Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-02-27
ON THE CIVIL SERVICE
DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT SET THE
HOUSE IN AN UPROAR.
Bailey md GrOsvcnOr From OpDos-
Ing Parties. Denounced
the system.

the System.
Washington, Feb 23-The house sent
the naval bill, the last of the appropria-
ton bills, TO the senate today. Mr.. Bou-
tele was in charge of the measure and
displayed sucn skill in its handling that
its provisions aroused little opposition
and it was passed practically without
amendment. Mr.. Barrett of Massachll-
setts made an effort to secure an authori-
zation for a dry dock at Boston, to cost
AoGo,o0O. but after a somewhat acrimoni-
Gus debate the amendment was ruled out
of order. He then tried to secure the APP
Polntment of a committee to pass on the
relative merits Of Boston and Portsmouth
as locations for a dry dock, and was
equally unsuccessful.
The feature of the day was an exceed
lnsly interesting political debate which
occurred late in the afternoon on the sub
lect of civil service reform. 1t occurred
during consideration of a bill to permit
governors of the territories to appoint
certain officers of territories, in case of
vacancies without consent Of the legisla-
tive councils. which is now required by
law. Mr.. Bailey of Texas fought the bill
on the ground that the democrats and re-
publicans of Arizona should not bring
their squabbles TO congress. In the course
of his remarks Mr.. Bailey rendered to the
republicans his sympathy for the troubles
of patronage which would beset them after
March 4. He declared that every member
on the floor realized the dangers of patron
age. There We're from five to ten disap-
pointed applicants for the postot1ice in cy-
cry town. great and small. In so congress
sional districts the majority was less than
1000. Every one of those districts would
go democratic at the next election. Pa
tronage was a disadvantage both at the
primaries and the polls. 1t created fric-
ton between senators and representa-
t1Ves: discord between the executive and
legislative branches More animosities
have been created between the executive
and legislative branches of the govern
ment by patronage, said he, than all other
questions combined. 1t was the quarrel
over patronage that drove from the senate
most of the brilliant men who had been
in that body in 80 years. 1t was the heat
of zeal for office which so Influenced the
brain OF madman that he shot down d
president. Patronage had alienated per
sonal friends struggling over who should
control. 1t was the apple of discord and
we (the demOcratsl should rejoice at cv-
cry office for YOU to fill for every office
creates discOTd which makes it more GER
tain that 4 democratic majority will sue
ceed the republican majority Of the next
congress-
The pending bill was lost sight of in the
pollticdl HdeiSlIOnl lndL 1OliOWeu. MT.
Flynn. republican, of Ohio. aroused many
of the republicans to applause by declar-
ing that if he could have his way he
would wipe out the civil service law and
fill every office with republican. Mr..
GrosvenOr ridiculed the civil service sys- |
tenn and predicted, amid uproarious APP |
plauSe 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.
Mr.. Brossius of PENNSYLVANIA denied |
that it was antagonistic to young men. |
On the contrary, he said. the merit sys-
TEN gave the young men the right to
aspire to office without humiliation or pc
ing subservient to politicians and beggars
at the feet Of bosses.
Mr.. Bailey again secured the floor. and
after remarking upon the peculiar rela-
tions existing between the gentleman
from Ohio (Grosvenor) and the incoming
president asked sententiousy if the dem
ocrats were warranted that his answer
was to be accepted that a notice that civil
service law was to be repealed.
What DO you think of the law?" re-
marked Mr.. Steel, republican.
Il think it is a humbug." replied Mr.
Bailey, response that won a round of
applause from both sides of the house.
Grosvenor Was Also Frank
Mr.. Grosvenor replied to Baieys init
nation with a frankness that again set
the reDubllCdnS Wild.
'If the gentleman from Texas had been
here in the Fiftieth congress- said he.
'he would know that the first bitter con
tention I ever had on this floor was with
William Mckinley on this subject of civil
service reform, he taking one side Of the
question and I the other. When it was
over I did not think he had lost anv
confidence in my partisanshp, and I mad
lost none in his craftsmanship and ulti-
mate good sense"
ultimate is good" shouted Mr.. Bailey.
as the house applauded.
Mr.. GrosveEor proceeded to characterize
the civil service law as a ''conspiracy"
which had proved 'the greatest power Of
the spoilsman.' He termed it "a law to
pension incompetents" and said the peo-
pie had at last discovered it was a hum
bug. He told of an instance when
democratic official with 70 civil service
employees under him had boasted that he
had been able to get into office 20 demo-
Gratis. He declared that Pendleton and
the democrats had introduced the "patent
medicine into our government. In con-
clusion he denied that he pretended to
the views of the president-elect
He said he merged his individuality into
no administration. He had a constitu- ]
ency to represent, and when he spoke he
lid so for his constituency, his con
science and his God.
IF / had the power he said, II would
lot ask the sun to move Backwards as s
Joshua did, but forward. l would issue
IN order to permit the righting Of the
wrongs done in the past 1eafening
applause on both sides of the house, and
,ries Of "Vote, vote.D 4
Mr.. Brossius. as chairman Of the civil
service committee, had final word. He
declared that Grosvenor's remarks
'feshed the sword in the heart of the ]
oresident-elect,' and read from McKin- !
ey's letter of acceptance his statement ,
hat in the matter Of civil service re- f
-orm he would take no backward steps" Y
is that the reason?" cried Mr.. Bros t
sius, glowering down on Mr.. Grosvenor. /
IF it is l charge it home to the great t
est citizen of this republic t
Mr.. Walker Of Massachusetts conclud- 6
I'd the debate. The bill was then passed t