The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-09
FORTY-NIATH CONGRESS
THE KELLEY.WHEELER MATTER
IN THE HOUSE.
Discussing the Civil Service Rules
Senate PrOceedings-In the
Committee. Rooms.

Whee' er [ Ala. when that gentleman
was delivering the speech attacking
Edwin NJ. Stanton, had been by some
mysteriC us mistake" misplaced in he
Record.
Mr.. Wheeler stated that the mis-
placement YVES entirely accidental, and
he had no objection to the conec ion
being made.
Mr.. Kelley PA. called up rs privi-
legged question the motion submitted
by him yesterday to expurge from the
record the speech of Mr.. Wheeler
lAla. upon Edwin NJ. Stanton. He
based Sis question Of privilege on a
consciou', deliberate, persistent abuse
of an order OF the House by the Rep
resenta.ive from the Eighth District
of Alabama. In lieu OF the motion
made yesterday, he submitted Ieso.
luton Teciung that Mr.. Wheeler had
been guilty of an abuse OF the order of
the House, inasmuCh as his speech
had not hem lie upon any pension
bill, and declaring that as the delivery
OF the speech YVES without the eanc-
ton Of the House, and in contraven-
tion of the special order, faid speech
be expunged from the Record, ard pro-
hibiting the Public Printer from pub.
fishing it ia pamphlet or otherwiss.
Mr.. RaSgan TEX IA sed pc mt OF
order against the resolution. The
speech had been made by unanimous
consent cf the House and therefore
could rot be an offenee against the
House.
The Speaker replied that it was not
in the province OF the Chair to decide
whether it YVES an abuse or not, 1t
was alleged to be an abuse by the gen.
tleman from PENNEY vaDia, and the
question was to be decided by the
House
Mr.. Kelley then proceeded to speak,
and his remarks were listened to with
great attention by the House. He was
unwilling. he said, that future readers
of the Record of the proceedings of
this Cougress should by any pOsslbili.
ty be sble tn suspect him OF having sat
through what must have involved
three hours listening to the sanders
which had been Ieiuted for twenty
five yeaIs and many Of which were
now absolutely puir, scent, on one Of
the most unselfish patriots the
country ever produced and
one OF the most beloved iiends
he bad ever known. He YVES unwil!-
ing hat he should be suspe cted Of lis
tening TO a paper which feebly re-
GREETED list in moment of heat its
author had denouu ce1 Abraham Lin
coin and Edwin Stanton as conspira.
tors, end Stanton as an archcon-
spirst r, against the character Of par
ticular American citizens.
Mr.. Kelley continued al some length,
saying that he de no charges, but
only asked that the s'andeTed dead be
heard in his own defense.
Mr.. Kelley also read confidential
letter ficm Mr.. Stan on regarding his
relations W tn Gen. McOlellao, and
also an exb act from letter from Gen.
Grant bearipg testimony TO the high
regard in which the late Secretary was
held.
Mr.. Wheeler rose to a question o.
PRIVILEGE. He had been charged with
having perverted the orders of the
House and with having slandered
man who was dead. The caption Of
the speech had not been put on by
him or by the official reporters. 1t
had been put on by the Public Printer
without his authority or sanction. He
regretted to see that the caption ed
win M. Stanton was placed upon his
speech.
Mr.. Anderson Kas.] denied that
there bad been anything of "a con-
spiracy" about the transaction. The
gentleman from Alabama had been
accorded the flor in execution Of an
agreement made in good ia tn among
gentlemen on both sidts, and for any
gentleman 10 attempt TO place on the
members who were present at the
Friday night tession the brand OF
"conspirstors" was something which
struck him ss being quite reprehensi-
BILE and quite uncal ed for. Applause
on Democratic S de.
Mr.. Morrison I'M. then cut short
further discussion by moving to refer
Mr.. Kellye's resolution to the Com
mittee on Rules. Agreed to-72 to So.
The House then went into commit
tee of the whole (Mr. Blount [Ga. in
the chair on the legislative, executive
and judicial approx ration bill. Mr..
Holman called attention to The START
ling rapidity with which the expendi
lures of the government were being
increased. Passing on to a Considera-
ton OF the claute making an apprO-
pristion for the Civil Service Commits
sion, he stated that the amount sppro-
pria ed was the ssme as that given for
the present fiscal year, S2l 400; but
there was a proviso added requiring
the ceItifcation of the entire list OF
applicants from each State who had
passed examination. THIS require
ment, he argued, was not change in
the existing law, hut was simply lin
itaticn in the expenditures Of the
money.
Mr.. Butlerworth inquired whether
the provision did not nullify the mo
important provision Of the civilservice
law, and whether its object was not TO
facilitate the appointing power to select
his partisan friends?
Mr.. Holman answered most en-
phatically in the negative. 1t was, he
balu, mdLleT Vi lubllCe " buo hppli-
cant who was unsuccessful in passing
the examination.
Mr.. E. B. Taylor [O.1 inquired
wht Their the main object of the pro-
vision was not secure the appointment
of more Demo Gratis.
M. Holman replied that so far as
the motive was concerned he must
answer in the negative. He would
say, however, that if the provision
had the Incidental result of incTt as
ing the number OF Democratic en-
ployes be did not think the gentle.
men ought to complain. He was con-
virced that that would be the result,
but his motive was justice to the
afflicted and justice 10 the govern
meut.
Mr.. Findlay Nd ] Inquired whether
the object Of the provision was not to
enlarge the cope Of choice for politi-
cal purposes.
Mr.. Holman-To enlarge the scope
OF choice, l admit, but for govern
mental purposss and for purposes OF
even handed justice.