National Republican., 1888-05-27
DISCUSSING CIVIL SERVICE.
4 Brief but Lively Session of til,
House.

After it had been decided topostpone con-
sideration of the pension bills which came
over from Friday nights session until June
20, the House went into committee of the
whole (Mr. Blount, Of Georgia, in the chair)
on the legislative, executive, and judici, |
appropriation bill,
Mr.. Tracey, of New York, advocated
Mr.. McComas's amendment, which provides
for an increase of the clerical force of the
civil service commission.
Mr. Whitthorne, of Tennessee, was glad
that he had voted against the civil service
law, which he thought was anti-Republican
and anti-Democratic In its tendencies. He
believed that it would grow to be sore on
the body polite, full of mischief and danger
to the theory on which the government was
founded. Standing as he did as one of tho
complainants against the administration for
not turning Republicans out ana putting
Democrats in, he had reason to admire the
fidelity of the President TO the pledges he
made in his letter and his course in the exc
cution Of what he found to be the law of the
land. lie knew in his own personal expert
encc that when he had applied to the Presi-
dent for the removal of officials because
they were Republicans the President had
stood immovable. In his own state of Ten
nessce there had not been one single re
moval Of a presidential appointee. The
President had waited until the officials term
expired.
Mr. Hopkins, of Illinois. Was any
charge of inefllciency brought against any
Of themp
Mr.. Whitthorne. ! take it for granted
that the inelllciency Is the Republicanism of
the ofilceholder Laughter and applause.
| am perfectly frank, for believe that at
the ballot box. the people of the United
States are sovereigns, and there they pre-.
served the character of Our institutions, and
anybody, civil service commission or not,
that stands between them and their iudg-
ment is working contrary to the theory of
our institutions. Applause on Democratic
side.
Mr.. Hopkins. thank you for your
frankness.
Mr.. Whitthonc. am frank and if you
ever come into power land God forbid
that you do, | hope you will act on the
principle have stated.
Mr.. Adams, Of Illinois, favored the in
crease of force, believing that the system
should be tried in good faith, and that the
commission should be given ample appro-
priation to find out whether the system was
a failure or a success. He believed that an
honest spoils system was far better than au
alleged civil service system, which was ac-
cused and suspected from one end of the
country to the other of being carried out
with insincerity.
Mr.. Enloc, Of Tennessee, stated that he
was not enamored with the civil service
law, but he asserted that its administration
by the Democratic party was much more
sincere than had been its administration by
the Republican party.
He cited instances of the violation OF the
law by Republicans in 1850, when he was in
tlr tad hty ~ uxtrttl . tl.n
tion whether he wanted to stop those viola.
tions in 1850 or 1883. Laughter
Mr. Enloo replied that If they were to be
stopped at all, the country must look TO the
Democratic party to stop them.
Mr. Williams, of Ohio, said that the re-
marks Of gentlemen on the other side re-
minded him Of the pot calling the kettle
black.
Mr.. Butler, of Tennessee, said that the
Democratic party IN Tennessee had method
which beat Jay Hubbell all hollow. lie
sent TO the clerks desk and had read letter
from j, i, NJ. Davis, secretary of the Han
| cock county Democratic committee, To
| United States commissioner Williams at
| Nenephon, Tenn, asking him what steps
lie intended to take In the next campaign,
and saying, "Thc party is willing to give to
gain strength, but otherwise say business
will be withheld" Laughter,
Mr.. Whitthorne ! know nothing about
the truth of the allegation. | don't know
the parties; but ] am gratihed for one that
the thing is working Ll.aughter.l
The amendment was then agreed to-Sl 10
n. While the vote was in progress Mr..
| Spinola, of New York, entered the chamber
| and inquired what the pending question
was. On being informed by the chair tina,
the vote was on the amendment increasing
| the force of the civil service commission
| he passed between the tellers with the re,
mark: ~ want to be recorded In the mega.
| tive against that relic Of federalism
The amendment provides for one adli.
tional clerk Of class 3, one of class 2, and
one al 81 COO, and increases the appropriu-
tiOn for necessary travelling expenses from
$4,000 TO $1,000.
Mr.. Grain, Of Texas, raised a point of
order against the appropriation of $1,000 for
the salary Of the ilrst auditor of the treasury.
lie quoted from the statute law fixing the
salary Of this official at $1,000, and de-
nOunCed the practice of cutting down
salaries on appropriation bills, If the
salaries of government officials were too
large general bill reducing them should
be brought in, but they should not be re-
duced In an appropriation bill, In order TO
enable the Democratic party to go before
the people in an election year and point to
economical appropriations, The point of
order was sustained and the appropriation
ruled out.
Pending further action the committee
rose, aud the House, at l'05, adjourned.
-S
Order tie SUNDAY REPuRLICAN, only 10 cents