The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-10
CIVIL SERVICE TALK
IN THE HOUSE AT WASHINGTON
Al YsStsrday'S Committee ssISIOn-A RiEhi
Tart Debate on q "Ridsr" Of the ApprO.E
priatiOn BIllin Relation to the Com.
nisSionsrS-RandalI on Grover,

NNNTN~~@
3 miSSiOnsrS-RandAll on Grover.
! WASHINGTON, D. O., June 9.-To.da!
the House being in Committee Of tn
Whole on the Legislative, Executive an
Judicial appropriation bill, with Nj
. BlOunt, Of Georgia, in the chair, MI
Compton, Of Maryland, defended tn
) civil service feature Of the bill, and he e1
pressed his admiration for the courage 9
the Committee on Appropriations Il
placing the provision in the pending bill
In announcing his opposition to the rule
adopted by the Civil Service COmmisSlol
he gave voice to the sentiments Of tn,
people he represented. He yielded to nj
man, high or low, In office or out Of Office
in the entertainment Of an honest, earnes
and sincere desire for the thorough, econo
miCal and honest administration Of thI
civil service Of the government, but this
he argued, was not accomplished by the
existing civil service law. The law haC
been case OF "Heads, win; tails, you
loss." In case Of Republican success thai
party was to have the law and the offices
in case OF Democratic success, that party
was TO have the law without the offices,
That law was, he Contended, unconstitu'
tional, and he protested against It as
an antl.Democratic and anti.RepubliCan
usurpation Of the peoples right. He was
against the law as 1t stood, radically and
iFreconCilablY.
TO NuLLIFY THE LAW.
Mr.. Hill, Of Illinois, commented on
what he termed an extraordinary provi-
sion which had been forced upon an ap.
preparation bill to nulllfy the civil service
law, II 1t were not ruled out on point OF
order, he hoped the House, representing
the country and the advanced thought OF
the day would defeat It with a square
vote. The law had been tried; 1t was no
longer speculation, and II had upon 4
most thorough trial been found to be con.
ducive 10 the efficiency, honesty and
purely OF the civil service. The Commit
tee on Appropriations did not refuse to ap-
propriate for the Civil Service Commission,
but II coupled the appropriation with .
proviso, which broke down the barrier
which prevented spoilsmen from appoint
lug their workers to Office.
He believed that the response OF the
country 10 the provision would prove q
Quletus 10 the attack upon the Civil Ser
vice system. He reviewed what he assert.
ed to bs indirect violations Of the law by
the Postmaster General and the Commits.
sioner Of Pensions, and commended the
more direct course pursued by the SeCre-
tary OF the Treasury in the appointment
Of Higgins. He also criticised the action
OF the President in appointing Mr.. 0berly
as Civil Service Commissioner, declaring
that that gentleman was the very type Of
q party boss.
Mr.. Bayne, Of Pennsylvania, protested
against the provision and called attention
TO the fact that the change proposed to be
made could be made by the President. To
put this proposition In the bill was to
vote want Of confidence in the President
and his Cabinet. He believed that the
President was doing his best to carry out
Civil Service reform, and that most, II not
all, Of his Cabinet were endeavoring In
good faith to execute the law.
LARCENY.
Mr.. Price, Of Wisconsin, criticized many
items Of the appropriation as being ex.
travsgant In every place you put your
finger there was rottennesS, larceny in
every provision and grand larceny In the
aggregate.
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, defended the
Commissioner OF Pensions from the
charge Of having violated the civil service
law, and declared that every appoint
ment made by that officer had been
in accordance with the letter and spirit
OF the law. He went on 10 show that many
Of the special examiners appointed had
been Republicans, and called attention 10
the fact that Commissioner Black had re-
tanned eight Republican heads OF divisions
who were not protected by the civil ser.
vice law.
Mr.. Reed, Of Maine, while doubling the
correctness Of this statement suggested
that Mr.. Springer would make Mr.. Black
very unpopular with the Democratic party
II he continued his speech.
Mr.. Springer asserted that among the
employees Of the Pension Office not pro.
teCted by the law half OF them were Re.
publicans. The printing Office was still
presided over by Mr.. Rounds, with 1900
employees not protected by the law. His.
tory would show and the facts would
demonstrate that Mr.. Cleveland's admin.
istration was
THE MOST EoN.HARTEsAN ADMINISTRATION
since that OF George Washington. The
President had endeavored faithfully and
honestly to execute the civil service law.
The Democratic party was In favor OF the
execution of the law In letter and spirit,
but the law was not intended to put II In
the hand, Of q Cabal 10 regulate appoint.
ments 10 Office.
Mr.. Butterworth, Of Ohio, said the
gentleman from Illinois seemed happy
that the Commissioner Of Pensions could
point 10 q few spared by his political
mercy. Gentlemen on the other side con.
ceived II 10 be q mistake to have spared
any. The provisions ot the bill was an
attempt neither wise nor manly 10 nul.
lily absolutely the law which members
wereswosn 10 observe and enforce.
Mr.. Spfinger-While you were Com.
missioner Of Patents did you sppoint'any
Demonfats2
Mr.. Butterworth-1did ;Tnever knew the
politics or religion oi any individual l ap.
pointed 10 office when Commissioner Of
Patents, and | cay further! there never
was O time when the influence Of q De.
mocrat whom l knew did not weigh as
much with me as my party friends. All
wanted 10 know was, was he competent
Mr.. Wise, oil Virglnia-Uan you name q
Democrat you Appointedp
Mr.. ButterWorth-No; nor can I name
q Republican. ! do not carry the roster on
my head.
Mr.. MotfiBon-I can name Democrat
the gentleman appointed. He is q nephew
Of General Merritt and be appointed him
iot me, and I had good deal Of trouble
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