New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-19
A BREEZY HOUSE DEBATE.
TwENTY-F1 BRAVE, HONEST DEMOCRATS.
THEY wEREN'T AFRAID TO VOTE AGAINST CIVIL
SERVICE APPRoPRIATIoNs-NoT DEMO
Graf SAYS WORD IN FAVOR OF THIS
LAw-CuMMINGs LEAps THE FIGHT.

LAw-CUMMINGS LEAnS THE FIGHT
IBr TEL EGRArH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington, Dec 1s-Thcrs was breezy debate
In the House yesterday on motion by Amos D.
Cummings to strike out of the Legislative and Executive
Appropriation bill the for the salaries OF the
Civil Service Commissioners and to omit other eA-
penses under the Civil Service law. Mr. Cummings
comnainod that all the bills introduced to repeal the
law had been smothcred in committee and he saw no
way TO get expression of the House except ny
forcing a vote on his amendment There was pre-
cedent for refusing appropriation. 1t had been
done Z" in the case of the Hayes Commission
Grants Commission. you mean,7 interrupted sew
era members more familiar with the history Of legis
lation.
"Wel, Grants then. Better still he was elected
President and Hayes never was,' retortcd cummings
whcrcat the Democrats laughed and applauded him.
Spinola approved the amendment as a healthy
ONE and denounced the Civil Service law as I'M
democratic, with big big d. lie gave Jehersons
definition OF the proper test 10 be applied 10 an appi
cant for office: is he honest, is he capable y
and two Democrats clappcd their hands. Then he
added
Does he vote the Democratic tichet| ana all the
Democrats applauded.
In answer TO a question, Splnola said Yes. one
Grover Cleveland did write letter TO one George
william Curtis about the Civil Service, and the Tam
many Hall Democracy met and formally repudiaed
1t. / am a Tammany Hall Democrat and must stand
by the organization which sent me here
General Browne, OF Indiana made short but
digncd and forcble speech in favor of nonpartsan
Civil Service He thought some Democrats made
as good spittoon-ceaners and foor-sweepers as lie
pubcans'
when he sat down the rrepressble Springer sprang
up and expressed his qualification at the formers
speech which, he hoped sounded the kew note OF the
incoming Administrations Civil Service policy. Then
he gave figures show that Cleveland received more
than Harrison and that except for the obsolete
and cumbersome machinery of the Electoral College
which prevented fair expression of the peoples
choice Grover Cleveland would have been triumphant!
reelected
WHEREIN THE DEMOCRATS WERE MODEST
Henry Cabot Lodge spoke earnestly against the
spoils system and rewarded with round OF
Republican applause lie declared that patronage
weakened any party in power and denounced as un-
American and un-Republican the doctrine that the
routine work of the Government work which was
purely non political. should be at the mercy OF
partisan within and influence As for sprngers talk
about Cleveland's popular majority Mr. Lodge re
marked: Il" From what have learned about elections
parts of this country, wonder, not that
few thousand votes returned for Cleveland
than for Harrison, but that of our Democratic
friends not, like Lord Give feel wonder at their
moderation in giving him only 100000 ma
jory.s
Mr.. Compton, Of Maryland. followed he has re-
ceived certificate of election based on an alleged
plurality of discovered by Maryland Demo
cratic judge by reading election return through
the unopened lid of ballot-box. OF course he ad-
vocated the amendment His appetite evidently
grows by what 1t feeds upon, for he is credited with
having found places the public crib for more Demo
cratic workers than any other man in Maryland
not excepting his patron, Arthur P. German. Comp
ton is bitterly opposed 10 favored class unless II
lis composed of Compton
Mr. Randall expressed his sympathy with tho oppo-
sition the Civil Service law. but he begged Cum
mings withdraw his amendment, which would
only nullify, not repeal. the Mr.. Randall
really seemed to fear that his party would justify
| spinola's assertion that the Democrats are unani-
mously opposed the law and only lack the courage
! 10 vote for repeal.
Cummings obdurate. Under the lead of Hen
derson. of Iowa, the Republicans tried 10 carry an
amendment increase the salaries of commissioners
and make addition 10 their clerical force but
the Democrats voted sohdly against IT,
Henderson, in q spirited speech, declared that under
the incoming Administration the law will be honestly
and faithfully enforced, and the commissioners VIII
not use IT, it has been used under this Admins
tration, as get Democrats into places and
keep Republican applicants who have passed moro
crcditabe examinations than successful Democrats.
He believed that the recipients OF at least 80 per
cent of the Civil Service appointments in the last
three years have been Democrats.
! sPINoLA's COLLEAGUES LACKED HIS COURAGE.
disparaging remark respecting Tammany politics
| and " New-York politics" aroused the Ola war
Horse Spnola, and Cummings and they
made raid Indiana politics." the latter
describing Colonel Dudley a. fugitive from Justice
a phrase which repeated subsequently, by Bynum
after the engagement became general. For an hour
the battle grew hot and hotter and al the Indiana
men present took part In It,
The Republicans however, carried more and heavier
guns than their opponents and the latter were glad
when S Cox marched between them and the enemy
and sounded porley. He had the clerk read some
recent pessfmis tic observations by Commissioner
Dicerton the effect that President Harrison Will
maze a grievous mistake II he shall undertake to
enforce the Owl Service law.
Not = word In fsvor of the law uttered by any
Democrat to-day during the debate. Complete silence
gave emphatic 10 SpinOla's declaration that
The Democrats unit In opposition TO CIVIL Service
reform. On division Cummings amendment was
rejected By VOTE Of % yeas 10 1875 nays, all the
affirmative votes being Democratic. There was no
quorum however and vote b. tcnerS was ordered
and for nearly an hour the House waited for quorum
lest Barnes of Georgia. luggcd his four hundred
pounds avOrdupos between the tellers and Butter
worth shouted: Two more I'm the negative which
made the tale complete Barnes had saved the day,
for impossible TO get quorum without count
Ing him two
The brave Democrats who dared 10 vote their Sent
ments numbered only twenty-five Among them were
Cummings, spinola and T. J. Campbell of New-YOrk
Compton of Maryland and Csrruth Taulbee and StOne
| Of Kentucky.
| Tho annronriation hlll was finally naSeed