The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-07

still $1,000 Tammany men on the pay
roll The Republicans, Mr. Grosvenor
said, had been justly punished for
keeping these enemies in their camp.
Mr.. Grcsvenor professed his adher-
ence to the principles of the merit sys-
| tenn anf> theory of examinations for
office, within certain limitations.
But" he exclaimed, in conclusion,
addressing the defenders of the law,
4 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, legislative, executive
or judicial, and destroy the law, root
and branch (Uproarous applause in
the salleries.)
MERIT SYSTEM.
Mr. Johnson (Rep. Ind. one of the
ardent defenders of the law, followed
Mr.. Grosvenor with an extended argu-
ment in support of the merit system
He took occasion tc review the history
of the civil service, pointing out that
previous to the time of Jackson the
spoils system did not exist Men were
appointed 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 bride of office. He repudiated the
statements of the adversaries of the
law that Lincoln and Grant believed
IN the spoiis system. During his re-
view of the records of eminent men on
THIS question, Mr.. johnson became in
VOWED IN a controversy with his col
eague, MIR. Lands (Rep. Ind), and
during the cross-liring the galleries be-
came SO obstreperous in their approval
Of the position of the latter that the
chair was obliged to suspend the debate
and admonish the spectators that such
demonstrations must cease.
SPOILs SYSTEM.
In enumerating the evils of the spoils
system. Mr.. Johnson said it made cow
ards of legislators, stormed the White
House, interfered with the depart
ments. stretched into the capitol and
shaped legislation; it exalted the office
broker and attacked, villified and cal
umniated the conscientious man. Words
he declared, could not do justice to the
infamy of this prolific evil, which had
debauched the civil service. 1t seemed
Incredible to him that men could dare
ldvocate a return OF this saturnalia.
The talk of 4 civil pension, he said
was bugabOO, designed to frighten
the defenders of the merit system. APP
preparation for civil pension could not
command half a dozen votes in either
house. or secure the executive ap-
prevail
Speaking to the Republican side of
The house. he told his colleagues that
the merit system was a Republican
child. While George Fl. Pendleton was
rs author in inception, it was a Repub-
lean measure. Every Republican SEN
ltor and all except seven Republican
members of the house voted for it, 1t
las been endorsed by state and nation
Il conventions. Cities and states were
adopting it. The American people were
behind ii.
OHIO SCENES.
Mr.. Johnson attributed the present
'discordant and disgracefuI scene" now
being enacted in Ohio, with the Wis
ons of senatorships going glimmering''
o the scramble for spoils, state and ma
-ional, and said that the surest way
70 put Bryan and his black banner in
he White house in 1900, would be for
he Republican party to be recreant to
is trust, and slap in the face those
who believed in honestly conducted
service. Without desiring in any way
20 reflect upon the present occupant of
the White House, Mr.. Johnson said he
was convinced that there could be no
genuine civil service reform until by
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 poll
tics. After expressing his confidence in
President Mckinley, Mr.. Johnson con-
Guided with an eloquent appeal to him
to stand by the principle upon the per-
petuity of which the permanence of our
institutions depended
Mr.. Johnson was given an enthusi-
astic demonstration of approval when
he concluded.
Mr.. Lloyd dem. MOI, followed in
to the law, which he ar
gued, was an attempt to establish an
government by establishing /
an Office-hOlding class
At 1850 p. m. the house adjourned.