Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-10
A HOT FIRE ON REFORM.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS DE-
CLARED INFRINGED.

ofCItizens from Their Legal Right to
Hold Office.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-The House to-
dav went into committee of the whole,
with MIR. Blount, of Georgia, in the chair
on the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill.
After speeches upon the civil service
section and other items Of the bill by
Messrs. Compton of Maryland, Hit OF
Illinois, Payne of Pennsylvania, and
Price of Wisconsin an attempt was
made to arrive at some determination as
to the time when the general debate
should close, Mr.. Holman suggesting
that it should end at 4:30 O'Clock, but the
Republicans objected to it as being too
short time, and Mr.. Reagan, OF Texas,
on the ground that the debate should close
al an earlier hour. TWAS. he said, too
late in the session for the House to con-
sumo time in listening to political essays.
Il was finally agreed that the general dis
cusslOn should close at 4:5O.
Tue discussion of the bill turned prin-
clpay to the civil service appropriation
items.
NOTHING TO FEAR,
Mr.. Cox, of North Carolina, chairman
of the Committee on Civil Service Reform,
said that the friends Ofcivil service reform
had nothing to fear from the discussion
which had taken place. He had nothing
to say about violation Of the law. No law
could be judged by faith less administra-
tIon of il. 1t was no argument against
the civil service law to say that il had
been violated. The first law that had been
passed looking in this direction was
passed by Democratic Congress IN 1888.
The reform was then inaugurated and IL
went on up to the time Of the war, and
the greatest spokesman who had ever Oc-
cupied the White House had been An
drew johnson.
THE FIRST BILL AFTER THE WAR.
The first bill that had ever been intro
duced after that time had been in 1854,
but politicians had been opposed 10 it, be-
cause it prevented them from dispOsing
of Offices to pay their political debts. But
the reform had gone on, and this reform
would go on. Talk about it being
aristOcratcl 1t was the very essence OF
Democracy. 1tgave the people pure SER
vice. Ii carried out in its purity it would
decrease the expenses Oftbe public service.
a that was one reason why the reform
had gone on. 1t had been opposed by
politicians, but tue great pOwer-that
voice that made the pOlitician-had de-
manded that the reform should go on
THE LAW OF 1871.
In 1871 law had been passed in regard
10 the civil service, and both parties had
found it necessary to incorporate arefOrm
plank In their platform. Ii they thought
that il was a sham ana fraud why had
they held out false hopes to the people?
From that time on civil service reform had
continued to grow, until today the cOun-
try saw both sides apOlOgizing for not car
rying out the law in its integrity. The
gentleman from Illinois Mr.. Cannon had
said yesterday that he believed the chief
executive was the most popular Demo-
crati the country. He would add to that
remark and say that he was the most
popular man Of either party in the c0un-
try. Why was it? Because he was known
to be man of the highest integrity and
purpose; that when he gave his pledge to
the people he would stand by that pledge.
lApplause.l
A FAITHFUL PRESIDENT.
The country had an executive who was
attempting to carry out the law IN its in
tegrity, and the question was whether
Congress would stand by him. II Con-
gress would not the people of the United
states would. Applause The rider on
the bill would deprive the executive Of
the power OF making such rules and regu-
latiOns as it thought best. lie Mr.. COX)
had every reason to believe that IT was
the purpose OF the mmissiOn TO change
the rules and amend them.
Mr. Randall had hoped that the prOpo-
sitiOn OF the Committed on Appropriations
would be discussed entirely from public
standpoint. IL had been alleged that
these amendments were for the purpose
OF destroying the civil service law.
NO SUCH OBJECT.
BE maintained thaIthe two propositions
bad no such object in view; that when
they came to be part Of the regulations
they would operate on both parties alike
aud without any partisanship whatever.
First, the provision in regard 10 age. That
was not part of the law which the gentle
men had boasted they bad voted for. He
yentured the assertion that il there had
been a clause in the act Of 1888, prOpOs-
ing 10 prescribe an American citizen af
ter he had reached the age Of IS from be-
INK eligible to pubic station, there was
not man here to-day who would say that
ne would vote for any such act. How
had 1t got on? 1t had got on at the will
OF single individual, aud there was not
man to-day who had the courage 70 utter
sentiment in favor Of that part OF the
regulations.
THE OBJECT.
The conclusion could be safely drawn
mat the language WIS inserted In the
regulations to exclude members OF one
political party from examination. Not
man who had been removed from Office in
I'0l could make an application now, not
Witnstanding that he might have the
capacity for being an efficient officer. The
very elect OF the law was 10 prevent
more than half Of the people who voted
lor members Of Congress from securing
any position in the classified service.
should not that law be assailed now,
mere, everywhere, with propriety. lie
would directly and indirectly agitate the
repeal OF such a mOnstrOus. such an un-
ist' such au indefensble proposition as
lAis' lApplause.l
THE VETO POWER.
Mr McComas-Caunot the President.
W stroke Of his pen, strike out the age
hf' Randall say that this law was
A.aue oy Congress-, that the power OF leg
'tatilu rests here, that this one man has
.s&laldied and deprived Congress Of the
power which should be lodged here. ]
say with dolibcratiOn, that / want the
@iel executive tO near what / have 10
ray on tue subject. II is not an assault
- ile President. but ! say here today
-at lIe representatives. Oi the people, BY
'. enact nent OF these regulations, have
.oH deceived and cDeated and deprived
llsh's which they ought . have stood
Ie ana defended in behalf Of tbe people
""' SOM inem here. Applause
CLEVELAND NOT REsPOEsfBLE.
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