The herald., 1898-01-07

and kept the house In roar. MT. GroS-
venor, in replying to the charge made
against himself and his colleagues that
| they were betraying 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
abandoned the Republican party IN 1884
\ He reviewed the platform declarations
of the Republican party to show that
the present position occupied by the ma
jority Of the house was not inconsistent
with these declarations.
For 1 give the members of the civil
service committee notice" said he, that
we have a majority on this floor and you
cannot strangle majority In the Amer
lean congress" (Applause.)
He argued that when the st. Louis
platform was adopted the extensions
contained in the Cleveland order of May,
1896, had not been understood. 1t was
not until November, 1895. that the
enormous scope of that order covering
49, 900 officials was publicly declared.
The Republicans coming into power
on a platform adopted by these vast ex-
tensions were not in honor bound to
agree to them, and it was proper that
the president should announce in his
message to congress that there were por-
tions of these orders which never ought
to have been made.
Mr.. Grosvenor discussed the practical
effect Of the law and the exarinations
of the committee, giving many illus
trations 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
in the galleries, was in the nature of
a warning that If members refused to
listen to the voice of the people in hos
tility to the law they would not be
members of the Fifty-sixth house. He
argued that people were overwhelming
ly opposed to the law, and said that
hundreds of thousands of Republicans
felt a secret sympathy with Mayor Van
Wyck of New York, who announced that
none but Democrats would be appointed
to office under the new city government.
Governor Black had said few days
ago when the late ''unlamented" Re
publican government came into power
there were Is, 900 Tammany men in office
and when it expired there were still 49,
900 Tammany men on the pay roll. The
Republicans, Mr.. Grosvenor said, had
been justly punished for keeping these
enemies in their camps.
Mr.. Grosvenor professed his adherence
to the theory of the merit system and
Of examinations for office within
certain limitations, but he exclaimed in
conclusion, addressing the defenders of
the law: II want to serve notice on you
that unless you Join us In the correc-
tion of the abuses and the reforma-
ton of the law that we will join any
portion Of the community, legislative,
executive or judicial, and destroy the
law, root and branch" (Uproarious ap-
plause in the galleries.)
Johnson of Indiana, Republican, one
of the ardent defenders of the law fol-
lowed Mr. Grosvenor with an extended
argument in support of the merit sys.
tenn. He took occasion to review the
history Of the civil service, pointing out
that previous to the time of jackson the
spoils system did not exist. Men were
appointed to office for fitness, yet never
was party feeling stronger than then.
In England, where the merit system
prevailed, party spirit was most Wig
orous. 1t was absurd, he contended, to
say that party spirit must be fed upon
bribe of Office. He repudiated the state
ments of the adversaries of the law
that Lincoln and Grant believed in the
spoils system. In his review Of the rec
ords of eminent men on this subject
Mr.. Johnson became involved in a con-
troversy with his colleague, Landis of
Indiana Republican and during the
(Continued ON Page Twol