Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-06
THE 55'TH CONGRESS.
both HOUSES REAssEMnLE AND
rErNeE INTO DEBATE.
THE cIYIL-sERYICE REFORM LAW.
ReeubIscan Attack Thereon Appears
Promptly and Gives Rise 90 spirit
ed Remarks on both political
Sides-The Census Biii.


.,,a,o,., annropriatlon bin for the main
senancc Of the commission. and II prom
fses 70 continue at least untii the en-" ol
shls week. with possibility that II may
run longer. But Il Is generally adm'''eu
ON both sides that the appropriation IN
che hin will stand. as the anti-civi-ser-
vice reformers do not seriously eoh'em-
olate an attempt to strike 1t out Inv
debate. therefore. IS only preliminary 10
any programme which the enemies oil 'ne
law may agree upon.
I The members OF the House are divided
into three camps on this question. those
who stand by the law, those who adyo-
cate its entire repeal. and those who de-
Sire it's modification. These divisions were
apparent Ia the debate to-day. the ma
Aure OF which was not as stirring as had
toen anticipated.
II was proposed that sir. Moody de-
3ublican) of Massachusetts,. and MI
bookcry (DcmocraO. OF Missouri, coniroi
the time for and against the bill. MI
Hepburn Republican, Of Iowa, suggest
kd that II was a three-cornered contest.
fgshe Democrats" said he. "desire the
&ntire repeal Of the law. Some of those
on this side desire Il to stand as Il is,
while a large body Of us desire whole
&omc modification of its provisions
"why does this gentleman aver that oil
abe Democrats on this side of the House
desire the entire repeal Of the law?' en-
Quired Mr.. Clark Democrat. OF Missouri
'.Simpiy because that would be wrong.
tnd your side is always wrong. retoried
All suggestions as TO the control Of the
time failed at last. and the Chair recog-
tnized MIR. Grow Republican) of Pennsyl-
vania, who spoke for twenty minutes IN
support Of the general principles of the
tivil-service law.
Mr.. Moody Republican,, of Massachu-
sets. followed with an elaborate def snce
of the civil-service law, which he said
protected officials who received &OUO.eOD
1n salaries per annum. Yet. ne said, he
had no sympathy with those who be-
lieved the law was perfect, and should
only be modified by extension. He
thought those who were placed under the
protection Of the law by Executive order
should be compelled TO submit TO n test
OF their efficiency and he also believed
that some method should be found TO
preserve. IL not restore. the efficiency of
the service
DOCKERY FOR REPEAL.
Mr.. Dockery Democrat. OF Missouri,
opened the debate in opposition to the
law. which. he argued. was odious 10 the
American people. and should be repealed
in toto. He pointed out that the striking
out OF the appropriation for the commits
sion would accomplish nothing. as the
commissioners could sue in the Court Of
Claims for their salaries. The courage
(ous thing 10 do. he said, was TO pass a
bill aimed directly at the law.
Mr. Robb DemocraD. of Missouri, and
MIR. Pearson Republican). of North Caro-
lima, followed in opposition TO the law.
The latter, who has been very active in
mis- hostility TO the civil-service law, con-
tended that life-tenure inevitably meant
a civil pension list. whether the pensions
should be paid directly out Of the Trea-
sury. or indirectly from a retiring fund
COLLECTED from employees for that pur-
pose. While Mr. Pearson admitted that
some good purposes had been subserved
by the law. he declared that, so far as
fits main purpose, economy, went IL had
been a failure. Since 1883 in Washington
9he depa1 emental force had increased 81
per cent. and the salaries 45 per cent.
Mr. Clark DemOcraD. OF Missouri
asked whether the Republicans who wer'
hostile to the law intended to bring IL
a bill for it's repeal. to which Mr.. Pear
son emphatically replied in the afflrma
tive. He further said It would be pre-
pared tonight, and introduced at tn
earliest practicable moment and that tn
chairman of the Civil Service Committe
would be asked to report II.
IF he does not" said he, 'the com
mittee will instruct me TO report it..
lApplause.)
''Will you gentlemen on the other sid
use your best endeavors to secure con
sideration for it when 1t is reportedY
asked Mr.. Clark.
MIL 10 off to an
swered Mr. Pearson. I'VE will go to tn
extreme, and vote with the Democrats I
secure consideration" applause an
lnughter)
Mr. lands Republican, Of Indiana
favored a modification of the law, which
he said. would doubtless earn for him
reputation as a spokesman. He sneere
at the professional civil service reform
ers He had never known any OF thOs
who called themselves the better ele
ment" who were not narrow, selfish
bigoted ami dangerous. They had bull
dozed and cowed national conventions
and hypnotized Presidents while the
managed. themselves. 10 sit continuous
at the banquet table.
DENUNcIATION OF CLEVELAND.
He denounced Mr.. Cleveland's metho
in his second administration. describin
particularly what took place in the Coy
eminent Printing Office, 10 the head {
which he said. Mr.. Cleveland appointe
man who would do the dirty work.
ON a single day. he said, Publc-PrintC
Benedict discharged $50 men. That wa
known at the Government Printing OffiC
as Bloody Monday" on another da,
ne discharged 400. When 800 removal
had been made and 1880 Democrats al
pointed, Mr.. Cleveland pressed the but
ton. and the civil service blanket wa
thrown over them. He read what pul
ported 10 be a literal transcript OF IN
reasons assigned for the discharge Of II
Republican employees in the secret recor
of Mr. Benedict's private secretary. Son
OF them were very amusing, and keI
the House IN roar
When he had concluded the reading
Mr. Perkins Republican, of Iowa. ask'
II II was proposed 10 return 20 syste
which made such a recital possible.
s'No" replied Mr.. Lands, but we wal
10 modify the law"
Mr. Henderson lRepublican), Of low
protested against the production OF n
record OF one man IN condemnation OF Il
best system yet devised for the govern
rnent service He said civil service new
endorsed such work. He said that unle
the law was modified by it's friends. NJ
Lands and Democratic President and
Democratic Congress would destroy
root and brench The law must be re
cued from the clutch Of the zealots.
Mr.. Lands was loudly applauded VIII