The record-union., 1898-01-07
justly punished for keeping these enc

and theory of examinations for Office
within certain limitations. But" he
exclaimed, in conclusion, addressing the
defenders of the law, II want to serve
notice on you that unless you join us
in the correction of the abuses and the
reformation OF the law, that we will join
any portion of the community, leg
islative, executive or judicial, and de-
stroy the law, root and branch" Cup
roarious applause in the galleries)
Johnson CR-) of Indiana, one of the
ardent defenders of the law, followed
Grosyenor with an extended argument
in support Of the merit system. He
took occasion to review the history of
the civil service, pointing out that pre-
vious to the time of Jackson the spoils
system did not exist. Men We're ap-
pointed to office for fitness, yet never
was party feeling stronger than then.
In England, where the merit system
prevailed, party spirit was most vigor-
GUS.
1t was absurd. he contended. to say
that party spirit must be fed upon the
bribe of office. He repudiated the
statements Of the adversaries of the
law that Lincoln and Grant believed in
the spoils system.
In his review of the records of emf
nent men on this subject, Johnson be-
came involved in controversy with
his colleague, Lands (R.) of Indiana,
and during the ss-firing the gale
r1es becameso obstreperous in their ap-
proval of the position of the latter that
the Chair was obliged to suspend the
debate and admonish the spectators
that such demonstrations must cease.
In enumerating the evils of the spoils
system, Johnson said it made towards
OF legislators, stormed the White House.
1nterfered with the departments.
stretched into the Capitol and shaped
legislation; it exalted the office broker.
and attacked, villified and calumniated
the conscientious man. Words, he de-
elared, could not do justice to the in
fanny of this prolific evil, which had
debauched the civil service.
1t seemed incredible to him that men
could dare advocate a return of this
saturnalia. The talk of a civil pen
sion, he said, was bugaboo designed
to frighten the defenders of the merit
system. A proposition for civil
pension could not command half a
dozen votes in either house or secure
the executive approval.
Speaking TO the Republican side of
the House, he told his colleagues that
the merit system was a Republican
child. While George H. Pendleton was
its author in inception it was a Repub-
hcan measure. Every Republican SEN
ator and all except seven Republican
members of the House voted for ii. 1t
has been indorsed by State and Nation
al conventions. Cities and States were
adopting it. The American people were
behind it,
Johnson attributed the present "dis-
cordant and the disgraceful scene" now
being enacted in Ohio, with its wis
ions Of Senatorships going glimmer-
ing" to the scramble for spoils, State
and National. and said that the surest
way to put Bryan and his black ban
ner in the White House in 1900 would
be for the Republican party to be re-
creant to its trust, and slap in the face
those who believed in an honestly con-
Quoted service.
Without desiring IN any way tC re-
fleet upon the present occupant of the
White House. Johnson said he was con-
vinced that there could be no genuine
civil Service reform until by constitu-
tional amendment the President was
made ineligible for reelection As long
as he was eligible for reelection he
must necessarily be more or less under
the domination of machine politics.
After expressing his confidence in
President Mckinley, Johnson conclud-
ed with an eloquent appeal to him to
stand by the principle upon the per-
petuity of which the permanence of our
institutions depended.
Johnson was given an enthusiastic
demonstration of approval when he
concluded.
Lloyd CD of Missouri followed in op-
position to the law, which he argued
was an attempt to establish an aristo-
cratic Government by establishing an
ofice-holding class.
AT 400 p. m. the House adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-While the
Senate was in session two hours to-
day. practically no business was trans
acted beyond the passage of a few bills
Among the measures which received
favorable consideration were the bills
providing for a congress of the repre-
sentatives of the Indian tribes of the
United States to be held at Omaha
during the progress of the Internal tional
Exposition this year; bills providing for
the erection of public buildings at Fer
gus Falls, Mimi, and Newport News,
Va, and measure to protect the name
and insignia Of the Red Cross Society.
When the Senate met Allen of Ne
hrasla called up, and the Senate
passed. the bill providing for the hold
ing of a congress of the representa-
tives of different Indian tribes of the
United States at Omaha in 1898, and
appropriating $4,000 therefor. Some
minor amendments to the bill were
adopted.
A bill appropriating $4,000 for a
public building at Fergus Falls, Mimi,
was passed.
The bill to protect the name and in
sigma of the Red Cross Society was
passed. Gray of Delaware explaining
that Miss Clara Barton several years
ago asked that the insignia Of the Red
Cross Society be protected from those
who would use it for commercial or
perhaps fraudulent purposes. Under
treaty entered into by majority of the
civilized nations of the world, the sign
Of the Red Cross is known as an insig-
MIA Of hospital corps or charitable or
ganizations. Other nations had pro-
tected the insignia of the society and
the United States ought also to protect
it.
After some routine business the SEN
ate, on motion of Quay, went into ex-
ecutive session.
COSTLY FIRE IN MICHIGAN.