The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-07

had been justly punished for keeping
these enemies in their camp.
Mr.. Grosvenor professed his adher-
ence to the principle of the merit sys-
TEN and the theory within certain linn
itations
But" he exclaimed in conclusion, ad
dressing the defenders Of the law, Il
want to serve notice on you that unless
You join US in the correction of the
abuses, and in the reformation of the
law, that we will join any portion OF
the community, legislative, executive
or judicial, and destroy the law, root
and branch" (Uproarious applause in
the galleries.)
MR. JOHNSON DEFENDS
Mr.. Johnson CRep., Ind.), one of the
ardent defenders of the law, followed
Ar. Grosvenor with an extended argu-
ment in support of the merit system
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 pre-
Vailed. party spirit was most vigorous.
1t was absurd he continued, to say that
party spirit must be fed upon the bribe
of office.
He repudiated the statements of the
adversaries of the law that Lincoln and
Grant believed in the spoiIs system.
During his review of the records Of
h NTy~ TOh
son became involved in a controversy
with his colleague, Mr.. Lands Rep.,
Ind J, and during the cross-firing the
galleries became so obstreperous in
their approval of the position Of the lat
ter that the chair was obliged to sus-
pend the debate and admonish the spec
tators that such demonstrations must
cease.
SPOILS SYSTEMS EVILS.
In enumerating the evils of the spoils
system, Mr.. Johnson said it made cow
ards Of legislators: stormed the White
House; interfered with the depart
ments: sneaked into the capital and
shaped legislation; it exalted the office
broker and attacked, villifed and ca
Illuminated the conscientious men.
tice to the infamy of this prolific evil,
which had debauched the civil service.
It seemed incredible to him that men
could dare advocate a restoration OF
this Saturnalia. The talk Of a civil
pension. he said, was bugabOO intend
ed to ffighten the defenders of the mer-
it system. a proposition for civil pen
sion could not command half dozen
Votes in either house or secure the ap-
proval of the executive.
Speaking to the Republican side Of
the house, he told his colleagues that
the merit system was a Republican
child. While George II. Pendleton was
it's author in inception, it was Re
publican measure. Every Republican
senator and all except seven Republi-
can members of the house voted for it.
1t has been endorsed by state and ma
tional conventions. Cities and states
wer eadopting it. The American people
were behind it.
HOW TO ELECT BRYAN.
Mr.. Johnson attributed the present
"discordant and disgraceful scene en-
ected in Ohio, with its visions of sem
atorships going glimmering," to the
scramble for spoils, state and national,
and said that the surest way to put
Bryan and his black banner in the
White House in 1900 would be for the
Republican party to be recreant to its
trust and to slap in the face those who
believed in an honestly conducted serv-
ice without desiring IN any way to
reflect upon the present occupant of the
\ l.,
convinced that there could be no genu-
ine civil service reform until by consti-
tutional amendment the president was
made ineligible for reelection. As long
as he was eligible for reelection he
must necessarily be more or less under
the domination of machine politics.
After expressing his confidence in
President Mckinley, Mr.. Johnson con-
cluded with an eloquent appeal to him
to stand by the principle upon the per
petuity Of which the permanence OF
our institutions depended.
Mr.. Johnson was given a great dem
onstration of approval when he con-
cIuded.
Mr. Lloyd CDem.. MOI followed in
opposition to the law. which. he argued,
was an attempt to establish an aristoc-
ratio government by establishing an Of
ice-holding class.
At 4:5O p m. the house adjourned.