The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-09
And Are Merely DenOuncing the sys-
tenn for the BENEFIT OF Place Hunt
ers i'm Their Districts.
CHANCE FOR LAMBERTSoN
Ex-INDIANIAN MAY BE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE. COMMISSIONER.
IL Representative Hepburn, of Iowa,
In Not Appointed, the Nebraskan's
Name May BE Considered.
.eeiai to the Indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-Civil service on
~ had two hours in the House to-day, being
interrupted by eulogies Of deceased men,
Der. The farce WIN be resumed Monday
and continue three or four days longer. The
oratory might as well be addressed TO the
moaning winds, for it can produce no pos
sible effect on legislation. The chief object
of the debate is to give certain members
chance TO make local capital by railing
against civil service and extolling party
workers. Not one in ten of the congress-
men who are loudest in their denuncidtions
of civil service would dare vote for the
repeal of the law. or for its amendment in
any manner impairing its usefulness They
would have their constituents believe, how
ever that they are crazy for a return OF
the old spoils system, under which there
could be a complete change in the hundred
thousand offices every time the federal adj
ministration changed its complexion AS a
matter OF fact, very few of them desire
to go back to the old way of distrib
uting spoils, but if they can fool
the horde of place hunters in their districts
into the belief that they want this done
and at the same time not do it, they will
thereby solidify themselves with the
workers at home and do no serious
HARM This is the whole essence of the
mock fight which is now being waged in
the halls of Congress against the merit
system. The President and his advisers
are sitting back calmly watching the per-
formance and it is not improbable that
after the noise which is being made sub
sides there will be a discussion which may
serve as a basis for an executive order
making some notifications in the regula-
tions for the administration of the law.
All of the Presidents Cabinet ministers
have made suggestions looking TO that end,
and in due course of time, when it becomes
manifest that Congress has no intention of
doing anything, the President may frame
an order which will embrace features. in
Iended to meet legitimate criticisms, and
to improve the law where improvement is
needed. Among congressman that is be-
lieved to be what will really happen to the
civil-service law.
The speakers in the House to-day were
Messrs Corliss ,(Rep.. Mich.), Hepburn
(Rep., Ia.) and Clarke CRep, n. H.)
IN opposition to the law as it now
stands. Mr.. Coriss favored radical
notifications of the law. He thought
that consttutionally, the heads of depart
ments were clothed with the power of APP
pointing their subordinates. To that ex-
tent he thought, if tested the law would
be unconstitutional. He believed the right
of removal should be restored and the ten
ure of office limited.
Mr.. Hepburn spoke for an hour against
what he termed the popular impression of
the so-called merit system. The public, he
argued had been utterly misled by the
high-sounding phrases of the ''reformers"
In some things the old system, at its worst,
was superior TO the new. My colleagues
in this House." said he, know the quail
fications of their constituents, and in the
selection of candidates for Office have
everything at stake. l believe there is
greater probability of probity in action,
wisdom in selection and benefcence and
result. in the old system than in the dark
ened. subterranean. irresponsible method
He believed the appoint1ve power and the
power OF removal should be lodged in the
same hands, and should be unlimited.
Amid burst of applause from galleries ana
floor, he insisted that the political workers
were entitled to- and should be accorded,
recognition. If there We're to be no reward
for the workers, the workers in the future
would be more and more loyal to rich con-
tributors instead of their party and their
country. If the present system continued
the influence of rich men in politics would
grow steadily. Mr. Hepburn said he knew
his frank expressions would earn criuclsm
for him, and ii would probably be said that
he placed himself on Il low political plane,
but these were his convictions and he
would utter them.
Mr.. Clarke closed the debate for the day
with some remarks in favor of modifying
the law. He did not care TO specify the
notifications he would make He was will
ing TO leave that to the judgment of the
Civil-service Commission. But any old
thing was better than the present law.
(Laughter.)
At 2 o'clock the debate gave way to the
special order and the remainder of the day
was devoted to tributes to the life and
public services of the late Representative
Wright, of Massachusetts. Those who paid
tribute to their deceased colleague were
Messrs. Lawrence (Rep., Mass.), Powers
(Rep., Vt.), Swanson (Dem.. Va.). Walker
(Rep.. Mass.) Mccall (Rep., Mass.). North
way (Rep., o., Knox (Rep.. Mass) and
Gillette tRep.. Mass) At o'clock the
House adjourned.