitting that his admiration for the
lw had been somewhat tempered on account
4 the regulations under which 1t was ex-
cuted. He did not believe that the civil
ervice law had ever been honestly admin
stored by the Republican party. The rule
I the commission which It was proposed TO
hange was a rotten branch on healthy
rec, and he wanted to take an AK and chop
of.
Mr.. McComas suggested that the COM
littee meant to grub up the whole tree.
he Democrats wanted clean sweep. He
rotested against II, not for Republican
but that the government
light have trained and capable officials
nder all administrations, and that the
DOR as well as the influential might get
hese places by competition Of merit.
The committee then rose.
Mr.. Oates Of Alabama, from the commit
ee on the judiciary, asked leave to report
ack the Edmunds anti.polygamy bill, but
ir. Game, of Utah, objected
The point was made that A deIhpata had