Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-07
MERIT SYSTEM DEFENDED
Representative Johnson's Remarks in the
House Today.
A Vigorous Speech I'm Favor of the
Civil Service Law, Which Was
Frequently Applauded

During the animated discussion in the
House this afternoon over the civil service
brought up by Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio. Mr.
Johnson of Indiana (repubiicam made a
vigorous speech in favor of the law. Mr.
Johnson's remarks remarks created some
thing of ser sation and were frequently
applauded.
Mr.. Speaker" said Mr.. johnson, when
that stupendCus folly, measure to ap-
point 'bimetallic commission to rove over
Europe applause and laughter on the dem
ocratic sde) was before the House 1 had
| the honor to submit some brief remarks
| against it; and 1 was also one of the few
members of this House who cast his vote
against the adoption of that provision. 1
recognized at that time the fact that some
gentlemen seem very late in recognizing
| that the world moves; that silver, a
standard of value. is a thing of the past
and that all countries of high civilization
believe. and necessarily believe, in a single
gold standard. AppIauseD
The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Grosve-
nor) took occasion at the time / submitted
the remarks in question to read me a po-
htical lecture and to point out my duty to
my party. u-aughterD He was kind
enough to call the attention of the House
and the country to the fact that the repub-
lican party had declared in its national
platform in favor of such a commission,
| and held up his hands in holy horror at the
| idea that a republican should ever have
the hardihood to repudiate part of the
platform of his party. although that part
was an article that no sane man would
ever have put into it. daughter and ap-
plauSe on the democratic side.)
But l call the attention of the gentle
man from Ohio to the fact that he is
derelict himself, in party fidelity, and l
have heard from that gentleman the most
remarkable political utterances l have ever
heard uttered upon the floor of this House
daughter and applause on the democratic
side.)
Il have heard the most remarkable ex-
pressions fall from the lips of the gentle
man from Ohio on the subject of civil ser
vice reform. He stands opposed to his
party on this question.
Mr.. Speaker, that party stands pledged
to civil service reform. 1t has declared for
ii in every national platform, and declared
for it in the most unequ:vocal language. 1t
has been declared for time and again by the
republican platform in all of the various
states of the Union.
BENZ Harrison, VIM. Mckinley, all of
the leading men and most conspicuous men
~ the republican party, have declared for
it in language of no uncertain character.
1t has been and is an accepted and cardinal
principle Of the republican party, and the
gentleman from Ohio. in making such re-
marks as he has made on the floor of this
House, has aligned himself against his
own party. applause and laughter on
the democratic sideD And the gen.
| tleman from Ohio in expressing the
sentiments he has uttered here today
from Texas CMr. Bailey when he cali
ed his attention to the fact that he
| was fortifying his position by quoting from
the democratic platform. (Applause and
laughter on the democratic sideD
Mr.. Speaker, no man can be reoubli-
can and a spokesman. ApplauseD Most
honest men III all parties favor the Crinci
pie of civil service reform, but the repub-
is committed n if absolutely
and the gentleman from Ohio differs with
his President, whose mouthpiece he was
short time ago daughter and applause),
and has gone over into the camp of the
opposition. daugLter)
Think of the spectacle, one to make
gels weep. of the distinguished and vet
eran republican, the mouthpiece of the
PIT eSdent of the United States, fallen so
low that he absolutely has gone into the
embraces of the spoismen of the demo-
cratic party. Uaughter) Now, l am glad
that the President of the United States diff
fers with tie gentleman from Ohio on this
subject, not only because it comes ex ca
tEedra, but because l think what the Pres
ident says is founded on better sense and
better logic. / am for the President of the
United States: and, while / disagree with
portion of the message on another sub
ject, there is no part Of it to which L yield
more glad acclaim than / do to his plain
and unequivocal declaration to the gentle
man from Ohio (Mr. Grosvenor), and those
who would follow his black political ban
ner, that civil service reform is to have the
moral support of the man who is President
of 10,UUO.UU0 of free, intelligent and pros
porous people.
Il shall not undertake to enter into a dis
CT sSion of the civil service law. 1 believe
in its maintenance, and 1 thank God you
have been officially notified from the White
House that If you can succeed in getting
through Congress, in response to the clam
or Of ~ certain class Of gentlemen, a bill to
reI.eal or impair the civil service law, you
will be met with veto. 1 say now that il
you expect you can attack the civil service
upon this floor. end that the thing will go
through with rush. you will be sadly mis-
taken, for there are men here who believe,
as does the President Of the United States,
that the civil service Is in the interest Of
all the people, and that 1t must not be in
the interest of q few degenerate politicians.
Uaughter).
Il will stand by the President of the
United States in his effort to maintain the
civil service. 1t may have its faults. The
tronble lies not In the principle Of the law,
but in the Interpretation and construction
that is being given to it by those intrusted
with its administration. who are themselves
spoilsmen and who, having attempted to
render the law odious, turn around and say
.IIo and behold! what the civil service has
accomplished when the responsibility
ought to lie at their own doors.
Now, as 1 said before, Mr. Chairman, /
do not care to enter into any detailed argu-
ment upon the subject of the civil service
degrades the public man who touches 1t
with his hands.
Every man knows that the spoils system
degradeS the man who undertakes to get
place in virtue of it; that it closes the ave-
nues of public preferment to the intelligent.
capable man who cannot get the pull of
some local politician by giving value re-
ceived in votes for him, in order to be put
into the public service whether he is quail
fled or not Every man knows that just at
this time, when public suffrage. the corner
stone on which the fabric of free govern
ment rests, is being assailed by corruption
and fraud at elections, 1t would be worse
than folly to throw back hundred thous-
and offices to be fought over every four
years, instead Of leaving presidential and
congressional elections to turn upon the
great question Of public principles and pub
lie honor.
IT had risen to talk upon another subject
but when l heard the very distinguished
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Grosvenor) utter
the kind OF sentiments that fell from his
lips here. thought 1t proper that 1 should
make this brief and extemporaneous reply"
HAVAIIANS HERE.
Arrival of Delegation OF
Natives.
The delegation Of native Hawaiians VINO