Year: 1872

mlllee, IepOIleu oiii w
settlements by the Secretary OF the
Treasury with the joint debtors OF
the United States, allowing the settle
ment or compromise with the joint or
several debtors individually. Passed.


The civil service reform bill to pro-
test the independence Of the depart
men,s Of the government was then
taken up.


Mr.. f. II. Roberts advocated the
bill. lie argued that while the evils OF
our civil service have been exaggerated
reform was necessary unless the mil
lenium had come. The responsibility
now centercd upon Congress. The
highest aspirations had suggested a
plan which was now stronger
than at any previous hour. The
President was faithfully trying an
important experiment Opposition to
the p'an proposed was opposition to the
object. 1t ought to have a fair trial.
No harm could come to the Republican
party. 1t was strong not in spoils but
in daring to do right. Their opponent.
sought to gam power through pretended
devotion to civil service reform. The
straight Of the administration was that
amid obli4uy it strove for reform and
tried to respond to the worthiest asplra-
tions Of the people.


Mr.. Bingham opposed the bill and
expressed regret that it had been re-
ported and was being pressed on the
consideration of the House. 1t was a
miserable spectacle and nothing could
be said to redeem it from absolute
contempt.


Mr.. Banks admitted that there were
great evils connected with the civil
service, but in his opinion this bill d d
not reach the difficulty; it was not q
remedy. The remedy for this was a
change in their opinions on the subject,
and experience would effect that
change.


Mr.. Garfield made the closing speech
in favor of the bill. He reviewed the
chief objections urged against it, that it
was unconstitutional The civil service
was pure and needed no reform, and
at the interests Of the party required
the maintenance OF the present system
On the fret point he referred TO the
golden rule OF the Government that the
three great departments, the Legislative,
Executive and Judiciary be separate
aud independent OF eacn other and that
neither should encroacb on the other.
The spirit and euer OF that rule had
been violated again and again in the
mode in which civil service was ad.
minlstered. 1t could not be said with
even a shadow Of truth that the Ex-
ecutive Department did not exercise its
hish functions of the nomination even
without the co.'s ant pressure Of the
whole body o. the Legislative Depart
ment and for many years the Presi.
dents o the United States had been
CRYING ont in their agony to be relieved
from uncouslitut onal crushing and
irresistible pressure. The pre,ent Gus.
tom was an apposrasy from the govern
ment in its original purity an appos-
tasy OF the most alarming character.
So careful bad Washington been that
even the Executive Departments should
not influence each other that he had
scattered public buildings in the Capital
all over the city.


Mr.. Butler, OF Observation-Disclosures
will find that?


Mr.. Garfe!d-You will find it in the
| GLobs tomorrow. Laughter As to
the other objection to kill that, civil
service was pure and needed no reform.
Mr.. Garfield referred to the message Of
the President calling attention TO the
need OF reform. Tue House bad been
told yesterday by Mr.. Butler that the
Paymasters' department had done well
during the war. But why? Because
that was a magnificent department Of
service, where every man was held to
account, where an officer was not re-
moved every time that q politician
wanted 10 get another in his place,
where the law Of promotion prevailed.
The army and navy belonged to
q class of service separated
iEO'n iue ulIseTduIe civil serNlCe Oh which
he was speaking. He instsnced the
coast survey as service in which the
system Of promotion by merit prevailed
and asked, who would dare to turn
that service into the hands OF poll
ticians2 Itwas go with the light house
board and with all parts OF the public
service that were an honor and glory
to the country. The House had been
treated during the debate to class Of
destinations which be could not pass
over 10 silence. They had been told in
very plain language that this whole
civil service business was trick on the
part OF some people who did not like
the President and whs wanted to ct up