The times., 1897-12-15
BUOYANT MR.. BARRETT.
He Provoises Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.
Grosvenor Provokes Laughter.

He ProvolSes Mr. Grosvenor and Mr..
Grosvenor Provokes Laughter.
Mr. Barrett. Of Massa ohusetts, hardly
reaches the intellectual plane Of an earlier
statesman flom the Northeast, whc once
electrified Congress by saying OF New
England, There she Is; look at her. and
then portraying in eloquent language the
glory of his hcme folks.
Mr. Barrett is very much like his fore
runner except that he doesn't electTify
His pugnacity isimore to be admired than
his periods. If energy were eloquenoe, he
would be oratofy incarnated. He never
wants a.word, wha tever may be his iackof
wisdom.
With characteristic sensitiveness ne has
come to the conclusion that Gen. Grosvenor's
war on civil service reform is an attack
on New England; that objection to the merit
system now in vogue is an outcry against
ineritorious people-the people OF Massa
chusetts.
Therefore, during the debate yesterday
on the legislative, executive and judicial
| appropriation hin i'll the House MIR. Barrett
| took occasion TO reply" TO Gen. Grosyen0r
| for few remarks which the Boston man
thinks were made in disparagement of his
| state colleaguesand his stanch constituency.
| As il was u sort OF Republican family
| quarrel tie Democrats enjoyed it immensely
/ The gentleman from Massachusetts de
/ clared. after he had vindicated his section
! that but three men now members of Con
| gress voted sgainst the oiyil service re-
form Law in 1883. This assertion was not in
accord with the facts, hut that didn I bother
the speaker.
These men, he said, We're Bland Nc
MIIhn and Steele. one after another
Republicans bohbed up 10 say that they
also should have been included while
| others declared that they voted for the
measure under a misrepresentation.
This moved Mr.. Dockery to suggest that
| Republicans be permitted to file their
apologies and thus save time.
Mr.. Grosvcnor remained quiet for some
time, but finally caught the eye of the
| chair and said.
! like to have these kindergarten exer-
cises OF craftsmanship forced upon the
| House occasionally QaughteT), and l am
! delighted 10 have an opportunity to b
! mustered III as friend and admirer OF
| nearly everything that Massachusetts has
| ever done, and of nearly all the men
that she has sent to Congress-not quite
| all; / hold IA reservation III my own mind
| Uaughter.)
l heard somebody say, What about the
| Republicans of Mass achusetts2' and !
hardly recognized where the inquiry came
from. / did not know until afterwards who
| Il was that had saidit. l replied, ''Massa-
| chusetts is always little better than IN,
rest OF u.s. Well, she is in great man!
respects, but l did not intend 70 admit
it, and l do not propose now 70 admit Il,
intended 1T as a good natuTed answer
Il an interruption which was intended
AS | suppose, 10 be good atuTed.
Now, tncn, Wien the proper time come
in this debate, l Lope gentlemen on boti
sides Of the question viii debate upol
their Judgment and not upon tile ques
tion Of what isUmebody else has said
Statesnanship that can only repeat VIVA
somebody else has said is the same states
fnanship that the parrot INDUCES in yer.
often in tie course of iIis morning abba
ticnS. tLaughter.i
Now Just one other word, for l VII
1 not discuss now the civil service question
Wher we come 10 debate tie questlo
who IL Is that has fuTsaken the st. Louf
platform and has gone off and erecte'
/ new idols, the gentleman from Massachu
setts Mr.. BaTretti to whom / comment
this suggestion, will allow me TO call hl
attention 10 this plank in the platform
adopted at st. Louis, which l stood o.
ana did not protest against. plead guilt.
To that, neither did the gentleman.
CUBA.