The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-07
CIVIL SERVICE
Receives a NOckOut Blow at the
Hands OF Congress


Washington. Jan. e.--The anti-civil SER
vice reformers scored victory In tho
house today The legislators, executive
and judicial appropriation bill was taken
/ mp for confederation and when the appro-
prlatlon for tho civil service commission
was reached Mr.. Evans, Rep KY, made
motion to strike Il out This motion
has been made annually for dozen years
or more. but has invariably failed. But
today the opponents oe the law laid great
stress ON the fact that they could not
get q direct vote upon the proposition
and were therefore compelled TO seek It's
qualification In this manner. Even these
appeals failed to bring out the full stren-
9Th OF the opposition, though the motion
TO strike out carried by a narrow major
ity. Gel. This was in committee Of the
whole where no record n made 81 the
vote.
Mr.. Dockery said any attempt to nuin-
~ the law by declaring to appropriate
Tor tho commission VII fan. He agreed
with the gentleman from Massachusetts.
If the other side OF the house desired TO
repeal the civil service law. II should ba
done openly and without indirection The
Whoie purpose Of this amendment today.
ne charged was TO create m agitation
Whlch would compel the president TO Is
sue the rumored order amending the law.
Mr. iinney Rep. N. O., replying to
Mr. bockery's iniimation. said that an In
telligent expression OF the people OF the
United states on this subject would not
bc regarded as an attempt nj coercion bv
the president II might DO true that the
propoNed amendment was n Cunning at
tefupt to strike down the law. But cum
ming was the instrument OF tho weak
and opponenta Of the law were obliged
Co resort to indlrcction because aome Sc
cret myatcrlous Influence prevented them
from getting the main proposition square
ly before the house. The law had grown
steadily more odious with the people.
nnd II members OF the house on both
sides who spoke against Il at home. would
stand together the law could be Destroy
ed root and branch.
Mr. Grosvonor Rep. O.. who was az the
head Of the anti-civil service fovement
curing the last session, said that for
twelve years he hnd aetn this annually
recurring motion made ana each year IL
had boon met with the argument advanc.
ed by Mr. Moody, that this was not the
time. place or manner IA which the law
.hould be assailed.
Mr.. Hepburn, Rep, Ia. IA support OF
the amendment said that what the op-
ponents of the present system desired
could be accomplished by tho prealdcnt
II some Of the cxlatlng orders were res
oinded When the law was originally
passed, 10000 offices covered the largest
estimate any OF its supporters dreamed
could be brought under its operation, To-
lay 1900 clerks were within tho classl-
led service, lie was not opposed, he said.
to honest civil service reform but to the
which masqueiaded under
hat name. For sixteen years. he eaid.
he friends OF the law uad prevented ac.
lion In the houHo on a bill to modify or
opoal Il.
Mr. Hopkins, Rep, Ills. opposed the
amendment Il would accomplish moth
ng. II n majority OF tho house favored
/ bin Tor tho repeal OF the law It had
ho power TO secure Consideration for such
bill
Mr.. Henderson. Rep. Ia, opposed the
amendment. II the republican party fac
sd about and took Up the cry OF spoils-
men instead OF building up and strength
ming clvil service reform, It would seal
ta own death warrant
After some further debate by Aessrs.
Brown, Rep. ohio Marsh. Rep. his.
nd Mahany. Rep, N. y. In favor OF the
amendment, and Messrs. Slmms, Dem,
'enn.; Broslus, Rep Pa; Fleming, Dem.
Ia; Henderson, Rep. Ia, and DoIliver.
top. Ia. ia opposition. tho vote was TAX
NJ. On n rising vote the division stood
{ ayes and O. nays
Mr. Evans demanded tellers and the
ialng vote was reversed. tho motion 10
trlke out being carried, u 90 81. The
1ti-cl''il service roformers applauded vlg-
rously and Mr. Moody gave notice that
e would demand a yea aud nay vote IN
he house. The committee then arose ana
t p. m. the nouso adjourned