The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-17
THE civil SERVICE Law
A Violent Attack Upon the Merit
System in the House.
An Amendment to the Budget strik-
ing Out the Appropriation &" Main
tain the Coumi-sion-Mr.R Richard
son EmbRrra>srs the Majority by
Suggesting n Remedy for the EVIL.

! The debate in the House yesterday was
very interesting and at times exceedingly
lively. The Legislative. Executive and
Judicial Appropriation bill, which was un-
der consideration. gave wide latitude for
I discussion. and the members avsiled
themselves of the opportunity. Notwith-
standing that much time was taken up
in the annual assault on the Civil Service
law. considerable progress was made. sew
enty-six pages of the bill being lis
posed of.
The opponents of civil service spoke
their minds freely and denounced the
merit system in round terms.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa offered an amend
ment, which was ruled out on point of
order. limiting the tenure of Office to five
years, the present force 10 be dismissed
in equal installments of one-quarter each
year. The heads of departments. however,
could reaDpoint in their discretion clerks
who had completed five ;ears' service
Mr.. Richards of Tennessee the Demo-
cratic leader. asked a question that en-
barrassed the Republicans He said there
was no trouble about repeating the Civil
Service law, or modifying ii. if the ma
iority so willed. The House and Senate
were Republican and a Republican was
in the White House. If the Republicans
we're sincere, he said. the Committee on
i.ules, majority of whom were Repuh
licans, could bring in special order that
would permit the House TO vote direct on
the question of repeating the Civil Service
law.
Mr.. Hepburn replied by saying that when
the Democrats were in the majority they
refused to assume that responsibility. But.
speaking for himself he favored the re-
peal of the law.
Mr. Mudd of Maryland moved to strike
out the appropriation for the Civil Service
Commission, and by vote of - to 81 his
motion prevailed
This announcement was greeted with
applause by the anti-civil service MEM
hers
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois s,ryed notice that
he would demand a yea and nay vote on
the amendment in the House.
After the journal had been read. the |
Secretary of the Senate announced to the |.
House the passage of the Gold Standard /
Currency bill The announcement was |
greeted with applause from the Repub- |
licans
On motion OF MIR. Overstreet Of Indiana |
the Senate amendments we're disagreed to I
and the House asked for a conference.
The House then went into Committee Of .
the Whole for the further consideration of 4
the Legislative Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Pearre Of Maryland made vigorous |
attack on the Civil Service Law. He said |
the departments were full of incompetents. |
who ought TO be removed. but were re-
tanned because the heads of the depart
ments could not get rid of them.
Mr. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts cham
rioned the cause of civil service He said
if the law was repealed the gentleman
from Maryland would have the depart
ments crowded with Marylanders.
Mr.. Pearre retorted by saying that only
a few days ago 1t had been charged on the
floor OF the House that hundreds of Massa-
chusetts soldiers. who never smelled pow
der during the Spanish war were now
clamoring for pensions.
Mr.. Fitzgerald Indignantly denied the
statement that Massachusetts soldiers had
not taken an active part in the Spanish
American war and enumerated a number
Of casualties.
Mr.. Corliss OF Michigan and Mr.. Cum
mings Of New York called attention 20 the
losses Of regiments from their States dur
ing the war to free Cuba.
MIR. Hepburn of Iowa referred 10 Mr..
reply to Mr.. Pearre as one
1f the curiosities of debate When his
PARTISAN colleague. Mir. Sims OF Tennessee
made the assault upon the Northern volun-
eer soldiers in a speech on Wednesday he
said Mr.. Hepburn sat in silence. but upon
4 mere allusion by = gentleman on the
side to what had occurred on
he floor his anger wa aroused and he
leeded TO make defence OF the soldiers
rom his State.
Mr. Fitzgerald denied having heard the
'emarks of the gentleman from Tennessee.
o which Mr.. Hepburn replied that he had
seen the Record and had made no com
nent.
Mr. Sims got the floor and protested
earnestly that he had not intended TO make
any statement which did not set forth all
he facts He had obtained the tables from
he Pension Bureau; had taken them as
furnished and given them 10 the House.
But he insisted that, taking into account
Ill the facts and figures they would bear
,ut his assertions that the Northern sol
iiers filed more claims for pensions than
he Southern soldiers and that IL was the
esult of education and environment
Mr. Norton IF Ohio decried the remarks
ii Mr. Sims of Tennessee. respecting the
comparative attitude of soldiers frcm the
Northern and Southern States. But upon
lis own showing the Northern sol,'ier had
he better record For every man killed
" wounded, the Northern regiments filed
seventeen pension claims; while for every