The Topeka state journal., 1897-02-24
Says Congressman Charles III.
GrOsvenOr of Ohio.
The Sentiment is UprOariously
Applauded
BY REPUBLICAN SIDE.
He Calls the Civil Service Law a
Conspiracy.
Flynn Would Put a Republican
In Every Place.

LHe naval Dill, the last of the apprOpria-
tion bills. to the senate yesterday. Mr..
Boutelle. chairman of the naval com
rnittee, was in charge of the measure
and displayed such skill in its handling
that its provisions aroused little oppo-
sition and it was passed practically
without amendment.
The feature of the day as an ex-
ceedingly. interesting ponr1cal debate
which occurred late in the afternoon on
the subject of civil service reform. 1t
occurred during the consideration of a
bill to permit the governors of the ter
ritories to appoint certain officers of the
territories in case of vacancies, with
out the consent of the legislative coun-
ellis, which is now required by law
Mr. Bailey CDem., Tex.) fought the
Dill on the ground that the Democrats
and Republicans of Arizona should not
bring their SQuabbleS to congress. In
the course of his remarks Mr.. Bailey
rendered to the Republicans his sym
pathy for the troubles of patronage
Which would beset them March 4.
He declared that every member on
the floor realized the danger of patron
age. There were from five to ten dis
appointed applicants for the postoffice
in every town. In congressional dis
trfcts where the majority was less than
1000, every one of these districts would
go Democratic at the next election.
Patronage was a disadvantage, both at
ed friction between senators and repre-
sentatives, discord between the execu-
tive and legislative branches of the
government. 1t was a quarrel over
most of the brilliant men who had been
in that body in 80 years. 1t was the
heat of the zeal for Office which so in
f1uenced the brain of a man that he
shot down a president. Patronage had
alienated personal friends struggling
over who should control.
The pending bill was lost sight of
in the political maelstrom that follow
ed. Mr.. Flynn (Rep., o. T.) aroused
many of the Republicans to applause
by stating that if he could have his way
he would wipe out the civil service law
and fill every office with a Republican.
Mr.. Grosvenor ridiculed the civil
service amid uproarious applause from
the Republicans. The tide was rising
which would sweep the law out of ex
iStence and give the young men of this
country chance.
Mr.. Brosius (Rep., Pa~) denied that it
was antagonistic to young men ON
the contrary, he said the system gave
the young men the right to aspire to
Office without the humiliation of being
subservient to politicians and beggars
at the feet of bosses.
Mr. Bailey again secured the floor,
and after remarking upon the peculiar
relations existing between the gentle
man from Ohio (Grosvenor) and the
incoming president, asked sententiously
if the Democrats were warranted in
assuming that his utteranceS were to
be accepted as a notice that the civil
service law is to be repealed.
What do you think of the law?" put
in Mr.. Steele, (Rep., Ind.).
II think it is humbug, replied MT
Bailey a response that won round of
applause from both sides of the house
Mr.. Grosvenor replied to Mr.. Bailey's
intimation with a frankness that again
set the Republicans wild.
IF the gentleman from Texas had
been here in the 50th congress" said he,
''he would know that the first bitter
contention I ever had on this floor with
William Mckinley was on this subject
of civil service reform. he taking one
side of the question and I the other.
When it was over 1 did not think he
had lost any confidence in my partisan
ship and I had lost none in his states
manship and ultimate good sense
Ultimate is good, shouted Mr.. Bail
ey as the house applauded.
Mr.. Grosvenor proceeded to charac-
terize the civil service law as a con
spiracy' which had proved the great
est power of the spokesman" He term
ed it "a law to pension incompetents'
and said the people had a t last discover
ed ii was humbug. He told of an in
stance where a Democratic official with
70 civil service employees under him had
boaSted that he had been able to get
into office several times.
In conclusion he said he did not pre-
tend to represent the views of the pres
represent, and when he spoke he did sc
for his constituency, his conscience and
his God.
If I had the power" said he '1
would not ask the sun to move back
ward as Joshua did, but go forward.
would issue an order to permit the
righting of the wrongs done in the
past" (Deafening applause on both
sides of the house and in the galleries
and cries of vote, vote"D.
Then Mr. Brosius, the chairman OF
the civil service committee had a final
word. He declared tn atMr. Grosven-
or's remarks "slashed the sword in the
heart of the president-elect" and read
from Mr. McKinley's letter of accept
ance his statement that in the matter
of civil service reform he would take
no backward step"
! rs that the reason?" cried Mr.. Bros
I ius, glowering down on Mr.. GrOsvenor
IF it is, charge it home to the great
est citizen of this republic
Mr.. Walker, (Rep., Mass.). concluded
the debate.
The bill was then passed and at So;
the house adjourned.