The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-13
House Proceedings.


service question and Mr.. Grosvenor of
Ohio took the floor with an elaborate
speech in opposition to the law. In open
ing, Mr.. Grosvenor disclaimed any lead
ership of the anti-civil service reform
forces and any purpose to speak for any
officer of the government, executive, leg
islative or judicial.
"All efforts to entangle me in COLI
sion with the president" said he, was
waste of powder. If l believed that
my relations to the executive would be
changed or modified because / may differ
from him. l would despise him as he
would despise me if l faltercd in my
convictions"
Mr. Grosvenor said he had watched
with admiration the presidents public
career, and one of his most prominent
characteristics had always been that he
not only did not demand subserviency
but despised Il man who sought favors
by sycophancy.
Mr.. Grosvenor proceeded to pay his re-
spects to the National Civil Service Re
form League, and to Carl Schurz, its
president. With vitriolic language, he
sk0tched the political career of Mr..
Schurz, which he characterized as the
''checkered spotted, leprOus career of
one who betrayed every party and every
duty to which he was lOund."
He read the resolutions adopted at the
Cincinnati meeting, branding them as
infamous beyond description.
Mr.. GrOsvcnOr's description of the hab-
it's of the cuckoo" teemed with wit and
he kept the house in roar. Mr. Gros-
venor, in replying to the charge made
against himself and his colleagues that
they were betrayihg the republican party,
adverted to what he called the list of
traitors among the high priests of civil
service reform. at the head of which he
placed George William Curtis, who aban-
He argued that when the st. Louis
platform was adopted the extensions con-
tanned in the Cleveland order of May.
1896, had not been misunderstood. 1t
was not until November, 1896, that the
enormous scope of that order, covering
10000 officials was publicly declared.
The republicans called into power on Il
| platform adopted by these vast extern
sions were not in honor b.und to agree
| to them, and it was proper the president
should announce in his message to con-
gress that there were portions of those
| orders which never ought to have been
made.
Mr.. Grosvenor discussed the practical
effect of the law and the examinations
of the committee, giving many illustra
/ tions of applicants who. through years
| of service. had proved their ability, but
who failed to answer questions asked.
| One of Mr. GrosvenOrs statements
which evoked an enthusiastic Outburst
from the galleries was in the nature OF
n warming that if members refused tc
listen to the voice of the people in hos
| tility to this law, they would rot be mem
| bers of the Fifty-siXth house, and he said
hundreds of thousands of republicans
felt a secret sympathy for Mayor Var
| Wyck of New York, who announced none
but democrats would be appointed t.
office under the new city government
The republicans, Mr.. Grosvenor SAID
had been justly punished for keeping
these enemies in their camp
Mr.. Grosyenor professed his adherence
to the principle of the merit system and
to the theory of examination for Office
under certain limitations. But he eX
claimed i'll conclusion, addressing the de-
| tenders OF the law: u want to serve
notice on you that unless you JOIN us IL
! the correction of the abuses and the re-
formation of the law that we VIII Jon
any portion of the community, executive
or judicial, and destroy the law, root
and branch.
| Mr. Johnson lrep) OF ihdiaha, one OF
the ardent defenders of the law FOL
! lowed Mr.. Grosvenor with an extended
| argument i'll support. of the merit sys
! TEN. He took occasion to review the
history OF the civil service. pointing ou'
| that previous to the time of Jackson
the spoils system did not exist. Men
were appointed Office for fitness, yet
never was party feeling stronger than
then. He repudinted the statements OF
the ndversaries of the law that Lincoln
and Grant believed in the spOils system
In enumcrating the evils of the spoils
towards of legiSlat tors StOrmpl the