The times., 1898-01-11
WISH TO CHOKE OFF DEBATE
Plans of the Civil Service Re-
form Measure Managers.
THEY WANT A VOTE TODAY
Their Aim S to Bring the Matter to
an Issue at Once-SreecLes of
MesSrs. Brumm and Sulioway-
Position of the DOM
inant Party lis Badly Divided.

tice was given that motion would
be made to-day, after the reading of
The journal, to close the debate.
Mr. Simpson objected to the limita-
tion of debate. Several Democrats said
that plenty OF time had been given to
those opposing the bill, and it would
ment at this stage.
Mr.. Cannon got into this parliament
aTy push by stating that he hoped there
would be no recession from the motion
to limit the debate, and get vote this
afternoon He said that his commit
tee had agreed upon the urgent def
cheney BILL and he expected to bring
it up to-day. He thought that the civil
service reform matter should be dis
posed OF somehow to-day, even If 1t
had to be laid on the table.
The opposition which the Democrats
win make to-day against the limita-
tion of debate viii be interesting, TO
say nothing of the opposition which
viii be made by Mr.. Simpson. who
is apparently in for fight. The whole
of the day was passed in discussing the
bill. several speakers having peeh
heard on either side.
Before the debate was opened the dis
cussion of District matters was de-
terfed until MONDAY.
Mr. Moody. with the view of having
as little debate as possible. asked unan-
! imous consent TO giving members leave
To print for ten days, but this was OBJ
! jected To by several members,
Mr. Bodine of Missouri, attacked the
! weak spots which he alleged To be in
| the merit system as administered by
| the Republicans, referring especially to
| Mr. Vanderlip's roll of pensioners, as
| they were called, and the one hundred
| employees of the pension office which
| Mr Evans regarded as pensioners.
| Mr.. Dorr OF West Virginia, made
| short speech, in which he announced
| himself unequivocally for the repeal of
| the law.
Mr.. Little attacked the weakness OF
! the Administration all round, and espe-
! ciaily on the questions of finance and of
! dealing with Cuba. He scored the Re
publican majority for fastening the
! gold standard upon the people, and for
! it's indifference TO the appeals of the
| oppressed Cubans in their struggle for
| freedom.
Mr. Brumm. of Pennsylvania, held the
| civil service system largely responsible
| for the corruption that existed in poll
! ties, and especially in the larger cities.
| because of the tendency it had TO foster
in the minds of mugwumps, dudes,
| snobs, educated imbeciles and anglo
| maniacs the idea that it was very
"vulgah' TO take an active part in
| politics.
1t needs no argument" he said. TO
| impress it on the American people that
if Mr.. Eryan had been elected he would
| have cleared out the Republicans. as
| he should have done. 1t is cowardiCe
and inidelity on the part of the law
| makers not To repeal the law
The gallery must have been packed
| with Office seekers, because Mr..
! Brumms sentiments were loudly APP
plauded. unchecked by the chair. When
he spoke of the merit system as in
famous he was applauded, and when
he fairly shouted that it was unconsti-
tutional there was prcportionate com
mendation from the galleries He as
serted that the Civil Service Com
mission had the power Of appoint
ment. Notwithstanding all denials. 1t
| was done indirectly but none the less
uncOnstitutionally and effectively. He
! denounced the commission as a rot
| ten commission, which tried TO inau
! gurate system of class legislation.
In conclusion he said. amid great ap-
| plause. that he stood ready with
| Democrats or others, to wipe the infa-
nous law from the statute books"
Mr.. Mccall, of Massachusetts, depre-
| Gated the whole style of the debate He
| didn't like being called a mugwump or
| a Miss Nancy. The opponents of the
| law had not produced argument, but
fiction and rhetoric. 1t was not true
that the old system of appointment was
| the best, because it was we'll known
| that Congressman did not appoint the
best equipped men to office, but those
| who had the biggest pull. If the Amer
| lean people can't take an interest in
| public affairs without the hope of office
the Government is failure. The merit
! system was declared for by every plat
| form since the war, beginning with
| Grant. I'VE all knew the Presidents s
| views when We elected him." and it was
| practical treason now to embarrass
him.
! 1t was a fallacy with which the peo-
| pie were deluded that the Civil Ser
vice Commission was the only barrier
between them and getting Office. II
the barrier was thrown down there
/ would not be one office FOR every appli-
cant. Even at present there We're %
per cent. more Republicans in office
than Democrats.
Mr. Mills made a few remarks, in
| which he made the point that it would
not do for one part of the executive
family to play to the grandstand While
I
the bleachers against the merit system
Mr. Parker of New Jersey emphasized
the point that the greed for patronage
lost the State of New York and two
! Senators once upon time to the Re-
| publican party. He desired to know
! whether it was now proposed to put
the Democratic saddle on the Repub-
lican horse. Patronage was the rock
| on which all parties split. The recent
| lesson of Tammany ought to be good
one to American politicians.
Mr. Brumm-And that was due to the
| mugwumps and the civil service re-
| form humbug.
| Mr.. Parker said the real object in
| view in the agitation was not to make
| good laws. but to make and get offices.
Mr. Sulloway of New Hampshire said
that it was the duty of every admin
| istration to prefer its friends to it's en-
emies In that respect he was d
spokesman. He was in favor of the i'm
mediate and unconditional repeal of
| the civil service reform law. Cap
| plause.) He was opposed to an aris-
tocracy which never got out of office
| unless they were sent to the peniten-
tiary. He characterized the law as the
| Mother of Dead Beats.
Mr. sideways time was extended
j several times in order that he might
| conclude a very entertaining and at
times funny speech. He talked for ''the
old soldiers" who We're entitled to the
places instead of the widows and 9TH
| er relatives of Confederate Generals.
He mentioned several instances of
| these now holding Office. Mr.. Sullo-
| way made free use of Scriptural texts
and did not hesitate to parody the de-