Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-19

statement. Henderson replied that he
was thoroughly satisfied, and believed
every other member of the House was,
that in the selection of clerks under the
Civil Service law, politics have absolutely
dominated. He was we'll satisfied that
Republicans who passed the examina-
tion with higher record than that of
some of the Democrats, who had been
selected, utterly failed to secure recogni-
ton. "When we find it stated under
the oath of bureau chief" said he,
"and boasted of, that 81 per cent. of the
appointments in his office are Democrats,
we know some singular manipulation is
going on. The Civil Service law as it
has been administered, is farce and
sham.'
Cummings, of New York, moved to
strike out the whole clause relating to
the Civil Service Commission. He be-
lieved the Commission to be un-Demo-
cratic, and he knew that if the rules Of
the Commission were applied to mem
bers of the House, not five-eighths Of
them would ever reach its floor again.
Spinola, of New York, favored the
motion as one with which seven-eighths
of the people of the country sympathized.
He knew three-fourths OF the Republi-
cans are sincerely inwardly opposed to
the Civil Service law, and the Demo
cratic side OF the House, if it could be
polled sincerely, would be unanimous,
because it would be acting in accord
ance with the overwhelming majority OF
the people. The Democrats are going to
obey the order of November, like thor
ough Americans and Democrats.
Henderson asked if the Democratic
party did not pledge itself in favor of the
Civil Service law.
Spinola-It said it was IN favor Of an
honest Civil Service law. l will explain
that from Democratic standpoint. II
is the Civil Service law of Jefferson,
When an applicant appeared he was
asked sis he honest, i he capable, if
he the friend of the Constitution ?" Thai
means of the Democratic party.
Buchanan, of New Jersey-Did thai
gentleman's clarion voice ring out in be-
half of those principles in 'S4?
Spinola-Never in my life, and what i:
more, that ancient and powerful organi.
zation that sent me here as representa-
tive, time after time, by a resolution
denounced this law, and until it change:
front, l, as an humble member of Tam
many Hall, shall stand here and oppose
this legislation.
Henderson's amendment was finally
rejected, 81 to 60.
The debate was continued at length by
Brown, of Indiana, and Springer, of Hi
neis. The latter took occasion to say
that if President Harrison administered
the Civil Service law in the same spirit il
had been administered by Presiden'
Cleveland, the people would have nc
reason to complain. Continuing, he sale
if it were not for that cumbersome anc
obsolete machine, known as the Electora
College, the Democrats would now be re
Ijoicing in great National victory. Or
the principles which his party submitted
at the last election, there was large
majority of the people on the popula
vote, who decided in favor of the plat
form of the Democratic party.
Lodge, of Massachusetts, said in view
of the opportunity which the Democrat
possessed for increasing Cleveland's ma
ljority in the Southern States, they mus
feel like Lord Give and wonder at thei
own moder alton in giving only one hui.
dred thousand majority.
The motion of Cummings to strike on
the Civil Service section was finally II
|jected, 25 to 1876, and the reading Of th'
bill was continued.
The Committee then arose and the bill
was passed.
Tillman, OF South Carolina, reporte,
the Military Academy Bill, and it wa
placed on the calendar. Adjourned.