The Portland daily press., 1898-01-06
HAWAII NEXT WEEK.
Continued from First Page.

he had no sympathy with those who be-
lieyed the law was perfect and should
only be modified by extension. He
thought those who were placed under the
protection of the law by executive order
could be compelled to submit to a test
of their efficiency and he also believed
that some method should be found to
preserve, If not restore the efficiency of
the service. By the testimony Of eabi-
net officer the tree was dead at the top.
The remedy was not civil pension list,
the first step towards which had been
taken in the Treasury Department when
10 clerks had been reduced to practically
pension salary and given to understand
that they. could work or not as they
chose. The merit system only contem
plated tenure during efficiency. he main
tanned. Mr.. Moody said that if the plans
of ths radical opponents OF the civil ser
vice should. prevail and the no, offices
should be turned over to the present ad-
ministration to FIJI, Congressman and
Senators would flee from Washington cry
ing, "Oh for lodge in some vast wild
erness."
Mr.. Moody urged the increase of effici
ENJOY in the public service under the merit
system and to show Its economy contrast
ed the salaries paid Capitol employees,
where the patronage system prevailed,
with the salaries of similar employees in
the departments who are protected by the
OWL service law.
He defended the administration of the
law and the character OF the examina-
tjons of the commission MIR. Dockery
Democrat of Missouri, opened the debate
in opposition to the law which he argued
was odious to the American people and
should be repealed in toto.
Mr.. Robb, Democrat of Missouri, and
Mr.. Pearson. Republican of North Caro-
lima, followed in opposition to the law.
MIR. Clark, Democrat of Missouri, asked
whether the Republicans who were hos
| for it's repeal MIR. Pearson emphatical-
| " replied in the affirmative. He further
F! said it would be prepared tonight.
Will you gentlemen on the other side
use your best endeavors to secure consid-
Grafton when it is reported? asked MIR.
| Clark.
1--WE will make desperate efforts" an
"We will go to the extreme and vote
with the Democrats to secure considera-
tion.'
Mr.. Landis, Republican, of Indiana,
| favored u modification of the law which,
he said, would doubtless earn for him q
reputation as sportsman: he sneereo
at the professional civil service reformers.
He denounced hir. Cleveland's methods
| in his second administration. describing
particularly what took place in the gov
ernmeut printing office, to the head of
which, he said, Mr.. Cleveland appointed
man who would do the dirty work. !"
In a single day, he said, PUBLIC Printer
Benedict discharged $50 men. That was
known at the government printing Office
as . Bloody Monday On another day
he discharged APO. When 1900 removals
had been made and 1900 Democrats ap'
pointed, Mr.. Clevelandspregsed the button
and the civil service was thrown over
them. He read what puTported to be q
| literal transcript of the reasons assigned
for the discharge of the Republican en-
ployes in the secret record of Mir. Bene-
diets private secretary. Some of them
were very amusing and kept the House
In roar.
When he had concluded the reading,
Mr. Perkins, Republican of Iowa, asked
which made such recital possible.
NO. replied Mr.. Lands, but we
want to modify the law"
| Mr. Henderson, Republican OF Iowa,
protested against the production of the
record of one man in condemnation OF
the best system yet devised for the puri-
fication OF the government service. He
said the civil service commission did not
endorse such work.
Mr.. Landis said that after the present
administration came into power, Mi.
Benedict's private secretary had been
dismissed. But he had not remained out
of the service. He had been reinstated
and after successive transfers was now
in the .office of the commission. II the
commission did not endorse him, why
was he now in their office?
Unless the law YVES modified by it's
i friends, MIR. Lands said, Democratic
president and Democratic congress
would destroy it root and branch. The
| law should be rescued from the CLUTCH q,
of the zealots. Mr.. Lands was vocife'. ol1s
| ~ applauded.
Mr.. Lawrence, Populist of Nc brsska
closed the debate for the .ay with ,
speech in favor of civil ser 1ice reform
He criticized MIR. Landix who. he said
an argument for retpS sp to that e system
Mr. Riehards S9' democrat Of 1ennes
s sse i rec Isps 10 asserted thu
service was e. tended to the government
pruning ON . only 81 per cent of the EN-
IIoyes nau been appointed under Demo
crao'c ac .ninistfration while A per cen
n nad oeeen appointed by a. Republican
puuip printer.
tho uouSa adiOurped