Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-19

| The House went into committee of the
whole on the legislative Appropriation bill.
The legislative appropriation bill was read
until Holman OF Indiana, offered an amend
ment increasing the number OF messengers
on the soldiers roll of the House from
| fourteen to twenty.
Rejected.
Henderson of Iowa, moved to increase the
clerical force of the civil service commits
sion.
The motion was opposed by Randall.
Henderson said the increase was asked for
| by the commissioners and should be granted
if Congress desired to enforce the law in
good faith The spirit of the law was not
carried out in good faith by the present ad-
mnistration. This verdict had been rem
dered.
| Randall said he had never agreed that
there should be fastened upon the country
this class of office holders, but since the
civil service law was enacted he bad always
voted for an appropriation necessary to oper
ate il. His friends On the other side would
soon be in charge of the executive and Con
| gress, and could make the civil service law
spread all over the country.
Cummi *, of New York, moved to strike
out the whole clause relating to the civil
service commission, because 1t seemed that
every bill introduced in the House to repeal
the civil service act had been buried in the
committee and he saw other way in
reaching the subject than by controlling the
commission by striking out the appropriations
| for It's maintenance. He believed that the
commission sas democratic, and he believed
| that 1t favored certain voters at the expense
of others. He knew if the rules of the
committee were applied to members of the
house not tive-eights of them would ever
reach the floor again Laughter.
Spinols, of New York, looked upon the
motion AS healthy one. Laughter.
One with which seyen-eighths of the people
of this country sympathized one vi h
which three fourihs of the gentlemen on
the other side sympathized. Laughter on
the republican side. Yes, sir, hs contin-
ued .'hree fou-tbs of the members on that
side were honestly, sincerely, inwardly
opposed to the civil service Law, and this side
if you could poll it and poll it honestly, it
would be unanimous. Laughter We
would be on this sd unanimous because we
would be acting in accordance with the re-
quest of an overw heluing majority of the
people"
Spinols continued acknowledging that
his party had pledged itself in
favor of civil service law,
but it was such law as Jefferson would
favor. The applicant should be honest ca
| peble and friend of the constitution, that
| is of the democratic party. We will never
abandon this doctrine said he. Applause on
the democratic side. Tsnmany. that an
| cent and powerful organization that sent him
| to Congress denounced this law and until 1t
changes front, he as member would op-
pose this legislation. Applause laughter
Buchanan tainted Sptnola mentioning
| Cleveland, letter to Curtis in 1854
| Continuing Brown said that if the govern
meut established the policy Of Tsmmany
| Hall elections would become mere scram-
! BILE for spoils. If there was corruption to-
day in national politics it was because of the
\ infamous greed for the emoluments Of office.
| Spinols replied that Tammany always de-
nounced that letter. Let me inquire he
asked, 'how do you stand with Senator In
gals on the idea of civil service. lie is a
very wicked republican because he is oppos-
| ed to it and in favor of wiping it out as you
| would be if you spoke honestly because in
| private conversation you ali say So
| Henderson's amendment was relected-21
to 60.
! Randall requested Cummings to withdraw
his motion. As long a. the civil service law
was on the statute books ne was in favor of
appropriatng money to enforce it.
| Cummings replied that he would gladly
withdraw if he saw any other way of reach
ing the civil service commission. If the
gentleman from nusflvania would agree
/ to a yea and nay vote in the House he would
withdraw his motion now.
Randall said he couldn't because he had
no instructions from the committee.
Brown of Indiana made a strong argument
in favor of the commission.
Half the offic under the House could be
abolished and the service made more efficient
but il wouldn't be done because the gentle
men could not bear to remove their friend,
from their places. He wanted American
politics above Tammany Hall politics to gel
the government on business principle. ii
endorse" he said, everything Cleveland