New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-23
To STARVE THE COMMISSION.
A GLORIOUS VICTORY" FOR THE FOES
{ OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THE HOUSE. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHILE
VOTES ,o TO II. TO CUT OFF THE sALA-
R1Es OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND
tsy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
THEIR employees.

Washington, May 22-fresiue"'
..wild horses" In the House OF Representatives.
caught the bits between their teeth 'o-uaS an"
rar owav They were not stopped until they
had smashed the Civil Service Commission MI
rn,oa sl,n-waisted backwoods politician from
Tennessee started the mad race by oherl"s d"
amendment striking from the Legislative APP
nronriation bill the paragraph appropil"""s
money 10 nav the salaries Of the Civil Service
r-o,,roiseIoners and their employees during the
=. eeca, year The announcement by the
,,otrrnan Of the Committee of the Whole 'hat
~ amendment had been adopted by vote OF
200 70 = was greeted by wild yells and applause
en-, tho Democrats as might have been eN-
nected for they had at last succeeded where
tho, had In the past repeatedly failed. 1t was
,ndeed q glorious victory in their estlmauo"' al
,bopgh If did not fully satisfy their DESIRES
without the courage and lacking the strehsth u
reneal the Civil Service law outright '"eS nav
resorted to the plan Of nullifying IL pS e' 'i,'e
the Civil Service Commission 10 ueath ny '
easv process Of refusing the means necessary ~
support its existence IL
before the vote was taken there was oe-
hate which lasted more thu n three hours u
hate which was instructive as showing 'he III
nate disposition and tendencies OF 'he
cratic party. During that long debate OH! 'i.
Democrats-De Forest. of Connecticut WIN 10
chairman OF the Committee on REFORM III inc
Civil Service: Everett OF Massachuse''9' on"
crotr Of Texas-spoke against the amendment
while no fewer than ten spoke IN laNor "a NV
starvation policy 1t noticeable tha' 10
,,o,,,oorat who smoke on either side quoted or al
800 - tbese words from the Democratic Ma
,o,.lo+forno Of 1892 which are TO be found III
the Civil Service plank:
IL
.ha declaration OF the Democratic National Con-
vention of 1876 for the reform of the CIVIL Se'
and we call for the honest enforcement VI al
laws regulating the same
nR EVERETT FAILS TO STEM THE TIDE
Thu nearest that any Of them came 10 deciar-
,o that tho reform Of the Civil Service Is OF
.ver was an article Of Democratic faith or pohcy
was Or Everett who spoke Of George h. Pen
a,aton as "the father OF that policy" Probably
he forgot that the first practical step taken III 'e
direction of Civil Service Reform IN this cou"-
try was taken by President Grant IN the nrsl OF
second year Of his first Administration ana 'ha'
the first and only legislative action was by 'he
xIVIIth Congress which was Republican III
both branches and which passed the eNis'hs
law which was approved by Republican Fres'-
dent II was excusable for DR.. Everett IN max
ing an eloquent appeal to members Oh h'S o""
marty not to commit hart-kari to omit 10 mention
these facts: and yet his attempt TO stop the wiz
horses" in their mad career was as futile ana
homeless as 1t was earnest and energetic. Mr..
Caruth. of Kentucky. struck the Democratic key
note when he exclaimed: IF the old Demo
cratic system Of giving the offices TO the vicors
was barbarous. Their long live bar6arism"'
A few Of the Democrats who spoke In favor OF
tba Enloe amendment had the courage OF thelI
convictions and boldly proclaimed their desire
and determination to "starve the Commission
hut a majority OF them began their speeches. DS
declaring that they were heartily and earnestly
in favor Of genuine Civil Service Reform aho
anxousy desired to assist in the enactment o.
an effective and we-considered law to super
sede the existing statute, which was varionsN
STYLED "crude" "bungling." ineffective, un
satisfactory" and incapable Of execution" An'
vet all these statesmen were tarred with IN
same stick-all of them are hostile In the sam
degree 10 the principles Of Civil Service ne
FORM and equally desire to get nd OF the exisuh
law and regulations and Of the Civil Service Com
mission Their lip professions to-day deceive
no intelligent and experienced observer wh
listened to them. and they appeared TO even leS
advantage than did the Democrats VINO VII
brutal frankness denounced all Civil Service Re
form as "a sham" and "a fraud" and espresso
their desire and determination 10 uproot ana de
stroy it,
the paragraph carrying appropriation for sala
ries of the Civil Service Commissioners an
clerks, amounting 10 $3.50
Mr. Dearmond (Dem Mo- moved 10 insert
paragraph providing for the appointment
clerks and other appontees Of the classified sci
vice among the several states and Territorit
in proportion to their population, according
such regulation the States and Ierntorl'
Mr. Dingley Rep Me- argued that the opp'
nents Of the Civil Service law could hardly SUI
port Mr. Enloe's motion. Striking out this para
graph would not destroy the law.
Mr.. PENDLEToNs FRANK CONFESSION.
In the course Of further discussion, Mr.. Pendl
ton Dem, w Va) said he was In hearty syn
pathy with the amendment. The law had ope
ated to keep Republicans In office and keep Of
Democrats Let us wipe out this Civil Servi
Commission" he said; draw It's fangs, and v
shall have a Civil Service based upon CORE
principles" Democratic applause)
Mr. Everett (Dem., Mass) said the ANNA
versions against the Civil Service COMMISSIONS
had their foundation largely In personal usa
pointments by members with respect TO persO
in whom they were interested. Referring to u
statements of Mr.. Pendleton Mr.. Everett said
believed that the time would come when IN IN
country faithful civil employe should not
subject TO removal by a partisan head OF the q
partment in which he labored In cohclusio
Mr. Everett said: The people believed that
was not right that the wheels Of the GoVefnme
should be blocked for the half OF every 10
years by the debris Of office-seeking that W
thrown around them. and If they ever douD'
It, the thing was clinched by the shot IN
killed President Garfield. which was sent
the mad passions of a disappointed oiice-seek'
and accordingly. plan was devised, tentati'
II you WILL imperfect II you will, reaching b
little way. yet going to the root ana hear'
the matter-that act, which Is the glory OF
Democratic party because 1t bears the name
George H. Pendleton. That act Is called I
Pendleton act; and. let me tell you. gentlem
on this side OF the House. that with your dls s
OF the merit system. the glory of that measu
will cling to your party. and you cannot help
II you would" .
The subject was further discussed In favor
the amendments by Messrs. Anderson (Denl..
Val Williams Dem, Miss). Bynum tDern.' Inc
Csorr,an Dem Mch.). Swanson Dem. Va. a
Wheeler Dem, Ala). and against the amer