The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-06
IN THE HOUSE.
Discussion of Civil service Commissions
fppropI IiatiOn Bill.

Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON, u. c., Jan. 5.-The
civil service debate began n the House
to-day based ON tho item in the lesisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
bin for the maintenance of the COM
mission. 10 promises 90 continue az least
until the end of this week with possi-
bIity that 10 may run longer. But 10 T.
generally admitted on both sides that
the appropriation IN the bin VIII stand
as the anti-civil service rcf0rmcrs do not
seriously contemplate AN attempt 90 strike
it out The debate therefore. SIS only
preliminary 60 any programme which
the enemies OF the law may agree upon.
The members of the House are divided
into three camps on this question, those
who stand by the law, those who advo-
cato its entire repeal, and those who
desire its modification
Those divisions were apparent in the
debate To-day, the nature of which was
not as stirring as had boCn anticipated.
II was proposed tnat Mr.. Moody Rep.
OF NIassachusetis) and Mr.. Dockery Deni.
Of Missouri control the time for and
against. Mr.. Hepburn Rop. of Iowa. sug-
gostcd that it was a three cornercd con-
test
The Democrats" said he. desire the
on this side desire it 10 stand as IL is
while a large body of us desire a whole
some modification OF its provisions
"Why does this gentleman aver thai
all the DEMOCRATS on this side of the
House desire ethe entire repeal Of tho
law" enquired Mr.. Clark Dem. of Mis-
sOurD.
simply because that would be wrong
and your side is always wrong" retorted
Mr.. Hepburn. amid great laughter.
MIR GROW OPENS.
All suggestions as 10 the control of
the time failed at last. and the Chair
recognized Mr.. Grow Rep. Of Pcnnsyl-
vania) who spoke for twenty minutes I'm
support Of the general principles Of the
civil service law.
Mr. Moody Rep. Of Massachusetts, fol-
lowed with an elaborate defence Of the
civil service law. which. he said, pro
tected officials who received S1o.0JooD i'm
salaries per annum. Yet he said. be had
no sympathy with those who believed the
law was perfect. and should only be
modified by extension. lie thought those
who were placed under the protection Of
the law by executive order should bee
compelled 10 submit 10 test of their
efficiency and he also believed that some
method should be found 20 preserve. If
not restore, the efficiency of the service.
Mr.. Dockcry Oem. of Missouri open
cd the debate in opposition 10 the law,
which he argued was odiOus 90 the Amer
lean people and should be repealed in
toto. lie pointed out that the striking
out Of the appropriation for the commits
sion would accomplish nothing as the
commissioners could sue I'm the Court OF
Claims for their salaries. The cOura geOus
thing TO do. he said, was TO pass a bill
aimed directly at the law.
PEARSON IN IT.
Mr. Robb Oem. of Missouri and Mr..
Pearson Rep. Of North Carolina) follow
ed in opposition 20 the law. The latter.
who has been very active in his hostility
20 the civil service law, contcnded that
life tenure inevitably meant a civil PEN
sion list whether the pensions should be
paid directly out of the Treasury or in
directly from retiring fund collected
from employees FOR that purpose. While
Mr.. Pearson admitted that some good
purposes had been suhserved by the law,
he declared that so far as its main pur-
pose economy. went. il had been q fall
uro. Since 1883 in Washington the de-
partmental force had increased 81 per
cent, and the salaries 43 per cent.
Mr.. Clark Oem. OF Missouri asked
to the law intended to bring IN q bill for
its repeal. to which Mr.. Pearson en-
phaiically replied in the affirmative. lie
further said it would be prepared to-
night and introduced at the earliest
praot cable moment and the chairman
OF the Civil Service Committee would be
asked to report il.
III he does not" said he "the COM
mittee will instruct me to report it," CAP
plause)
"WM YOU gentlemen on the other side
use your best endeavors to secure con-
sideration for IL when 1t is reported?
asked MIR. Clark.
we will make desperate efforts" an
swcred Mr. Pearson. I'VE will 20 20 the
extreme and vote with The Democrats 10
secure consideration applause and
laughicr)
Mr. Lands Rep. o. Indiana) favored
modification OF the law which. he said,
would doubtless earn for him a reputa-
ton as a spokesman. lie sneered at the
professional civil service reformer. lie
had never known those who call
ed themselves the better element
who were not narrow selfish
bigoted and dangerous. They had
buldozed and cowed national conven-
tions and hypnotized Presidents while
they managed themselves TO sit continu-
ously at the banquet table.
MIR. BENEDICT.
He denounced Mr.. Cleveland's methods
in his second administration. descrbing
particularly what took place I'm the Gov
ernmeut Printing Office 20 the head Of
which. he said Mr.. Cleveland appointed
q man who would do the dirty work"
on a single day. ne said. Public Printer
Benedict had discharged 30 men. That
was known az the Government Printing
Office as "Blue Monday" on another
day he discharged 420 when 1.Nd5 re-
mOvals had been made and $500 Demo
Gratis appointed. Mr. Cleveland pressed
the button and the civil service blanket
was thrown over them. lie read what
purported 10 be a literal transcript OF the
reasons assigned FOR the discharge OF the
Republican employees in tho secret record
OF Mr. Bcnedicts private secretary. Some
OF them were very amusing and kept the
House in a roar
When he had concluded the reading
Mr.. Perkins (Rep OF lowal asked II II
was proposed 10 return to system which
made such recital possible.
NO" replied Mr.. Lands, but we want
10 modify the law.
Mr.. Henderson (Rep. of lowal protest
ed against the production Of the record Of
one man i'm condemnation Of the best
system vet devised for the government
service. He said civil service never en-
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