The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-09
Hepburn Of Iowa Moves to Kill
Appropriation for Com
mission.
MANY HUMOROUS REMARKS.
Williams Of Mississippi Brings
Parker's Name Into Debate
and Causes Much Mer-
riment.

washington. Dec t-The annual ACht
on the Ctvfl-Service Commission was be-
gun IN the House to-day. during con-
sideration OF the legislative appropriation
Btll. The opposition came from Mess-s.
Bartlett OF Georgia, Hepburn OF Iowa and
Grosvenor Of Ohio
Ny. Hepburn moved TO strike out the
entire appropriation for the commission.
and its force OF its clerks at the same
time denouncing the Civil Service as not
having improved since the days OF the
spoils system, but. on the contrary. es
growing less and less efficient
The discussion brought out some semi
humorous comment on The last presiden-
tiol election. II related TO the lack Of votes
whici, were cast for Judge Parker Mr.
Williams OF Mississippi and Mr.. Grosvenor
OF Ohio participated In this feature OF
the debate
The session lasted FIVE hours and fifteen
minutes. The legislative biz was scrutin-
lied carefully IN accord with the Presi-
dents recommendation against extrava-
gance.
Mr. Bingham. in charge of the bill was
required constantly 10 explain some par
ucuiar appropriation. The pay Of the
stenographe-s to the committees Of the
House Was reduced from $500 a year to
S.oO, and the House refused to accept the
provisions increasing the pay OF the Sec
letary to the Civil-Service Commission
Little progress was made on the BILL
WOULD Kill APPROPRIATION
Gr. Hepburn OF Iowa moved to strike
out the appropriation for the commits
Eaou. and bitterly denounced It He was
not he said. opposed to a proper civil
service, but the present merit system
did not improve on the old spoiIs systern
The present civil service was not as good
rs Es. ,sra,,,x was twenty ,s years is. ago, and and
efficient
II denounce IT. he said. with emphasis.
as un-Arnerican and unfit for our uses
A vice"
He vas roundly applsuded on both
Mr.. Gillett Of Massachusetts. Chairman
Of the Committee on Civil Service de-
fended the system and said that even
the law itself would go on just the same
he believed great majority OF the peo-
pie Of This country differed with Mr.. Hep
Mr.. Williams OF Mississippi. the minority
/ leader. suggested that II would be ar. i'm
provement over the present system to hx
should serve the Government
Ar Grosyenor OF Ohio spoke OF the Civil
service Commissioners as these great
gentlemen ana these 800 gentlemen IS
and referred to a package OF papers which
had come TO him to-day from a rural car
rter TO whom had been propounded certain
EQuesttons by the commission as to whether
or not be had used his influence in behalf
fof the election Of President Roosevelt in
tthe ONO campaign and whether or not
lon certain Gay, he had turned over his
kroute to his substitute and worked for
1.-THE Republican ticket.
Now, think of holding up a poor devil
Of rural carrier like that
The man had simply gone to the polls
and voted.
The man In question, he said. had been
held up by the Civil Service Commission
Of men are investigating. not what is the
matter with the woman at Cleveland that
robbed everybody. but did that man vote
for Roosevelt, and did he work at the
polls on election day"
REFERENCE TO PARKER
Mr. Williams. directing his remarks to
Mr.. Grosvenor. said he had been wonder
Hing II Mr.. Grosvenor could punish tho
= House with such a hard-luck story. be-
cause out in Ohio q fellow had shown
political activity in the case OF President
Roosevelt What might possibly have been
TO have shown political activity IN behalf
OF Mr.. Parker? This reference to Mr..
Parker created considerable laughter on
both sides Of the chamber.
The Indications are, replied Mr.. Groe-
yeuor. which caused a renewal of laugh
ter. there were great many Of them
terrified"
From the numerousness OF their search
ty ct the polls" responded Mr.. Williams.
amid more laughter. Il imagine a great
many OF them must have been terrified.
whether through the Rural Free Delivery
Service or in some other way, i shall not
undertake to say.
He was inclined. he said. to agree with
| Mr. Hepburn, and said that the old spoils
system was as good as the Chinese sys-
4 tenn now in vogue. He favored the ap-
point1nent Of men to ofice who were in
4 sympathy with the party in power.
The bill then was laid aside, and the
House. at SIG ?. m, adjourned until to-
Dorrow.