The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-02-24
CIVIL SERVICE
in THE HOUSE
Heavy Artillery and Hot Shot Against
the Law--Nuch Excitement.
THE NAVAL BILL WAS PASSED
Grosvenor Sets the House wild-civiI
Service Law Conspiracy.
he says.

Washington. D, G.. February 25.-The
house sent the naval bill, the last Of
the appropriation bills. to the senateto-
day. and 1t was passed practically
without amendment.
The feature Of the day was an ex-
ceedingly interesting political discus
sion which occurred late In The after
noon on the subject OF civil service
reform. It occurred during the con-
slderatin Of the bill TO permit the gov
ernOrs OF territories to appoint certain
officers OF the territories. In case of
vacancies, without consent Of the exc
cutive, which Is now required by law.
Bailey fought the bill on the ground
that the democrats and republicans Of
Arizona should not bring their squab-
bles to congress In the course Of his
remarks Bailey rendered TO therepubIi-
cans his sympathy for the bill Of pat
ronage which would beset them on
March 4.
The pending bill was lost sight Of
in the political maelstrorn that fol-
lowed Flynn aroused many Of the
republicans to applause by declaring
that IL he could have his way he would
fll every office with republican.
Grosvenor ridiculed the civil service
system and predicted. amid uproariOus
applause from the republicans. that the
tide was rising which would sweep
the law out OF existence and give the
young men Of this country chance
Bailey again secured the floor and
after remarhing upon the peculiar rela-
tions existing between the gentleman
from Ohio (GrosvenorJ and the incoming
president, asked IL the democrats were
warranted in assuming that his Ut
terances were TO be accepted as notice
that civil service was TO be repealed
What do you think Of the lsw?' put
in Steel Il think It is humbug. re-
piled Bailey, response that won a
round OF applause from both sides Of
the house.
GrosvenOr replied to Bailey's intlma-
ton with frankness that again set
the republicans wild.
II the gentleman from Texas had
been here in the 50th congress-" said
he ''he would know that the first BIT
ter contention l ever had on the floor
was with William Mckinley. on this
civil service reform. he taking one side
OF the question and the other When
it was over did not think he had
lost any confidence in my craftsmanship.
and l had lost none in his statesman
ship and ultimate good sense
Ultimate good sense" shouted Bal
ley. as the house applauded."
Grosvenor proceeded to characterfze
the civil service law as a conspiracy
which had proved the greatest power
Of the spokesman. We termed It q
law to pension incompetence, and" he
said, "the people had at last discov-
I cred that it was humoug."
! Then Brosious. as chairman Of the
civil service committee. hada final word.
HedecIared that Grosvenor's remarks
flashed a sword in the heart OF the
president-elect. and read from MI. Nc
Kinley's letter of acceptance his state
ment that in the matter Of civil SER
vice reform he would take no back
ward step"
Z rs that treason" cried Brosius, glow
ering down on Grosvenor. IF 1t Is.
charge it home to the greatest citizen
of this republic"
B The bill was then pas ell and the
house adjourned.