Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-29
oIRoUMsrANoEs AErEa oAsEs.
big Republicans Decline to Discuss
givil service Reform NOW.


tig Republicans Decline to Discuss
Civil service Reform NOW.
The Hon. Thomas O. Plat was at his
office in lower Broadway, and smiled hap.
PLY az he greeted Sun reporter. He
caressed the struggling hairs ON the for
ward part of his head, whose barrenness
gives him the appearance of man with q
very high forehead. He was positively
beamy In his cordial manners, and not al
ell like the silent and reserved one that
most folks have learned to consider him.
He spoke of the bright day and chuckled,
actually chuckled, when he incidentally
referred to the Republican victory.
But never mind that for second he
said. "Tell me what can do for Won. -
and he calmly leaned hack in his swing
Ing chair, apparently hungry to answer
all the questions that would be fred as
him. He was assured that his yisws on
civil service reform would be especially
interesting just now, and particularly
would his intimations concerning the
next administration's course toward mon
now holding Federal places be of value.
MIR. Plat had stopped smiling by this
time, and was very serious. His face
was intensely earnest, and his tones, as
he replied, low and almost Indifferent.
Really, Pm afraid you will have to
excuse me from talking on that subject, y
he said, and be added, 'fThere are reasons
why shouldn't just OF the moment. I
would be glad to oblige you, but really
cannot talk about civil service reform
just now"
The Hon. Ohaunoey Mitchell Depew
strobe with vigorous step over the velvet
carpets in his private office at the Gtand
Central station. His hearty laugh had
been aroused by humorous yarn by one
OF his visitors, and the ripping smiles
were chasing one another over his clear
cut features. He laughed and adjusted
his pebble glasses, which had fallen from
his nose in his appreciation of the story
and were dangling from tiny gold
chain, as he said:
"Well, my boy, what do you want with
me this morning ~
Mr.. Depew was informed that the Sun
desired to continue faithfully to perform
its functions as the great American in
structor, and wanted very much to tell
folks, and especially Federal office hold.
ers, what the leaders of the Republican
party thought of civil service reform in
this month of our Lord.
Mr.. Depew stood still, his face settled
into calm, then became austere az he
looked over his glasses at his questioner.
He removed the glasses and looked at the
reporter full and square, with all the
happy Light gone ont OF hie face.
II haven't time to talk Of that Natter
he finally replied, and he indicated in q
dffrytHfd ~ thak Rf,tn
FORM was barred as topic Of conVerss-
ton with him just now.
The hon. Warner Miller was in even.
ing dress in Delmonioo's pariers Just be-
fore the 200 festive spellbinders and their
guests marched into the great dining hall
to sat the feast in honor of their efforts
toward The Republican victory. The
lower button of Mr.. Miller's dress waist
coat vas unbuttoned, just as his street
waistcoats are. It is on English fashion,
started by the Prince Of Wales, and MFR.
Miller seatas to have taken to It. There
was no trace Of bitterness over his defeat
about bin. He smiled quizzicaliy when
he was asked for his opinion on civil ser.
vice reform, and then looked at Mr.. A.
Il. Whitney standing beside him as If
doubtful whether to 40 aheSd or not. Mr.
Whitney W. 8 convinced that he himself
didn't care to reel off volume about thu
matter in question, and then Mr.. Miller
said
II voted for the Civil Service bill, and
do not know that my present views are
any different, but when you want TO
spread civil Rervios all over Gods crea.
ton, that's quite another matter"
That's oil that Mr.. Miller cared to say
about civil service reform Just now.
Congressman stephen Van Cullen
White, Republican Of very much
darker hue than his inky whiskers and
eyes, and treasurer OF the state commit
tee, was 81 ghtly amazed when he was
ssked TO tell his views on civil service re.
form. Then he briskly swung his head,
and replied in the quick and decisive
tones for which he is renowned:
''No, DO, my boy, no mines for me, if
you please" and he switched off to a
statement that if the campaign in Oopnec-
ticut bad lasted three days longer the
state would have gone Republican. Mr..
White fred rhetorical guns againat MIR.
Cievelend's tariff ideas from one end OF
the Nutmeg State to the other.
Colonel robert G. Ingersoll doomed up
in his office in Wall street and told OF tho
bed cold he had when no was asked 10
talk about civil service from the present
outlook. A merry twinkle was about bis
eyes when he Gas led back to the subieot,
aud then, in soncrous tones, he cordially
said
81 wish you would write out the ques.
lions you want me to answer, and as soon
as | have tins shall be hsppy to obiisa
you."
This was on Wednesday efteYnoop.
Three questions were written out and laid
hsfore the great orator on Thursday
afternoon, They nestled there copfii.
ingly tho remainder OF the day and sill
day Friday, and are about his ofiioe
somewhere yet. 1t was Eaid at tho
colonel's Office yesterday that the colonel
hGd gone to Boston and hadn't found
time to toll what he thinks Of civil ser
vice reform at the present stage Of the
game.
After that the Sun reporter gave up
trying to learn what big Republicans
think Of tho Chinese system Just now.
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Methodistic Appropriations.
The general committee of the Boayd OF
Church Extension of the Methodist