The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-06
MAY LAST A WEEK.
Debate i'm the House Promises to Be
Lengthy and Warm.

Associated Press Dispatch.
. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The civil-service
debate began in the House to-day, based
on the item in the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill for the nainten-
aRco of the commission. II. promises to con-
tinue at least until the end of this week,
with a possibility that it may run longer;
but it is generally admitted on both sides
that the appropriation in the bill will stand,
as the anti-cviI-service reformers do not
seriously contemplate an attempt to strike
it out. The debate. therefore, is only pre-
liminary TO any programme which the
enemies of the law may agree on. The
members of the House are divided into
three camps on this questioh-those who
stand by the law, those who advocate it's
entire repeal and those who desire it's modi-
fication. These divisions were apparent in
the debate to-day the nature Of which was
not as stirring as had been anticipated.
Messrs. Moody (Rep. Mass.), Grow (Rep.,
Pal, and Greene Pop, Neb.), defended the
law: Messrs. Dockery Dem., MOI, Robb
DDem., MOI, and Pearson (Rep., N. CO.
opposed it outright. while Mr.. Lands (Rep.,
Ind.) favored notifications of the law.
At the opening of the session it was pro-
posed that Mr.. Moody and MIR. Dockery
control the time for and against. Mr.. Hep
burn suggested that it was three-cornered
contest. 1.-THE Democrats said he, "desire
the entire repeal of the law. Some of those
on this side desire it to stand as it is, while
a large body of us desire a wholesome modi-
fication of it's provisions"
why does the gentleman aver that all
the Democrats on this side of the House
desire the entire repeal of the law" in
rvrrfv- Nf
Simply because that would be wrong, and
your side is always wrong" retorted Mr..
Hepburn. amid great laughter.
All suggestions as to the control of time
failed at last and the chair recognized Mr..
Grow who spoke for twenty minutes in
support of the general principle of the civil
service law.
Mr.. Moody then made an elaborate de-
Tense of the civil-service law. which, he
said. protected officials who received $40, 900 :
COO in salaries per annum. Yet, he said. he
had no sympathy with those who believed
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 should 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 eff
cheney of the service. He defended the adj
ministration of the law and the character
or the examinations OF the commission. In
conclusion, he declared that the hostility to
the law was superficial. The sentiment of
the Republican party. he insisted was over
whelming in favor of the party keeping the
solemn pledge it had given to the people.
Mr.. Dockery opened the debate In opposi-
ton to the law. which, he argued. was obi
Gus to the American people and should be
repealed to. He pointed out that the strik-
ing out or the appropriation for the COM
mission would accomplish nothing. as the
commissioners could sue in the Court of
Claims for the salaries. The courageous
thing to do. he said. was to pass a bill
aimed directly at the law.
Mr.. Robb and Mr.. Pearson followed in OPP
position to the law. The latter. who has
been very active in his hostility to the civil
service law. contended that life tenure in
evitably meant civil pension list. whether
the pensions should be paid directly out of
the treasury or indirectly from retiring
fund collected from the employees for that
Mr.. clark Dem, Mo- asked whether the
Republicans who We're hostile to the law
intended TO bring In bill for its repeal, to
which Mr.. Pearson emphatically replied in
the affirmative.
'sWilI you gentlemen on the other side use
your best endeavor to secure consideration
for 1t when it is reported?" asked Mr..
Eve will make desperate efforts" an
gwered Mr. Pearson. we will go TO the
extreme and vote with Democrats to secure
consideration applause and laughter)
Mr.. Lands favored modification of the
law. which, he said would doubtless earn
for him reputation a spokesman. He
sneered at the professional civil-serviee re-
formers. He had never known those who
called themselves the better element" who
We're not narrow. selfish bigoted and dan
gerOus. They had bulldozed and cowed ma
tional conventions and hypnOtiZed Presi-
dents while they managed themselves to
sit continuously at the banquet table. lie
denounced MIR. Cleveland's methods in his
second administration. describing particu-
larry what took place in the government
printing office, TO the head of which, he
said. Mr.. Cleveland appointed man who
would do the dirty work. on single
day he said, Public Printer Benedict dis
charged 80 men. That was known at the
government printing Office as Bloody Mon
day" On another day he discharged 40.
When 500 removals had been made and
1900 Democrats appointed. Mr. Cleveland
pressed the button and the civil-service
blanket was thrown over them. He read
what purported to be a literal transcript OF
the reasons assigned for the discharge of
the Republican employees In the secret rec
ord OF Mr.. Benedicts private secretary.
Eome of them We're very amusing and kept
the House In roar
When he had concluded the reading Mr..
Perkins rep, Pa.} asked II Ii was proposed
10 return 70 a system which made such a
recital possible.
No replied Mr.. Lands, "but we want
to modify the law"
Mr.. Henderson (Rep. la protested
against the production OF the record of one
N.ap IN condemnation OF the best system