Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-19
WORDS OF BITTERNESS.
Charge and Counter Charge in
 the National House.
SARCASM AND IRONY IN ORDER.
A Discussion Relative to the Civil Service Commission Leads to Allegations of the Chamber,

commission Leads to Allegations of
 Party Dishonesty from Both Sides of
 the Chamber.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-There was a lively civil service reform debate in the houso yesterday. 1t grew out of motion by MT. Henderson, of Iowa, to amend the legislative appropriation bill by increasing the clerical force of the civil service commission, and MT. Henderson started it by charging that the present administration had not enforced the spirit of the civil service
 Mir. McMillin, defending the administra- tion, said that the greatest per cent. of par tlsan appointments ever made under the civil service law was made in the pension office under a Republican administration. He denied the charge of MT. Henderson that Commissioner Black had had 97 per cent of Democrats appointed.
 MT. Cummings and MT. Spinola made an an attack upon the civil service law and ad- vocated an amendment striking out all ap- propriations for its enforce ment
 MT. Henderson's amendment was rejected, and MT, Randall appealed to MT. Cummings to withdraw his amendment on the ground that it would merely cripple the commission, and not kill it.
 MT: Browne Qnd) said that it was unfair 1t was pn-American, it was bad policy to as spme that one-haf of the American people should not be permitted to enjoy some of the emoluments of the small offices that might be in the gift of the party in power. If the government established the policy of Tam many Hall what would be the resulta The elections would become mere scramble for spells. ''I indorse everything Cleveland has so we'll said on this subject" said MT. Browne, land condemn everything that he and his party have done"
 MT. Springer, of Illinois, said that if Presi- dent Harrison administered the civil service law in the same spirit of fairness in which it had been done by President Cleveland, the people would have no reason to complain An examination of the returns would show that Grover Cleveland had received 5,53S,- 900 votes, while Harrison received but 5, ,4S0,- 900. If it were not for that cumbersome and obsolete machinery known as the electoral college, the Democrats would now be rejoic- ing in a great national victory Of the white voters of the country more than a million majority have decided in favor of the platform of the Democratic party.
 MT. Lodge (Mass.) said that, in view of the opportunity which the Democrats possessed for increasing Cleveland's majority in the southern states, they must feel like Lord Give, and wonder at their own moderation in giving him only 100000 majority. If it was the desire to destroy the commission honestly and manfully, the way to do it was to bring in bill to repeal the civil service law.
 Mir McComas lMd.( favored a law which allowed the poor and humble Q chance to compete for those places which were of minor importance. He preferred that system to that given by Tammauy Hall to New York. where, out of 1,50O,000 people, it required but two men to say who should be mayor.
 Mr. Cummings said that the sheer at New York politics came with an ill grace from a Republican congressman from Indiana (Browne). The world understood the Indiana idea of the spirit of civil service reform. It had not forgotten that one of the leaders of the Republican party was to-day practically q fugitive from the state of Indiana The New York political system had never in- ,luded the five block" business.
 Mr. Randall said that the appointments to office were hurtful to the man who supposed he could give them away.
 Mr. Browne, ill answering MT. Cummings, shot at Dudley, intimated that he considered some of the Democratic managers in Indiana just as bad
 Ing motion of Mir. Cummings to strike out the whole section relating to the civia service commission was then rejected by aEvote of % yeas to 13S nays,
 The reading of the bill was concluded, and the committee having risen, the bill was passed
 The South Dakota bill was special order for yesterday, but Mr. Springer Qlls.) stated that before calling it up he would call to- gether the committee on territories to de termine when the territorial bills would be considered