The Portland daily press., 1898-01-07

from the galleries was In the nature ol
a warning that II mem bers refuged tc
listen to the voice Of the people in hostil-
| ity to this law they would not be mem
bers Of the 56th House of Representa-
fiyes. He argued that the people Wers
overwhelmingly opposed to the law " ano q N
said that hundreds of thousands OF re
publicans felt secret sympathy with
Mayor Van Wyck Of New York VINO an,
nounced that none but Democrats Wouio
be appointed to office under the new city
government.
Governor Black said few days ago
that when the ''late unlamented' he
publican government of New YORK came
into power there were 15,0OU Tammany
men IN office and when 1t expired there
were still $4,000 Tanmany men on the
pay rolls.
Tho Republicans, Mr. Grosvenor said,
had been iustly punished for keeping
these enemies in their camp.
q Mr.. Grosvenor professed his adherence
to the people of the merit system and to
the theory Of examinations for office
explained, addressing the defenders OF
tho law, 81 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.''
MIR. johnson, Republican Of Indiana,
one OF the ardent defenders of the law,
followed Mr.. Grosvenor with an extended
argument in support Of tho merit system.
He took occasion to review the history
of the civil service. Men were appointed
to office in the time of jackson, yet never
was party feeling stronger than then.
it was absurd to say that party spirit
must be fed upon the bribe of Office. He
repudiated the statements Of the adj
Grant believed In the spoil system.
During his review of the records of
eminent men on this gu .stion, Mr.. john
son became involved in a controversy
with his colleague, Mr.. Lands, Republi-
can of Indiana, and during the cross fir
ing the galleries became 80 Obstreperous
in their approval of the position of the
pend the debate and admoniah the specta-
tors that such demonstrations must cease.
In enumerating the evils Of the spoils
system, Mr.. johnson said it made
towards OF Legislators, stormed the White
House, interfered with the departments;
it reached in to the capitol and shaped
legislation; it exalted the office broker
and attacked, vilEfied and caluminated
the conscientious man. Words could not
do Justice to this prolific evil which had
debauched the civil service. 1t seemed
incredible to him that men could dare
advocate a return to this saturnalia. He
took up the criticisms of the opponents of
the law, one by one, and answered them,
frequently evoking applause from the
friends ofsthe law on the floor. The talk
Of civil pension was bugaboo, de-
signed to frighten the defenders of the
merit system. A proposition for civil
pension could not command half dozen
votes in either house or secure the execu-
tive approval.
Speaking to the Republicans OF tho
House he said that the merit system was
Republican child. Every Republican
senator and all except seven Republican
mem bers of the House voted for it. 1t
has been endorsed by state and national
conventions, cities and states were adopt
ing it, The American people were be-
hind it.
Mr.. johnson attributed the discord-
ant and disgraceful scene now going on
In Ohfo, with It's visions Of senatorships
going glimmering" to the BILE for
the surest way to put Bryan and his
black banner in the White House in 1900
would be for the Republican party to be
recreant to its trust and to slap In the face
those who believed in an honestly con-
Quoted service. Without desiring in any
way to reflect upon the present occupant
OF the White House, Mr.. johnson said
he was convinced that there could be no
genuine civil service reform unj i'll, by con-
stitutional amendment, the president
was made ineligible for election. AS
long as hs was eligible for reelection he
must necessarily be more or less under
the domination of machine politics.
After expressing confidence in President
Mckinley Mr.. johnson concluded with an
eloquent appeal to him to stand by the
principle upon the perpetuity of with
the permanenoe of our institutions de-
pended.
Mr.. Johnson was given an enthusiastic
applause when he concluded.
Mr.. Lloyd, Democrat of Missouri, fol-
lowed in opposition Of the law, which he
argued was an attempt to establish an
aristocratio government by and an
office holding class.
At p. m. the House ad journed.