New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
sty and every duty to which ne
.,hosa hetravals had been his only
betrayed eve'

was bound. a. whose betrayals had been his only
stock in trade in the arena OF politics" ne re,
viewed Mr. Schurz's political history. and dehed
any one to show point In the trail which was
not tainted with political corruption. Yet ne sa'u
he was the man who. with other foul poh'ic"i
demagogues' at Cincinnati. under the name OF 'ho
National Civil Service League had denounced '"e
end those who think with me on TINS oues"o'''
He read the resolutions adopted at tho 'hc''"''
meeting. calling them Infamous beyond descr'p-
t.on."
Continuing Mr. Grosvenor proceeding 70
nav hi. respects to several Of the members OF the
House when he encountered Mr.. Barrett uep''
Mass). who took umbrage ut MT u'os'eno'
classification OF himself with the cucKoos' lie
demanded explanation.
Mr. Grosvenor replied good naturedIy by recall
ing an Incident In a former debate on the Civil
Service question. when Mr. Barrett had INSISTED
that he NIr GrosvenOr) had ABANDONED 'ne 'e''
dent. Mr. Grosvenor's subsequent Description vi
the habits of the cuckoo kept the Rouse III
roar The Massachusetts member Appealed lot an
opportunity TO reply. but the ohioa' ~
yield further.
After this incident Mr.. Grosvenor. In replying -
the charge made against himself ana MS 'o'
leagues that they were betraying the Repuohca"
party alluded TO what he called tine iSt OF u"''o'.
among the high priests OF Civil Service REFORM
nj the head OF which he placed George Wilham
| Curtis who he said abandoned the Repuohcah
party In 1854 He reviewed the PLATFORM occi"i"-
tons OF the Republican party TO sho" Una. 'io
present position occupied by the majority OF inc
House was not inconsistent with these oeciaia-
tions II give the members OF the Civil service
| Commission notice" he said. that we nave 4"
majority on this floor, and you cannot strange a
majority in the American Congress" (AppauSe'
MIR CLEvELAND'S ORDER CRlTlClsED'
IIa arcued that when the s. Louis platform was
adopted the extensions contained In MI. 0ieVe-
lands order OF May. 1896. had not been uhoers'oou
II was not until November. 1896, that the enormous
scope OF that order. covering 5000 officials WIS
nubcly declared. Tho Republicans. coming INTO
nower on n platform adopted before these vast
extensions were made. were not In honor pouhu
10 agree to them. and it was proper 'hat '"e
president should announce In his Message to Con-
rress that there portions or those orueiS
which never ought TO have been made
Mr. Grosvenor discussed the pra ctical erect or the
law and the examinations OF the committee, giving
many uustra atoms OF applicants who through years
Of service had proved their ability but VINO faled
10 answer questions asked. One OF Mr.. GrosVenor
statements which evoked enthusiastic applause
from the galleries was in the nature of warning
that II members refused listen TO the voice OF inc
neonle IN hostility to this law they would not be
members Of the next House OF representatives
He asserted that the people were overwhe'Hi'sN
opposed to the law and said tina. hundreds OF thou-
sands OF Republicans felt secret sympathy WIN
Niavor Van WICK OF New-York. who announced
ofrco under the new city government Governor
lack said IN his message that when the late he-
nublican government Of New-York came into poWeF
and when 1t expired there were still! nfeen thousand
Tammany men on the pa!roiIs' nc ~ for
Mr. Grosyenor said, had been Jusny p"''S'e' '0'
Mr. C.rosvenor professed adherence 20 me prln-
eiPs ct toms le for ONCE Within certain Limitations
'But he exclaimed in CONCLUSION aGuresSiS . ' nn
voi that unless you join in the correction OF me
abuses and the on the ,egsatve ex
ecutive or judicial and destroy me tba aw Saiepes
MR.. JOuNsON's DEFENCE OF THE LAW.
Mr. Johnson Rep., Ind one OF the most ardeh'
defenders OF the law, followed Mr.. Grosvenor win
q, extended argument in support Of the merit sys-
tom lie reviewed the history Of the civil Service
saving that previous TO Jackson's time the spoils
system did not exist. Men were appointed 10 0,,e1
t i6an "' them In England where the merit system
prevailed. party spirit was most @ r,r,t nnust
be fed on the bribe OF Office. 49,. ,,.or.,r,os
Of the law that Lincoln and Grant believed rcor ,h ',s
suois system In his review OF tne IecVius w w
nai,sd IN a controversy with mis- colleague MT.
Lands Rep., Ind. and curing inc -, ,So,r ne
rovsi NJ the position OF the latter that the Chalr
was obliged to suspend the debate anu t nease
in enumeratng the evils OF the spois sisytm s
Johnson said II made cowaTGs Sl With the
danartments. # reached into the Capitol and
Named legislation; II exalted the office broker ana
man Words he declared. could not 40 lustrTi ~
he nfanv of this prolific evil which had depaucne!
mon coud dare advocate a return to this saturnaa
10 ona nv one and answered them. frequently
evoking applause from the friends OF the law on
a busaboo designed to frishien the defenders OF
The merit system 4 proposition for a civil pen
sjon could not command half dozen No'es III
either House or secure the Executive approval
MERIT SYSTEM A REPUBLICAN MEASURE.
Speaking 10 the Republican side OF the House no
told his colleagues that the merit system was
Repub.ican child While George II. Pendeton was
It's author I'm inception, II was Republican meas
ire Every Republican Senator and all except
seven Republican members OF the House voted FOR
n II had been indorsed by State and National
conventions. Cities and States were adopting H.
The American people were behind H. $500
Mr. Johnson attributed the present discordant
and disgraceful scene" now being enacted IN ONO
with us visions Of SenatOrships GOlnS gIlinIner-
ing" to the scramble for spoils. state ana Ma,
and his black banner in the White House in 1909
30 Its trust and to slap In the face those who be-
Nevei in an honestly conducted service. Without
pant Of the White House Mr.. Johnson said he
was convinced that there could be no genuine 'lNll
Service reform until. by constitutional amend
ment the President made ineligible Tor re-
election So long he eligible for reelection,
he must necessarily be more or less under the
domination OF machine politics: AFTER expressing
closed with eloquent appeal to him TO stand by
the principle the perpetuty OF which the per-
manence OF American institutions depended.
Mr. Johnson was enthuslastlcaly applduued al
the close OF his speech.
At 45O p m. the House adjourned.