The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-11

1 dAo w 40 hbAo ~
the PIan+Friends of Law Will Have
Cooperation of Speaker and Rules
Comm ittee.
Washington, January l0.-The oppo-
nents of the civil service law had much
the better of the debate in the House to-
day SO far as the number of those en-
gagged in 1t were concerned. Nine of the
| IL speakers were OF the opposition. The
| friends of the law are very anxious to
shut off further debate and in this they
will have the cooperation of Speaker
Reed and the rules committee. Mr..
Moody, who had charge of the bill, gave
notice that he would test the sense Of the
House tomorrow on a motion to close the
debate. The opposition Immediately
sent word to all in their ranks to be on
hand and they say they will have no diff
Guilty in defeating the motion. Those who
participated in the debate were: In op-
position to the law, Messrs. Cooney, Dem
ocrat of Missouri; Door, Republican of
West Virginia, Cox, Democrat of Tennes-
see, Little, Democrat of Arkansas,
Brumm, Republican Of Pennsylvania,
Cowherd, Democrat of Missouri, Sullo-
way, Republican of New Hampshire;
Low. Republican of New York
Washington, January 10.-The atten-
dance of members in the House was
light today, but the galleries were well
filled. By unanimous consent next Mon
day was substituted for today for the
consideration of District of Columbia
business.
The civil service debate was then re-
su1ned and Mr.. Cooney, Democrat of
Missouri, took the floor. He opposed the
whole civil service reform idea which
he denounced as cheat and narrow
swindle.
Mr.. Door, SRepublican of West Virginia,
followed with set speech in opposition
to the law.
Mr.. Cox, Democrat of Tennessee, said
he was SO bitterly opposed to the civil
service reform that he would vote to
strike out the appropriation for the
commission and for the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Little, Democrat of Arkansas, an
tagonized the principle, theory and prac-
tice of the law.
Mr.. Brunn, Republican of Pennsyl-
yania, also opposed the reform system.
He doubted, he said, whether the Presi-
dent of the United States, members of
the Supreme Court, Senate or House,
could pass some of the civil service ex-
aminations. He defended what was
known as the political pull, which he
said ought to be cultivated.
Mr.. Mccall. Republican of Massaohu-
setts, was the first speaker today to de-
fend the merit system. In replying to
the criticisms Of some of the opponents
of the system, be raised laugh at the
expense of Mir. Grosvenor who, according
to his, (McCalls) calculations, wanted
over lis per cent of the offices exempted
from the operation of the civil service
law.
To demonstrate the economy of the
merit system, Mr.. Mccall contrasted the
number of employees in the classified SER
vioe in a single department in 1888, when
they number 5, $50, with the number in
1896. SAB. In the legislative branch OF
the government under the spoils system,
the humber OF employees during that
period increased from 81 to 326.
Mr.. Mccall said thessecrer of the spoi1s
system attack on the civil service was
found in the fact that the disappointed
offiee-seekers were more potent in politics
than those in Office.
Mr.. Cowherd. Democrat of Missouri,
called attention to some alleged violations
OF the civil service law in his district.
Mr.. sulloway, Republican of New
Hampshire proclaimed himself a spoils-
man without any mental reservation.
Tho civil service law, he said, had been
conceived in iniquity, born in infi.my
and administered in cowardice and by
Democrats. He believed the government
belonged to it's friends.
MT. sideways remarks were very pict-
uresoue and kept the anti reformers in
continuous roar of approval.
After some further remarks by MIR. Par
ker. Republican of New Jersey, in defense
of the law, and Mr.. Low Of New York,
in favor of modification ,sthe debate
closed for the day.
Mr.. Moody, Republican of Massachu-
setts, in charge of the bill, gave notice
that tomorrow he would make motion
to close the debate.
At O'Clock the House adjourned.