, 1896-12-23
CIVIL SERVICE UPHELD.
AFTER A SHARP DEBATE
THE APPROPRIATION IS
PASSED.
Unkind Jabs Made Vt Grover Cleveland
Because He Did Not See Fit to Ex-
tend the Operation Of the Law Be-
fore He Had Appointed His Party
Favorites ito Office.

house today passed the Legislative eX-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill
and adjourned for the holiday recess.
This is the first time in the history OF
congress that the legislative bill has
been passed before the holidays. The
day was devoted to the annual debate
of civil service law and as usual the at
tempt to strike out the provision for
the commission was overwhelmingly
defeated. There was a good deal OF
threshing over of old straw and spar,
ring for political points. Mr.. Brossius,
chairman of the civil service commit,
tee defended the law. Others who par
ticipated in the debate were Baker, re-
publican of New Hampshire; Walker,
republican of Massachusetts,; Will
Jams, democrat Of Missouri; Bowers,
republican of California and Neil, DEM
ocrat of Arkansas. Mr.. Settle, repub>
lican of North Carolina, made a mo-
ton to strike out the paragraph relat-
ing to civil service which was defeated.
The bill as passed carries $21, 669, 369. 02,
$39,379 more than the current bill.
During the morning hour a bill was
passed authorizing railroads in the In
dian territory to change their align
ments. M. Baker, republican, attack
ed the method of administering civil
service laws under the present admins
istration . He asserted that LOG Georg,
ians had been appointed to places in
the interior department by this admin,
istration, that of SIG dismissals from
the department 1856 were veterans and
the treasury department also had dis
eliminated against republicans in ap-
pointments and dismissals, leaving but
n republican in the secret service.
Under the Spells system the public
business had been better handled thar
now, when clerks are kept under secret
espionage and are no better of than
factory hands. Yet the civil service
commission had never protested
against such maladminstration.
Mr.. Brossius, republican Of Pennsyl-
vania on civil service replied at some
length to Bakers structures, eulogiz.
ed the merit system and arraigned the
remnant Of the spoils system which re-
manned. He charged that the COM
plants against the classified service
were in fact complaints against the
spoils system. The civil service rules,
he declared, preoluded the possibility
of political influence in admission to
the service. Mr.. Brossius defended tho
presidents recent order extending the
scope OF civil service as a thorough
going merit system" order.
After the president secured those
Offices" interposed Baker, was n o the
order an attempt to keep them?"
you don't suppose" replied Mr..
Brossius, "he made the appointments
for the purpose OF having his appoin-
tees dismissed"
Mr.. Richardson, democrat of Tenn
essee. expressed the hope that II any
further extensions Of the civil service
law q made they would be made
operative before March 4. Then, he
said, I'VE will see whether our repub-
lican friends will stand by the law they
themselves enacted"
Mr.. Settle, republican OF North Caro-
lima, moved to strike out all provisions
for the civil service. Don't you know
your amendment would strike down
the commission? ?" said Mr.. Brossius.
ut would not" replied Mr.. Settle.
1T would cripple the law, and l wish
I could cripple 1t still more"
The statement was heartily applaud.
ed by many republicans ON the floor
and v%ociferously hailed by the CALLER
les Mr.. Settles amendment was de-
feated 20 to 81. The committee then
rose and the bill was passed. During
the debate the senate amendments to
tho urgency deficiency bill were N
Cured n. At $40 p. m. the house adj
touGued until noon, January s.
ANOTHER BANK SUCCUMBS.
st. Paul, Mimi, Dec. 22.-The Bank
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