The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-07
SPARED NOT EVEN The DEAD
GrOSYenf'S Seating D,nunCiatiOn Of
Civil Service RiOlmaTS,
The LEAGUES RESOLUTIONS STING.
Dir. johnson, of Indiana, says the spoils
system Makes Cowards of Legislators,
Intcrfcrcs with the Departments
and shapes Legislation

friends and enemies OF the civil service
lsw exchanged broadsidcs in the House
to-day. The heaviest guns on each side
were brought into action. Mr.. Grosvenor,
Of Ohio. and Mr. Johnson, Of Indiana.
made exhaustive speeches, and Kept their
respective sides in "a constant furorc. The
interest in the debate was much more
lively than yesterday. Tire crowded gal
lcrics which were plainly in sympathy
with the opponents of the law. became so
very noisy in their demonstrations Of
approval at one iancturc that ;ho Chair
pas compelled 10 call them to order
In opening. Mr.. Grosycnor disclalmed
any leadership Of tho anu-civl service re-
form forces. and any purpose to speak
Tor amy officer of the Goycrnmcnt-exccu
tive legislative or judicial
"All efforts 10 ontanglc nc in coi-
lision with the President said ne. els
tho waste of so much powder fl 1 be-
lcvcl that nay relations ID the Executive
would bc changed or modified because 1
differ with him in representative ca
pacity. j would despi-e him as ne would
despisc me if 1 faltercd IN my convic-
tious."
Mr. Grosvonor said he had watched
with admiration the Presidents public
career. and ono Of his most prominent
characteristics had always been that he
not only did not demand subscryioncy. but
dospised mai who sought favors by
sycophancy.
SCORES REFORMERS.
N1r. Grosycnor proceeded TO pay his re-
spcCts 10 tie National Civi Service Re
form League and 90 carl Schurz its presi-
dent Ills cxcoriaton Of ,ha latter was the
most scatang that has oeen heard on the
floor Of the House IN months. lie de-
uounclug unsparingly those who sought
10 read ont Of the Republican party those
who believed in the repeal Of the civil
service law. He sketched the political
career Of Mr. Schurz which he character
ized as the "Checkered. spotted leprous
career OF one who betrayed every party
and every duty 10 which he was bound.
and whose bctrayais had been his only
stock in trade In the arena Of politics
lie traced Nr SchurZ's political history
md dcfed any one to point ont a point
sn the trail which was not tainted with
ro'iticqI corruption yet. he said this was
fhe man who. with other foul political
demarogucs." az Cincinnati. under the
name of the National Civil Service League
chad denounced him and those VINO
thought with him on this question.
He read the resolutions adopted at me
Cincinnati meeting branding them as In
famous beyond description.
EVEN THE DEAD.
Mr. Grosvenor. in replying 10 the charge
made against himself and his c0ileagues
that they were betraying the Republican
party. alluded TO what he called the llst
~ traitors among the high priests or
Nrr q
he placed George William Curtis, who
abandoned the Republican party i'm 1884
lie reviewed the platform Of the Repuo-
uc1n partv TO- show that the present po'
sition occupied 10y the majority OF the
Honec was NOT inconsistent with these
declarations. o.,
"For I give the members of the civil
Service Commission notice said ne
.fbat we have ca majority on this floor
and YOU cannot strangle a majority J"
the American Congress- (Appiause.
one of AIr. Grosycnors staten
which evoked an enthusiastic oni'"Is.
from the galleries. was ln ihe h"'u. ~,
, wornine that ~ the members refused
T., rtston +o the voice OF the people ln
rcetuffr go this law they would not pc
rnrubcrs of Ne Fifty-siXth House OF
Penresentatives He argued that the peo-
nla were 1verwhelm opposed 10 tne
law. and said that hundreds of thousands
~ p.nublic3us felt secret sympathy
with Mayor Van Wyck, Of New AoiN'
,gbo announced that none but Democrats
would be appointed 10 ONCE uhoeI ''0
new city government. ,,....,,
Mr. Grosyen0r proicssed ms auhei'H'v
fo Tho principle of the merit system 1iu
10 the theory Of examination ior oinc0
,,itbi,, certain limits "But' he oXclaiH-
fHIf
ore of the law. Il want TO serve ho'I''
~, ,,o, that unless YOU join us i'm The COT
,.lcfion of abuses and the reformation OF
tho law that we viii ioin any portion OIL
.he community Legislative. cNeculNs Vt
tndiciai- and destroy the law. root ahU
branch" G-proarious applausel.
ePOITS SYSTEM DENOUNCED.
AIR johnson Rcp. Of Iowa.. one OF inc
EVIDENT defendcr, Of tine law. .4io"'u
Mr. Crosvenor WNh am tetohoeo '+-"
mont .n support oi thc merit ys',','' l'
fook occasion 10 review 'he pas. ~
,.I. ci,u service pointing out tha' ~ l,-
o.. oi 60 tbe time oi Jackson the spoiis
e,,efeno did not exist. He repuula,e" W..
..a,c,nents of the advcrsaries OF inc NV
-, T5rcoin and Grant believed lh ''0
spous system A.. ,,oae
=, onrmeratlng the evils Of the spol,s
-, Mr.. Johnson said Il made coN"'"'
'1eri,iators. stormed the White house;
,l,arsercd with tho departments anu
.saaoa hesitation, 10 exalted the oliCo
wicker and attacked. Vlhned an" ''''''''
ltd the conscientious man.
re took up the criticisms or the opp
-. M the law. one by one anu an-
s,.,sred them ovoking applause 'o'" '''0
friends of the law. .,,. 80 ,bc
''e,.@l,i,.. 10 tho Republican siae OF l"o
- bs told his colleagues that lho
~s. s,.stem was q Republican ch'lu'
irhe American people were oeninu
~ johnson attributed The present US
,c-dout and disgraccfui scene TO" "V
,,', enacted in Ohio with its Visions "a
.ls,otorehlDs going glmmoring TO tne
..re,orie for spolls, State and Nauohh
..d -.t5 rnat the surest way TO put l'rE-
I'D, ord his black banner in the Nhile
Houee I'M iqoo would be for the kepuo"cAn
nartv to- be- recrcgnt TO IT'S tfusi anu 20
s,on i'm Tho Taco ;hose who believed III an
honestly conducted service.
M Johnson said he was convinced
tb@f there could be no genuine civil ser
ice reform until by legislative reform
she president was made ineligible Tor
recollection. -...
Mr. Johnson WIS given an enthusiastic
demonstration Of approval when he CON
cludod-
Mr. LLOYD Dem. of Missouri followed
iu opposition 10 the law. which he ar
eued was an attempt TO establish an
aflstocrafic government by establishing