The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-24
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
Bitterly Assailed in the Upper
House of Congress. 49,.
"A HUMBUG, ADELUsIoN, AsNARg,"
Declares Mr.. Wilson, q Washington Re-
pubiican-Messrs. Hoar and Lodge De-
fend the Law, While Senator Hawley
Says 1t Has Been violated,

Washington. March 24.-The senate
was unexpectedly precipitated into a
civil service debate yesterday. 1t pro-
ceeded for two hours. the civil service
act and the commission being under
fire most of the time. The debate as
sUmed added significance owing to the
recent change of administration and
the attendant demand for offices. Mr.
German, of Maryland, called attention
to the presence in Washington of the
horde OF hungry place hunters, and
expressed profound sympathy with his
Republican associates over the restric-
tions of the civil service system. The
discussion came up on a resolution to
Omaha, Neb. Mr.. Gallinger, of New
Hampshire, characterized the civil
service system as a humbug. and de-
clared he would be glad to cast his
vote to blot out the system. There
was continued applause in the galleries
at this statement
Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska, called the
civil service act monumental hum
bug" and Mr.. Wilson, of Washington,
said it was "humbug, delusion, a
snare and q fraud" Mr.. Hawley, of
Connecticut, while defending the prin-
ciple of civil service, said its practice
had been attended with glaring incom-
potency. Mr.. Stewart. of Nevada, re-
garded the civil service commission as
an office brokerage establishment"
The Massachusetts senators, Messrs.
Hoar and Lodge defended the law.
The resolution directing the civil SER
vice committee of the senate to nves-
tigate the South Omaha, Neb., re-
movals was broadened by an amend
ment instructing the committee to in
quire into the general operation of the
law and to report whether 1t should
be continued, amended or repealed.
Mr.. Turpie, of Indiana, spoke at con-
siderable length in advocacy of the
election of United States senators by
the popular vote, detailing the uncer-
tantics and FREQUENT scandals attend
ing the present method of choosing
senator's.
Mr. Berry, of Arkansas, secured the
adoption Of a joint resolution for the
purchase Of 1000 tents for the use Of
Mississippi flood sufferers.
Although several sharp passages at
arms somewhat enlivened the tariff
debate in the house yesterday, the
brilliant speech of Mr.. Dolliver, of
Iowa, was distinctly the overshadowing
feature of the day. Mr.. Doliver Is a
finished orator, and his speech was a
masterpiece of forensic elouuerce. Re-
pete with wit and glowing periods, it
alternately aroused his Republican
colleagues to unbounded enthusiasm
and convulsed the house with laughter.
Mr.. McLaurin, Democratic member
Of the ways and medns committee
from South Carolina. created mild
sensation by boldly proclalming him
self in favor of duty on cotton, and
1t was noticeable that when he re-
pudiated the free raw material doc
trines of Cleveland and Carlisle, land
those who had prostituted the name of
Democracy" fully three -fourths of the
Democrats on the floor sustained him
with hand and voice.
A bill to compel respectful trea tment
for the United States flag was intro
duced in the house by Representative
Howe, of New York. 1t provides that
any person in the employ of the gov
ornment who shall utter words that
reflect or cast reproach on the Amcri-
can flag, thereby showing dislOyalty
TO the flag and government FROM which
they derive their livelihood, shall be
dismissed from the SER
vice.