Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-02-25
A SPIRITED DEBATE REGARDING
CIVIL SERVICE.
THE NAVAL BILL PASSED
Boutelle Sho US Skill in Handling It
Grosyenor Fiercely Attacks Civil
Service and Is Greeted With Great
Applause-Gibson's Ringing Reso-
lution-Senate Matters.

the appropriation bile to the senate
Mr.. Boutelle, chairman OF the naval
committee, was in charge OF the meas
ure and displayed such skill in its
handling that its provisions aroused
but little opposition and its was passed
practically without amendment. Mr.
Barrett (Mass.) made ar effort
to secure the authorization OF a dry
dock at Boston to cost VI ,00O,000, but
after a somewhat acrimonious debate
the amendment was ruled out of orIer.
The feature of the day was the ex-
ceedingly interesting political debate
which occurred late in the afternoon on
the subject of civil service reform 1t
occurred during the consideration OF
the nil to permit the governors Of ter
ritories to appoint certain officers or
territories in case Of vacancies without
the consent of legislative councils
which is now required by law. Mr.
Bailey (dem., Tex fought the bill on
the ground that he democrats and re-
publicans of Arizona should not bring
their squabDles to congress. In MS
! remarks Mr.. Baiely tednered to the re-
publicans his sympathy for the troubles
of patronage which would beset them
March A. On that day there would be
$3.50, 900 office seek ers and 10000 Offices,
Proceeding Mr.. Bailey declared tha;
every member present realized the
dangers of patronage. Moro animosl-
! ties had been created between the exec
utlve and legislative branches of the
government by patronage, said he, than
by all other questions combined. ut
Is the apple of discord end we as parti-
sans should rejoice Ut every Office Gre
ated for you to fill, for every office ere
ates disappointment which makes 1t
more certain that u democratic major
lty will succeed the republican majori-
ty In the next congress" Mr.. Flynn
rep, oklahoma aroused many repub-
lcnns to applause BY declaring that il
he could have his way he would wipe
out the civil service law and fill every
Office with a republican, In both houses.
Mr.. GrosVenor Wep,, o. ridiculed the
civil service system and predicted AMID
uproGrous applause from the renab-
llcans that che tide was rising and
wond sweep the law out of existence
and give The young men of this country
Il cnance. MI Bailey again secured
the foor aud after remarking upon the
! peculiar relations" existing between
the gentleman from Ohio (Grosvenor)
! and inc incumny president asked sen ,
! teEtiuut'y If they were warranted III
assuming that his ute RANGES were to
be accepted as n notice that the civil
service Jaw i tG he repealed, Mr..
GrosVenor replied TO Mr.. Bailey's in
timat0r nith frahkness that again set
the republicans Wild. IF the gentle
man from Texas had been here in he
ilftieth cHEglcs>," sail he. "he would
have known lFN, the FIST contention
| ever had on this floor with Mckinley
Was on this SUBJECT Gt civil service re-
forEl, he taking one Size of the ques-
ton ara the other. Since 1t was Up
do not think he has lost
any confidence In my partisan
ship and none in his craftsmanship and
ultimate good sense" ultimate is
good" shouted Mr.. Bailey, as the house
applauded. Mr. Grosvenor proceeded
to characterize the civil service law as
IA conspiracy which proved the greatest
power OF the spokesman" In conclu-
sion he denied that he pretended to
represent the views of the president
elect. He said he merged his individu-
ality into no administration He had a
constituency to represent and when he
spoke he did so for his constituency,
his conscience and his God. III / had
the power" said he, II would not ask
the sun to move backward as Joshua
did, but go forward. | would issue an
order to permit the righting Of wrongs
done In the past" (Deafening applause
on both sides of the house and CALLER
ies). Then Mr.. Brosius as chairman OF
the civil service committee had the final
word. He declared that Mr. Grosvenor' s
remarks flashed n sword In the heart Of
the president-elect" and read from Nc
Kinley's letter OF acceptance the state
ment that In the matter of civil service
reform he would take no backward
step" rs that treason?" cried Mr..
Brosius glowering down on Mr.. Gros-
venor, IF 1t Is, charge 1t to the greatest
citizen Of this republic The bin then
passed,
Mr. Gibson trep., Tenn introduced
a Joint resolution directing the presi-
dent to demand of the Spanish author
tiles In Cuba the immediate restoration
to liberty of every American citizen
native born or naturalized now inn
prisoned by them In the island of Cuba
and that in support Of the demand the
president is authorized and directed to
accompany II by the presence Of suf-
ficient number of United States ships
OF war to make the demand good; and
II It is not granted within "a hours thai
I the city OF Havana and II need be thu
other ports Of Cuba, be bomharied unit
1t Is fully complied with and all Amer
, lean citizens are delivered to the com
manders OF our war ships,
cCNY rT,yS