The Portland daily press., 1890-04-25
DEMOCRATS ON RECORD.
An Onslaught on the Civil Service
Law In the House.


WASHINGTON, April 4.-The House to-
day went into committee of the whole on the
legislative appropriation bill.
When the clause appropriating salaries for
the Civil Service Commission was reached,
Mr.. Cummings of New York made the point
of:order that it was not properly in the bill.
Mr.. Butterworth of Ohio called attention
to the fact that the title of the bill included
the words "and for other purposes"
Mr. Cummings replied that the commits
sion was for no purpose at all. Its usurpa-
tions were getting to be monstrous.
Mr. Tracy of New York said the civil SER
vice law was grossly violated by Republican
officials. The appropriation should be in
commission to carry out the law.
Mr. Cummings point of order was over
ruled.
Mr.. Spinola of New York denounced the
civil service law as an infamous imposition
on the people and a complete humbug, in
conflict with every principle upon Which the
Mr. Perkins Of Kansas offered an amend
ment exempting ex-soldiers from the provi-
sion of the civil service law. He said he
knew the people were not in sympathy with
il. He believed the weakness of the present
administration was In standing by that law.
II Democratici success should come in the
next election it would be because the ad-
ministration in power did not stand by the
working Republicans rather than by its pro-
fession to civil service. The amendment
was ruled out
Mr.. Moore of New Hampshire announced
himself as a civil service reformer without
disguise and without qualification. He be-
lieved thoroughly that every element of
patronage, no matter how high or low, should
be eliminated from any connection with the
American House of Representatives.
MI. .Biggs of California denounced the civil
service law, contending that the administra-
tion should have its friends in office.
Mr.. McComas of Maryland said that this
was. if not a humiliating, pretty serious
business, especially for the Republican par
ty which elected a Republican President on
longed to party that could take both sides
of question and give pledge, and abso-
lutely break it. The Republican party had
never been able to break its pledges without
paying the penalty. This was cowardly
attempt to nullify the exis ting law. and the
notification.
Mr.. Mckinley Of Ohio earnestly opposed
the motion to strike out the appropriation.
His only regret was that the appropriation
committee did not give the. Civil Service
Commission all the appropriation 1T asked
for the enlargement of the civil service. If
the Republican party of this country was
pledged to one single thing more than
another, it was to the maintenance
of the civil service law. Now when the Re-
publican party was in control of all the
branches of the government. it was proposed
to virtually repeal this law, when for four
years, during Democratic administration,
nobody on the Republican side had the
temerity to ask for the notification of it.
They thought it good enough for Demo-
cratic administration, and he said to his Re
publican friends it was good enough for a
Republican administration.
Mr.. Butterworth endorsed every word Mr..
Mckinley said.
Mr.. Houk's motion to strike out the clause
was lost-yeas, 81 nays, 100.