Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-14


mi.sion was trying to execute Y Hany one
took the trouble to look into the law he would
find that political appointments were almost
impossible undsS it. So
A srRoSo ArrEAL ron TEE co,ne1saiox.
Mr.. McComas made a strong appeal In favor
Of the commission He said:
''This il the eighth annual attack on the civil
service law. Ihope ii win survive this a. it has
survived all prior attacks. The civil service
system was inaugurated By the republican
President Arthur. Il existed in spite of I'M
friendly guardianship during four years Of
democratic rule under President Cleveland. II
withstood the severe test Of another chsuge of
party administration and il better administered
than ever before under President Harrison.
The gentleman from Ohio (Nlr. Grosvenor)
and those with him who want to stamp ont this
law and starve out this commission ought
purpose is made very plain By their action
yesterday and today in this House.
THE cabinet and heads OF bureaus, with ex-
ceptious steadily growing fewer, have APP
proved the law under Arthur. Cleveland and
Harrison. The able and sagacious Secretary Of
the Treasury, whose loss the country will long
deplore. concludes his last message TO Congress
with his strongest approval Of the law.
President Harrison the wise and true
friend Of this law. has given to the country the
had. 1t has the confidence of the country. Its
real head il Commissioner Roosevelt-brilliant.
able, enthusiastic and versatile, one of the
manifest of men, q republican loyal and true
a philosophical citizen of hmitless courage
and stainless honor. Under his lead the law is
rigidly and impartially enforced"
ME-. x'coAAs' RxHARKa
Mr.. McComas said it was a mere bubble to
pretend to support the reform and at the same
time cut 1t to the heart.
In regard to the great use Of civil service re-
Co. 10 - Me- m
said.
'.You have voted clerks for members. Clerks
to members IL not half 20 good remedy as re-
lief from Office brokerage in the time to come
when members Of Congress shall have only
legislating for the people to attend to, and be
able to give all the time during session to the
performance Of that duty. Press forward . re-
form like this, and let the time come when leg
islative influence and executive power are alb
solutely divorced, the one from the other; keep
will not be awed by power or suaged by hope OF
patronage when he is here declaring the con-
yictions of the people,"
Mr.. Dockery said he felt constrained to say
that the present commission, in his opinion,
had made an honest effort to execute the civil
service law upon non-partisan basis.
= Mr.. Hopkins thought the commission should
be allowed just what the law provided for and
no more.
THE CHARGE OF EYTJolENcY.
Mr.. Greenhalge said among other things:
"Mr. Chairman, there is one crime which has
not been charged against this commission, and
this is very singular. When in one OF the in
vestigations charges were called for everything
was put into the indictment that the wrath and
rancor of more than seven years could furnish.
Yet this charge was forgotten--the charge OF
charge Of efficiency: and that is the whole story
of the opposition here today.
1T would be unreasonable to expect, Mr..
Chairman, that the annual appropriation
should 20 through without the annual attack;
but our party and the party on the other side
believe in standing to declaration whether it
wins or loses"
MR.. DINGLEy's AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Dingley Of Maine then offered the follow
ing amendment: ~a'--
Amend by adding at the end Of the amend
ment proposed by the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Cannon the following:
And for other necessary expenditures to
enable the civil service commission to give ef-
regulate and improve the civil service Of the
United States, approved January Is, 1883,
$50, 400, or 50 much thereof a. may be neoss-
sary."
MR. aRosvENoR's POINT NOT SUSTAINED.
Mr.. Grosvenor made point Of order against
the amendment, but the point was overruled.
Mr.. Cannon remarked that the clause would
not allow the hiring of clerks anyway.
THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED.
Mr.. Dingley said the provision was exactly
the same as the ones in regard to the geologi-
cal survey and the interstate commission.
Tellers were ordered on Mr.. Dingley's amend
mont and IL was adopted-ayes IS, noes rs. The
amendment Yves agreed to in the House without
q roll call.