New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
MERIT SYSTEM UNDER FIRE.

MERIT SYSTEM UNDER FIRE.
ANOTHER SHARP DEBATE ON THE CIVIL
SERVICE LAW.
MIR. oRosvENoR LEADS OFF IN ATTACKING THE
PRESENT SYSTEM AND is ANSWERED BY MR.
JOHNSON. OF INpIANA-srEECHEs on
BOTH SIDES LOUDLY APPrAUDED
N THE GALLERIES.
lsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSrl
Washington. Jan. G-The Civil Service debate IN
the House Of Representatives to-day did not lack
animation or interest and some Of It's incidents
we're exceedingly lively. The men who spoke In
defence OF the existing law and regulations were
rewarded with frequent and hearty applause on
the floor: the members who spoke in opposition and
criticised OF the features Of tho law ana
regulations executed and enforced by the last
Administration were cheered and inspired by sim
liar demonstrations OF approval not only from
considerable proportion OF their fellow-memoers
but from the large audience in the galleries. which
was evidently in sympathy with them. IL was
noted that the most denonstrative portion OF tie
audience was that seated in the gallery, whose
doors are opened only to persons bearing cards OF
admission signed by members. The gallery APP
plauss at last became so loud and frequent Una.
the chairman Of the Committee of the Whole had
20 put a stop 10 It. II Is fair TO presume 'hs'
among he handclappers in the galleries were
many persons who felt that their prospects OF oo-
calming Government employment would be much
better II the provisions OF the Civil Service Ia"
and regulations made less stringent ana eN-
acting ard If large number Of places includeo III
the classified service by tho Executive orders OF
May and November ?, 1895, should 10 as"''
thrown open to partisan competition. 1t was en-
,,relv natural and appropriate for them to STOW
hearty and vigorous applause upon General eros
vs,or Mr. Lands and other advocates OF the
modification OF tho existing law and regulauohs
governing appointments in the CIVIL service
SOME INCONSISTENCIES POINTED OUT
r, should ne understood that every Republican
Who has thus far spoken In this debate mas pro
fessed 10 be a friend Of the merit system ana oe
lsred thu, his sole aim Is to correct the abuse OF
:, hv The last Administration and the civil Service
Commission: Some OF their Tlttere-res however
do not square with their professions. TOT On
annie. General Grosvenor in his speech to-day re-
ferred 70 the recent municipal admihlsIalo" u
New-York City as "the late unlamented RepuD-
ucsn government which found fifteen thousand
Tammany Democrats on Is rolls when II came
into power and left fifteen thousand lamnar!
Democrats on i;s rolls when Il went OUT Vi
mower" He declared that when Mayor Van Wyck
announced his purpose TO appoint none but Demo
Gratis 10 Office 1.-THE announcement was receiver
with thrill OF satisfa ction by ten times tens OF
thousands OF Republicans throughout the couh-
try" There were other passages in General Uros-
venors speech which indicated clearly enough
that he would not put mourning II the ClVh
Service law and rules were swept out OF exist
ence and the same remark Will fairly apply TO
most OF the other speeches on the same side
There is one phase OF these speeches which the
men who make them DO not seem to perceive As
clearly as do their opponents. The speeches. are
burdened with revelations OF the partisan per-
.orrnances OF tho last Cleveland Administration
whereby thousands 6f persons in the Government,
service were dismissed solely because they were
Republicans whose places were wanted by Demo
Gratis These removals and appointments were
made under the "spols system." Of which General
Grosvenor spoke so approyingy to-day in the case
OF Mayor Van Wyck Why should he denounce
II IN the case Of President Cleveland? That IS an
aspect Of the subject which has been presented
with considerable force ny Messrs. Moody. John,
SON. Of Indiana ana others put II has nDt S nee
20 strike General GrOsvenOr ana those VINO aslee
with him as at all peculiar
ABUSES IN THE PRINTING OFFICE.
Some OF the revelations made and examples cited.
however by Mr.. Lands and others must excite as
tonishmeni 10 say the least. among the sincere be-
levers and supporters of the mer, system Here
Is one example: person named Albert Baker was
appointed by Public Printer Benedict when he cam>
into office the second time as his private secIe .aty,
OF course without reference 20 the civil service
law which was not tAeI' appiloaole 70 mi pon,Jh
lcans and the hling OF Their places by DemqSi2 c
began soon after Mr.. Beuclct toOk ch"iSr fdS'T
kept a record OF the names OF the persons DIS
missed. and opposite each name maae ilsiU }s
dun OF the cause Of dismissal lie was zeaious,
handy and efficient instrumen; In the WORK some ne
~ thsea memoranda were read IN the House by
Mr. Lands yesterday. Here are samples OF the
entries r,,s,or d,scbargsd .1p,v a 1894. All
Up Mood laborcr. discharged March G, 1895; vet
sGeorge P silence labOrer. discharged March 49,
~ Alira D9jy discharged June q 1894 Not needed;
daughter IN Depar' mont; soldiers widow 49,
Before Mr.. Benedicts term OF ONCE expired NE
employees OF the Goyernment Printing once were
placed in the classified service. None OF mem
rrera reorred 70 pass a competitive examination.
After Mr. Palmer became Public Printer ne as
penscd with MIR. Bakers services NE iat t az
whose fundamentally he was reInstated IN ne
service as a clerk in the Treasury department. ana
he is on duty az clerk III 'He o"i'e "a ''e
civil Service Commission. -,
Ara vet /; would not require change OF exist
ing law restore 10 the service every person VINO
was uniustly and for partisan reasons only deprived
70 enonioyment By Public Printer Benedict or any
other Official OF the LAST ADMINISTRATION or 10 40
Justice TO Mr.. Baker. But that. also - elsher
era Grosvenor and his friends or one when they
have chosen 10 ignore o,-. .. 49, maj. Nv
..edinoiv Vigorous every sentence evidently being
Inspired by deep and intense prsonal feehns me
speech Of NJ Johnson o, Tn and tsken
ss. Whole il was the strongest defence and fus-
sifration OF the merit system that has been heard
TIE biI ADOPTED at the conference OF Republican
onnonents Of he existing Civil service system ast
nieht was introduced in the House this afternoon
Committee on Civil Service.
THE HOUSE DEBATE IN DETAIL
xe. GRosvENoR's ATTACK on THE CIVIL SER
VICE LAW AND Mr.. JoHNsON's