The herald., 1898-01-11
NOT CONSIDERED
IN THE HOUSE
Unending Debate Promised on Civil
Service Questions

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.--The attend
ance in the House was light today, but
the galleries were we'll filled. The civil
service debate was resumed and Mr..
Cooney Democrat Of Missouri. took
the floor He opposed the whole civil
service reform idea, which he denounced
as a cheat and a narrow swindle. A
civil pension list and e-holding class.
he argued, We're logical and inevitable if
it was to be continued.
Mr.. Dorr CRepublican) of West Vir-
ginia, followed with a set speech in op-
position to the law.
Mr.. Cox DemocraD of Tennessee, said
he was SO utterly opposed to civil ser
vice reform that he would vote to strike
out the appropriation for the committee
and for the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Little DemocraD of Arkansas,
antagonized the principle, theory and
practice of the law.
Brumm, Republican, of Pennsylvania
also opposed the reform system" " He
doubted. he said. whether the president
of the United States, members of the
supreme court, senate or house could
pass some of the civil service examina-
tions. He defended what was known as
the political pull" which. he said, ought
to be cultivated, Every young man
should have such influence, and if they
did not have it it was the best evidence
that they We're unworthy of political
privileges. He was ready to vote for the
repeal of the law.
Mccall, Republican, of Massachusetts,
was the first speaker today to defend the
merit system. In reply to the criticisms
of some of the opponents of the system
he raised laugh at the expense of Mr.
Grosvenor who, according to his (Mc-
Calls) calculations, wanted over 115 per
cent of the offices exempted from the
operation of the civil service law.
CoWherd, Democrat, of Missouri.
called attention to some alleged viola
tions of the civil service law in this dis
trict. He said that it is inconsistent for
| stand in support of the law while his
subordinates We're entertaining the
bleachers by turning the rascals out "
Sulloaway, Republican, of New Harnp-
shire proudly proclaimed himself a
spokesman, without any mental reserva =
the president to play to the grand
tion. The civil service law, h said.
had been conceived in inquity, born in
infamy and administered in cowardice
and by Democrats He believed the gov
| ernment belonged to its friends
Sideways remarks We're very pic
turesque and kept the anti-reformers in
a continuous roar of approval.
After some further remarks. Parker.
Republican, of New Jersey, in defense of
the law, and Mr.. Low of New York, in
favor of modification of the law.
closed the debate for the day.
The opponents of the civil service
law had much the best of the debate in
the house today, so far as the number
of those engaged in it We're concerned.
! Nine of the eleven speakers were of the
opposition, The friends of the law are
very anxious to shut off further de-
bate, and this will have the co-opera-
tion Of Speaker Reed and the rules COM
mittee. Mr.. Moody, who has charge
of the bill, gave notice that he would
test the sense of the house tomorrow on
a motion to close the debate. The op-
position Immediately sent word to all
in their ranks to be on hand, and they
will have no difficulty in defeating the
motion.
AT o'clock the house adjourned.