The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-11
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
Nine Speakers Oppose the Law and
Two Commend 1t.

VINO SRGsAkACES OpPOSG tHC LAW ttnU
Two Commend 1t.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1O.-The opponents
of the civil-service law had much the best
of the debate in the House to-day so far
as the number of those engaging in it were
concerned. Nine of the eleven speakers were
of the opposition. The friends of the law
are very anxious to shut off further debate,
and in this will have the cooperation of
Speaker Reed and the rules committee. Mr..
Moody who has charge of the BILL gave
notice that he would test the sense of the
House tomorrow on a motion to close de-
bate. The opposition Immediately sent word
to all in their ranks to be on hand, and they
say they will have no difficulty in defeating
the motion. Those who participated in the
debate to-day in opposition to the law were:
Messrs. Cooney Dem, MOI, Dorr (Rep.,
Va.), Cox (Dem.. Tenn), Little (Dem,
Ark, Brumm (Rep., Pa.), Cowherd (Dem.,
Mo-, Sulloway Rep., N. H.), Low (Rep.,
N. ", and in defense of the law: Messrs.
Mccall (Rep Mass.) and Parker (Rep.,
N. j.
Mr.. Cooney opposed the whole civil-serv-
Use reform idea, which he denounced as a
cheat and a narrow swindle. A civil pen
sion list and office-holdng class, he argued,
were logical and inevitable if it was to con-
tinue. Mr. Dorr followed with a set speech
in opposition to the law. Mr.. Cox said he
was so utterly opposed to civil-service re-
form that he would vote to strike out the
appropriation for the commission and for
the repeal of the law. Mr.. Little antag-
| onized the principle, theory and practice of
the law.
Mr.. Brumm also opposed the reform
system. He doubted, he said whether the
President of ha
| OF the Supreme Court, Senate House
could pass some of the civil-service exami-
nations. He defended what was known as
the political pull" which, he said, ought
to be cultivated. Every young man should
have such influence, and if they did not
have it it was the best evidence that they
were unworthy of political privileges. He
was ready to vote for the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Mccall. in replying to the criticisms
of some of the opponents of the system,
raised a laugh at the expense of Mr.. Gros-
venor, who, according to his (McCalPs) cal
culationS, wanted over ll5 per cent. of the
Offices exempted from the operation of the
civil-service law
Mr.. Cowherd called attention to some al
legged violations of the civil-service law in
this district He said that it was incon-
sistent for the President to play to the
grand stand with grandiloquent support of
the law while his subordinates were enter
tanning bleacherS by turning the rascals
out
Mr.. Suloway proudly proclaimed himself
a spokesman without any mental reserva-
ton. The civil-service law, he said, had
been conceived in iniquity, born in infamy
and administered in cowardice and by Dem
ocratS He believed the government be-
longed to its friends Mr. Sulloway's re-
marks were very picturesque and kept the
anti-reformers in continuous roar of ap-
proval.
After some further remarks by Mr.. Parker
in defense of the law and by Mr.. Low in
favor of a modification of the law the de-
bate closed for the day.