The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-08
CIVIL SERVICE DEBATE ON.
Cummings OF New York Defends
Tammsay Hall and vigorously
Attacks the Merit svst~m

.aSHfSGTON, Jan. THE civil SER
Vice debate continued throughout the day
~ the house. All Efforts 70 FIX tine for
its termination failed and II Is certain new
10 run ever into next week. The interest
IN the discussion does not seem 20 ne wan
ins- TIE debate today WAS without mark
Cd Incident
Gillette U,epl OF Massachusetts, took the
tioor 10 support OF the law. He maintained
taaf TIE arguments OF Grosvenor Rnd Lam
oEs against the laT were both in reality
strong assignments OF the sposls system
lie denied that the scope OF the executive
order of May s. 1sss. was not understood
when the s.. Louis platform was adopted.
Gillette commented wit,iiy on the specta-
Gle or the wtite-haired veteran Hirosvenor)
leading the young hotspurs OF the party IN
the battle for the spoils.
Cummings announced himself an smpla-
cable foe against the whole system OF civil
service reform. Roscoe Conkiing. IN ris
opinion, aas the greatest senator New
York had ever known. He had once $40
Ken he said, OF the "dreary drlvel Of civil
service reform" He had never appreciat-
cd II so much az ne had during this days
debate. Cummings said the hostility to the
system had been steadily growing. THE
system In doomed said he. land one OF
the factors In It's destruction III Tammany
Hail." In this connection Cummings re-
piled warmly to some OF the charges Of
corruption made against Tammany Hall
during the debate. The gentleman from
Ohio lGrossenor). said he. brushes on here
from Columbus, that hotbed ofpoiitical cor
ruption to which he has hied himself back,
and tells us that Tammany Hall Is cor
rupt- Think OF H. Denounced az corrupt
by man who comes from that state that
proafed by the robbery Of 1872"
johnson had said that Tammany Hall
was the most corrupt organization on the
face Of the earth and johnson came from
90 20 A. 49, wA~o - fzs.f
methods Tammany was. Cummings said.
a patriotic. ii5erty-loving society which
had existed for 100 years. He then re-
hearsed some Of the achievements OF the
organization during that time.
Burton followed in defense OF the merit
system. and in the course OF his remarks
paid high tribute 10 Secretary Sherman
and the late President Hayes, whose rec
ord had been assa.led by Cummings. He
inyeighed against the insolence OF office
seekers and argued that this was not
government for the reward OF party work
ers
vandiver. In the course OF some remarks
in opposition to the law, referred 10 ex-
President Cleveland as his "fat-wit.ed ex-
celiency."
Kerr favored the modification OF the
laws and he was especially severe In his
condemnation of the last Cleveland execu-
tive order. whieh, he said had been used
TO cheat the Incoming administration out az
legitimate fruits or victory.
Bartholdt took occasion TO defend Carl
Schurx from what he termed the ISLANDERS
heaped on him by Grosvenor. The 4ntlma-
ton that there was a stain upon his per-
eonai honor was an insult to the German
Americans whose confidence Mr. Schurz
had retained for years.
The other speakers were briggs and
Bradley or New York. who defended Tam
many Hall. and Fitzgerald OF Massachu-
sets.
At as the house adjourned.