The record-union., 1898-01-07
Friends and Enemies Of Civil Service
Exchange Broadsides.
The Heaviest Guns on Each Side Of the
Question Brought Into Action.

League and to Carl Schurz, It's
President-Johnson of Indiana
Defends the Law.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The friends
and enemies of the civil service law
| exchanged broadsides in the House to-
day. The heaviest guns on each side
We're brought into action. Grosvenor
of Ohio and Johnson of Indiana each
made exhaustive speeches and kept
their respective sides in a constant fu-
rore. The interest in the debate was
much more lively than yesterday. The
crowded galleries, which were plainly
in sympathy with the opposition to the
law, became so very noisy in their dem
onstration of approval at one juncture
that the Chair was compelled to call
them to order. Johnson was warmly
sustained by the friends of the law on
the floor, but he got very little ap-
plause from the galleries. Lloyd of Mis-
souri, was the only other speaker. He
favored the repeal of the law.
When the House met it promptly re-
sumed the debate on the civil service
question. Grosvenor of Ohio took the
floor with an elaborate speech in OPP
position to the law. Grosvenor disclaim-
ed any leadership of the anti-civil ser
vice reform forces and any purpose to
speak for any officer of the Govern
ment, executive, legislative or judicial.
'All efforts to entangle me in a col
lision with the President said he, ''is
as so much powder. If 1 believed that
my relations to the Executive would
be changed or modified because / diff
fer with him in any reparative capa-
city, 1 would despise him, as he would
despise me if l faltered in my con-
victions."
Grosvenor said he had watched with
admiration the Presidents public ca
reer, and one of his most prominent
characteristics had always been that
he not only did not demand subservien-
cy. but despised a man who sought ia
vors by sycophancy.
Grosvenor proceeded to pay his re-
spects to the National Civil Service
Reform League, and to Carl Schurz, its
President. His excoriation af the lat
ter was the most scathing that had
been heard on the floor Of the House
those who sought to read out of the
Republican party those who did not
believe in the civil service law.
With riotic language he sketched the
political career of Mr.. Schurz, which he
characterized as ''the checkered, spot
ted. leprous career of one who betray-
ed every party and every duty to which
he was bound, and whose betrayal
should be his only stock in trade in the
arena of politics"
He traced Mr.. Schurz's political his
tory and defied anyone to point out a
spot in his trait which was not tainted
with political corruption. Yet, he SAID,
this was the man who with other pol
itical demagogues at Cincinnati, under
the name of the National Civil Service
League" had denounced him and those
who thought with him on this question.
He read the resolutions adopted at the
Cincinnati meeting, branding them as
Infamous beyond description.
Grosvenor's description of the habits
of the cuckoo teemed with and kept
the House in a roar.
Grosvenor, in replying to the charge
made against himself and his col
leagues that they were betraying the
Republican party, adverted to what
he called the list of traitors among
the high priests of civil service re-
form. at the head of which he placed
George William Curtis, who abandoned
the Republican party in 1854. He re-
viewed the platform declarations or
the Republican party to show that the
present position occupied by the major
ity Of the House was not inconsistent
with these declarations.
For | 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 American Congress. (Applause.)
He argued that when the ST. Louis
platform was adopted the extensions
contained in the Cleveland order or
MAY. 1896. had not been understood. 1t
was not until November. 1896, that the
enormous scope of that order covering
5000 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
portions of these 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 illus
tratious of applicants who, through
years Of service, had proved their abil-
ity. but who failed to answer ques-
tions asked
One of Mr.. Grosvenor's statements
which evoked an enthusiastic outburst
from the galleries was in the nature of
a. remark that if members refused to
listen to the voice of the people in hos
tility to this law they would not be
members of the Fifty-sixth House of
Representatives
He argued that the people were over
whalmingly opposed to the law, but
said that hundreds of thousands of Re-
publicanS 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 a few days ago, when the late
"unlamented" Republican Government
came into power, there were 1900
Tammany nen in Office, and when it
expired there were still $4,000 Tamma-
ny men on the pay roll The Republi-
Io1