The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-25
Debate on Civil Service Reform.

WASHINGTON, April 24-The Senate bill was
passed creating the customs collection district
of Arizona. The House then went into committee
OF the whole on the legislative appropriation
bill.
When the clause appropriating salaries for
the CIVIL service commission was reached Cum
mlngs, OF New York, made point of order that
II was not properly in the bill as the commits
sion was neither legislative, executive nor Judi
clal. After some debate the point of order was
overruled. A motion by Dorsey. of Nebraska
lhree TO one was overrued, as was also one by
PERKINS OF kansas, eXempting eX-soldiers from
the provisions of the civil service law.
Houk, of Tennessee, moved to strike out the
entire clause. He desired the government to be
run on business principles; he desired to see
merit recognized but he did not believe in this
nfth wheel to the wagon Furthermore, the
commission was under indictment and no ap-
preparation should be made until the commit
the charged with the investigation made a re-
port.
Moore of New Hampshire, announced him
self as civil service reformer without qualifca-
ton.
Biggs, of California, denounced the civil SER
vice law. 1t was, he said conceived in sin and
brought forth in iniquity; Pendleton was its
father; George William Curtis it's granny and
Dorman b. Eaton its nurse and clout washer
Lehtbach, of New Jersey, McComas of Mary
Iand, and Cutcheon, of Michigan, opposed
Houk motion.
Cheadle, of Indiana, opposed the whole theory
of civil service reform.
Grosyenor, of Ohio. was opposed to the con-
structlon and operation of the present law, while
he favored reform.
Hopkins, of Illinois, said Houck was out of
joint with the sentiment of his party as ex-
pressed in its platform.
Dunnell of Minnesota, said that under the
civil service law intelligent men did not enter
the service. 1t was the dudes that were going
in under the present system.
Hit, OF Illinois, characterized the motion as
an effort to do by indirection what neither of the
great political parties has the desire or courage
to do openly.
Greenhalge, of Massachusetts, made a vigor-
Gus speech in favor of civil service reform.
Coleman of Louisiana, opposed it,
Henderson, of Iowa, said civil service reform
had come to stay and the political party that
deserted it would not stay in power and ought
not. 1t is not true that this administration had
not enforced the law. President Harrison is
enforcing it and that's what the matter with the
boys.
Mckinley, of Ohio, earnestly opposed the
motion to strike out. If the Republican party
was pledged to one single thing more than
another. 1t was the maintenance of the civil
service law. 1t was not only according to the
best sentiment of the Republican party
throughout the United States. 1t was sustained
by the best sentiment of this country Republic
cans and Democrats alike. The Republican
party must take no backward step.
Butterworth endorsed every word his col
league had said Nothing smacked of mon
arch1a1 forms as much as the Spoils system
Thelmotion to strike out was lost 81 to 800 and
pending further action the committee rose and
the House adjourned.