The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-24
LAW PREDICTED BY MIR. EROS
VENOR.
FEATURE OF THE HOUSE DAY
DEBATE PRECIPITATED by A RESO-
LUTON RELATING TO THE
TERRITORIES.
Provision for the Navy Adopted
Practically as Decided Upon by
the Committee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The house
sent the naval bill, the last Of the ap-
preparation bills, to the senate today.
Mr.. Boutelle, chairman of the naval
committee, was in charge Of the meas
ure and displayed such skill in it's
handling thai it's provisions aroused
little opposition, and it was practically
passed without amendment. Mr.. Bar
rett (Mass.) made an effort to secure
an authorization for a dry dock at
Boston to cost $1,000, 900, but after a
somewhat acrimonious debate. the
amendment was ruled out of order. He
hen tried to secure the appointment
of a commission to pass on the rela-
tive merits of Boston and Portsmouth
as a location for a dry dock and was
equally unsuccessful. The feature Of
the day was an exceedingly interesting
political debate which occurred late in
the afternoon on the subject Of civil
service reform. 1t occurred during the
consideration of a bill to permit the
governors of the territories TO appoint
officers Of the territories in ease Of
vacancies without the consent Of the
legislative councils, which is now re-
quired by law.
Mr. Bailey Dem., Tex.) fought the
bill on the ground that the Democrats
and Republicans of Arizona should not
bring their squabbles to congress. In
the course Of his remarks, Mr.. Bailey
rendered to the Republicans his SYM
pathy for the troubles of patronage
which would beset them March 4.
On that day, he said, there would be
officeseekers and 10000 ntlc IS.
-Four years ago." said he, "you
laughed at u embarrassment; now
we laugh at yours. You have no more
chance of escaping the wrath of the
ofhceseekers at the next congressional
elections than we had of escaping the
disapproval of the people for the mall
administration Of the administration
about to retire from power"
h pending bill was lost sight of in
the political maelstrom that followed.
Mr. Flynn (Rep., Okla.) aroused many
OF the Republicans to applause by de-
claring that if he could have his way
he would wipe u the civil service law
and fill every Office with a Republic
can in both houses.
Mr.. Grosvenor ridiculed the civil serv-.
ice system and, amid uproarious ap-
plause from the Republicans, said hat
the tide was rising which would sweep
the law out Of existence and give the
young men Of this country a chance.
Mr.. Bailey again secured the floor,
and, after remarking upon the "pe-
culiar relations" existing B~etwween-the
gentleman: from Ohio (G~rosvenor) and
the incoming president, asked senten-
tiously if the Democrats were warrant
Pn in QCC1I0ion fhoE IT.
We're to be accepted as a notice hat
the civil service law is to be repealed.
What do you think of the laW?'' put
In Mr.. Steele Rep., Ind.).
Il think it is a humbug," replied Mr..
Bailey, a response that won a round
OF applause from both sides of the
house.
Mr.. Grosvenor proceeded to charac-
terdze the civil service law as "~conspir-
acy, which had proved 1.-THE greatest
power of the spokesman" He termed
it "A law to pension incompetents." and
said the people had at last discovered
that it was q humbug. He told of an
instance where a Democratic. official
with 70 civil service employees under
him, had boosted that he had been
able to get into office 70 Democrats. He
declared that "Pendleton and the Demo-
Gratis" had introduced this patent
medicine" into our government. In
conclusion, he denied that he pretend
ed to represent the views Of the presi-
dent-elect. He said he merged his in
dividuality into no administration. He
mad a constituency to represent, and
when he spoke he did Sc for his con-
stltuency; his conscience and his God.
IF 1 had the power" said he, 81
would not ask he sun to move back
ward as Joshua did, but to go forward.
1 would issue an order to permit the
righting Of the wrongs done in the
past" Oeafening applause on both
sides of the house n in the galleries,
and cries of vote, vote."O
Then Mr.. Brosius, as the chairman
of the civil service committee, had a
final word. He declared that Mr.. Gros-
venor remarks flashed the sword in
the heart of the president-elect," and
read from Mr.. McKin1ey's letter of
acceptance, his statement that in the
matter Of civil service reform, he
would take no backward STEP"
us that the reaSOn?" cried Mr.. Bros
Jus, glowering down on Mr.. Grosvenor.
eff it is, charge it home to the greatest
citizen of this Republic"
Mr.. Walker Dem, Miss.) concluded
the debate. The bill was then passed
and at 5:25 the house adjourned. O..
RESERVATION OPENED.