Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-06
GROSVENOR'S ATTACK
The Ohio Congressman Fights the
Civil Service Law.
VIOLENTLY ASSAILS CARL SCHURZ
-"Gives Notice" to the Members
of the Commission.
MATTERS IN THE SENATE

At the opening of the session of the
House of Representatives today the Speak
er announced the resignation of Andrew
Devine, one of the official stenosraphers
OF the House, and the appointment as his
successor of Reuel Small of Portland, Me.
The House then resumed the debate on
the civil service question, and Mr.. Grosve-
nor of Ohio took the floor with an elabo-
| rate speech in opposition to the present
law.
In opening Mr. Grosvenor disclaimed any
leadership of the anti-civil service reform
forces and any purpose to speak for any
officer of the government, executive. legis-
lative or judicial. "All efforts to entangle
me in a collision with the President said
he, waste so much powder. If believed
that my relations to the executive would
be changed or modified because l differ
with him in any representative capacity !
would despise him as he would despiSe me
If | faltered in my convictions"
Mr.. Grosvenor said he had watched with
admiration the Presidents public career,
and one of his most prominent characters
tics had always been that he not only did
not demand subserviency, but despised
man who sought favors by sycophancy.
Mr.. Grosvenor proceeded to pay his re-
spects to the National Civil Service Reform
League and to Carl Schurz it's president.
His excoriation Of the latter was the most
scathing that has been heard on the floor
of the House in months. He denounced I'M
sparingly those who sought to read out
OF the republican party those who believed
in the repeal of the civil service law. With
vitriolic language he Sketched the political
career of Mr.. Schurz, which he character
lied as the "checkered, spotted, leprous
career of one who betrayed every party
and every duty to which he was bound. and
whose betrayals had been his only stock
In trade in the arena of politics. He
traced Mr.. Schurz's political history, and
defed any one to point out a point in the
trail which was not tainted with political
corruption. Yet, he said this was the man
who with other foul political demagogues''
at Cincinnati under the name of the Ma
tional Civil Service League had denounced
him and those who thought with him on
this question" He read the resolutions
adopted at the Cincinnati meeting brand
ing them as infamous beyond description.
Continuing. Mr.. Grosvenor was proceed
ing to pay his respects to several OF the
members of the House when he ran foul of
Mr.. Barrett (Mass). who took umbrage at
Mr. Grosvenor's classification of himself
with the "cuckoos." He demanded an ex-
PLANTATION.
Mr. Grosvenor replied good naturally by
recalling an incident in former debate on
the civil service question when Mr.. Barrett
had insisted that he (Grosvenor) had aban-
doned the President.
MIR. Grosvenors subsequent description of
the habits of the cuckoo" kept the House
III ii roar Inc massachusetts member ap-
pealed for an opportunity to reply, bat the
Ohfoan declined to yield further.
After the incident, Mr.. Grosvenor. IL re-
plying to the charge made against him and
his colleagues that they were betraying the
republican party, adverted to what he call
ed the list of traitors among the high
| priests of civil service reform, at the head
! of which he placed George William Curtis,
who abandoned the republican party IN
| 1884
He reviewed the platform declarations Of
the republican party to show that the pres
ent position occupied by the majority OF the
| House was rot inconsistent with these dec
| laratons. For 1 give the members of the
| civil service commission notice." said he,
that we have a majority on this floor. and
you cannot strangle majority in the
| American Congress" (Applause).
He argued that when the st. Louis plat
form was adopted the extensions contained
| not been understood. 1t was not until No
| vember. 1885, that the enormous scope of
| that order, covering $4,000 officials, was
publicly declared
The republicans coming into power on n
platform adopted before these vast extern
| sions were made were not in honor bound
| TO agree to them. and it was proper that
the President should announce in his mes
sage to Congress that there We're per lions
| of those orders which never ought to have
been made.
| Mr.. Grosvenor discussed the practical eff
| feet of the law and the examination of the
| committee. giving many illustrations of APP
| plcants who through years of service had
proved their ability, but who failed to an
swer questions asked.
The Galleries Pleased.
| One of Mr.. Grosvenor's statements which
| evoked an enthusiastic outburst from the
| galleries was in the nature of a warning
that if members refused to listen to the
voice of the people in hostility to this law
they would not be members of the Fifty
| sixth HonSe of
gued that the people were overwhelmingly
opposed to the law, and said that hundreds
| OF thousands of republicans felt secret
| sympathy with Mayor Van Wyck of New
| York when he announced that none but
! democrats would be appointed to office I'M
, der the new city government Governor
| Black had said few days ago that when the
| late unlamented" republican government
| of New York came into power there were
1000 Tammany men in office, and when it
| expired there were still 1900 Tammany
| men on the pay roll.
| The republicans. Mr.. Grosvenor said. had
| been justly punished for keeping these enc
| mics in their camp.
! Mr.. Grosvenor professed his adherence to
the principle. of the merit system and TO
| the theory of examinations for office with
| in certain limitations. But" he exclaim-
| cd in conclusion, addressing the defenders
| of The law, Il want to serve notice on you
that unless you join us in the correction
| of the abuses and the reformation of the
| law we will join any portion of the
| community, Legislative, executive or judi
| cial, and destroy the law, root and branch.
Uproarious applause in the galleries.)
Mr.. Johnson's Defense.
| Mr.. Johnson Qnd.), one of the ardent de-
tenders of the law, followed Mr.. Ggosve-
nor with an extended argument in support
| of the merit system. He took occasion to
| review the history of the civil service,
pointing out that previous to the time of
| Jackson the spoils system did not exist.
| Men We're appointed to office for fitness
| yet never was party feeling stronger than
then. In England, where the merit sys-
| tenn prevailed, party spirit was most Wig
| orous. 1t was absurd. he continued, to say
| that party spirit must be fed upon the
| bride of office.
SENATE.