The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-24

gers of patronage. There were from five
to ten disappointed applicants for the post
office In every town, great or small, In
fifty congressional districts the majority
was less than 1000. Every one OF those
districts would go democratic next cleo
ton. Patronage was a disadvantage, both
at the primaries and thu 1olis. II created
friction between senators and representa-
tives. discord between the executive and the
legislator. More luminosity bad been cre-
ated between the executive and legislative
branches Of the government by patronage.
said he. than all other questions combined.
1t was a quarrel over patronage that drove
from the senate most OF the brilliant men
who had been in that body for thirty years.
1t was the heat Of the zeal for office which
so influenced the brain of a mailman that
he shot down the president Patronage had
alienated personal friends struggling over
who should control.
1T is the apple of discord. and we, as
partisans. should rejoice at every office Gre
ated for you to I'M, for every office creates
disappointment. which makes it more GER
tain that democratic majority will sue
coed the republican majority OF the next
congress-
| The pending bill was lost sight Of In the
| political maelstrom that followed.
| Mr.. Flynn (Rep) OF Oklahoma aroused
many Of the republicans TO applause by de-
| claring that If he could have his way he
would wipe out tho civil service law and
! III every office with a republican in TWEEN.
ty-four hours.
| Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep.) OF Ohio ridiculed
| the civil service system, and predicted,
/ amid uproarlous applause from the ropub-
I Leans. that the tide was rising which would
sweep the law out of existence and give
the young men of this country chance.
Mr. Brossius tRep.) Of Pennsylvania de-
| clarcd that It was not antagonistc to young
men. On the contrary. he said. the merit
! system gave the young men the right TO
aspire to office without the humiliation OF
| being subservient TO politicians and beg
! gars at the feet OF bosses.
Mr. Bailey again secured the floor, and
| alter remarking upon the peculiar rela-
| tons existing between the gentleman from
| Ohio (Grosvenor) and the Incoming presi-
dent, asked sententiously II the democrats
| We're warranted in assuming his utter
ances were to be accepted as a notice that
I the civil service law is TO be repealed
What do you think of the law?" put in
! Mr.. Steele (Rep) of Indiana.
81 think it is humbug." replied Mr..
| Bailey, a response that brought round Of
! applause from both sides.
MIR. Grosvenor (Rep) OF Ohio replied to
| Mr.. Bailey's intimation With 4 frankness
that again set the republicans wild.
III the gentleman from Texas had been
here in the Fiftieth congress" he said. 'he
| ever had on this floor with William Me
| Kinley was on the subject Of CitIl service
! reform. he taking one side OF the question
and the other. When 1t was over. did
! not think he had lost any confidence in my
partisauship. and ! had lost mono in his
| statesmanship and ultimate good sense
Ultimate is good shouted MI Bailey
! as the house applauded.
Mr.. Grosvenor proceeded 10 characterize
the civil service law as "a conspiracy
which had proved the greatest power OF
the spokesman" He termed Il law tc
pension incompetents. and said the people
had at last discovered that II was q hum
bug. He told of an instance where dem
ocratic official with seventy-niue civil ser
vice employees under him had boosted tina,
he had been able to get into office seventy
democrats He declared that 'pendletpn
and the democrats had Introduced this
patent medicine" into the government,
In conclusion he denied TINT lie pretend
elect.
Then Mr.. Brossius, as the chairman o
The civil service committee, had n fina
word He declared that Mr.. Grosvenor'
remarks FLASHED the sword into the hear
of the president elect" and read from Mr.
McKinley's letter of acceptance his state
mont that in the matter of civil service
reform he would take no backward step
"Is that the reason" cried MIR Brossius
looking at Mr. Grosvenor "lf It is, charg,
it to the greatest citizen of this republic
Nr Walker (Rep1 Of Massachusetts con
} cluded the debate,
Tie bin was then passed, and at 95 th'
4. 4