The morning times., 1897-02-24
This is What GrOSNen0r Called
the Civil Service Law.
BR0SIUS MADE A DEFENSE
He Said the Sentiments Expressed
by the Gentleman from Ohio
Seemed TO Him "the FIeshing of a
Sword in the Heart of the Presi-
dent-elect"

over bin which came from the Com
mittee on Judiciary, reported by Mr..
Brodcrick, of Kansas, and proposed TO
amend section 1858. Revised Statutes, so
as to give the governors OF territories
power 10 remove appointees by themselves
or their predecessors. 1t was advocated
by Mr.. Murphy, of Arizona, who explained
the deSirability of the proposed change
MI Bailey of Texas. a member of the
Committee on the Judiciary, opposed the
bill, describing it as purely partisan one,
intclded TO enable the governor of ATi-
IONA, soon to he appointed by the incom-
ing Republican administration, TO re-
move Democratic officials, who under the
law Were entitled to serve two years
longer, and put in Republicans.
Mr. Murphy But these men have already
served four years. and propose now TO hold
on two years longer, when the tenn of the
appointment was for hut two years.
Mr. Bailey, continuing, said he sym
pathizcd with the Republicans in their
present condition They were soon TO face
$4,000 office-seekers, with perhaps flrty
or sixty thousand offices TO fill. And" :"
addressing the Republicans, you can no
more hope TO escape from defeat at the
election for members of the Fifty-siNth
Congress than the Democrats could hope 10
escape national condemnation for the errors
of the President soon 10 go out OF office.
Mr. Baney characterized the burden Of
officc-sceking as the greatest curse upon
Congressional service: it provoked, If it
al ia fgfp a a. al %
upon the executive that ought not To exist
Mr. Catron OF New Mexico favored the
passage of the bill. as did also Mr.. Flynn
of Oklahoma. who asked that the Repub-
Hcans be treated as they had treated the
Democrats under like conditions-that the
governors of the Territories be given the
power to remove a. wei as appoint their
executi1a officials.
1T is said there Is some politics in this
bill Suppose thereis. As far as am con
cerned. am in favor OF wiping out the
civil service law. and filling every office
with Republican, tApplause)
Mr GroSvenor of Ohio did not see that
governors of Territories were entitled 10
any more consideration in the matter Of
making appointments than Presidents Of
the United States And yet, under the
civil service law, in its development. the
President could not AXE his StemOcrapEer
his typewriter or even messenger. into
the White House with him, without the
consent Of this bureau. which had usurpcd
all functions Of the government. Il am
In favor Of the bill, however, he said,
s'because ] believe IL 10 be step in The
right direction There Is a tide rising in
this country which viii sweep this bu-
reauCracy from power. The young meI
propose to have something to say and
TO do about the government of their coun-
try" IApplause)
Mr. Grosvenor : assertion about the
power OF the President To appoint EN-
ploNe. TO office in the White House had
been made in connection with statements
about other officials, who, he asserted,
were also deprived OF the power OF select
ing even their confide initial clerks or
cashiers. These We're responded to vigor-
ously by Mr. Brosius, OF Pennsylvania,
chairman OF the Committee on Civil Service
Reform. He said that the merit SYSTEM
was the best one by which young men
could gain admis>ioninto the public service
'It saved them the humiliation OF Lecom-
Ing beggars at the feet of bosses, who are
supposed TO have these favors to grant
They were saved the degradation OF be
coming the servile tools Of politicians
There was no objection Mr.. Brosius con
tinued. to the application OF the meri
system in regulating admission TO the pub
lie service, but the scandal OF the spoilS
system continued inside the service, and il
promotions could be made TO depend upor
merit alcne. there would he no objection
10 the system on the part OF any one.
Mr Bailey, resuming the floor, said thai
the remarks of the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr Grosvenori were worthy of great
consideration by the House, not only be
cause of his prominence, as Republican
leader, but because Of his well-knowI
relations t. the incoming President. These
made " nat he had 70 say upon this subject
matter Of deep interest and Importance
Mr. Bailey was proceeding to refer to the
declarations Of the Republican party upor
tie subject OF civil service reform, wheI
be was interrupted by Mr.. Steele, who
asked. But what do you think OF it,
yourself?''
Mr.. Bailey Gmpressively think it is a
humbug, sir
Mr Faris-why didn't yourepealthe Ia W
then?
Mr.. Bailey-Because we didn't have sens'
enough I think we win know better
next time. OLaughterD
In conclusion Mr.. Bailey expressed the
hope that the statements from the gentle
man from ohio aud the applause which
they met on the Republican side Were
prophetic Of what was abont To he, anC
that we should soon have done with thi
sciyil service reform
Mr. GIosvcncr, again getting the floor
referred to Mr. Bailey's assumption o.
Intimate relationship between himself ant
the presiGent-elect, and remarked that j
that gentleman had been ID the l. ouse il
tie Fiftieth or Fiity-fiIst Congresses h
would have known that the first bite
cont rovcIsy he tGIosvenorD had had a
member az on tie floor was with that dis
tinguiShed gentleman, when Il colleague
fIom the State of Ohio, upon what il
called the merit system. BIT he lost ~
confidence in my Republicansinl,' = said MI
GIoSvenor, lin consequences CT cur differ
ences of opinion, and lest none in Iii
craftsmanship or my belief in his ultimat
good sense" (LaughteT) The civil Sci
vice system, Mr.. Gil oSvenoT went on 10 say
was a sinUous, infamous conspiracy upor
the government, and was made the creates
power Of the SCOTSMAN ever enacted N
government had ever adopted this system
but what was compelled 10 accrt civ
pension list as n concomitaDt thereof, jus
ms tile gentlenan from Pennsylvania (MI
Brosiusl was compelled 10 bring in her
the other day a bin TO reEsion the in
rompetents fastened on the service 10y thi
merit system. 1t was not a question O