Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-12
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE CIVIL SERVICE CLAUSE.
A Lively Debate in the House
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
It Is Quietly Passed in the Senate.

It Is Quietly Passed in the Senate.
The Senate.
PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY on THE AMERICAN
NATIONS.
After routine morning business in the Senate
Mr.. Whitthorne addressed the body in favor o.
Mr.. Frye's bill ITO promote the political pro
gress and commercial prosperity of the Ameri
can nations"
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
On the conclusion OF Mr.. Whitthorne's speech
| the Northern Pacific bill was taken up. but in
formally laid aside for the purpose of consider
ing the army appropriation bill. The latter
was accordingly taken up and its consideration
proceeded with.
The Senate passed the bill precisely as re-
ported nom the Senate committee.
ADJOURNED.
At 1:55 p. m. the Senate adjourned, leaving
the Northern Pacific bill the unfinished business
for Monday next
House Of Representatives,
Mr.. ONeill, of Pennsylvania, from the com.
mittee On the library, reported q bill for the
erection of monuments to Anthony Wayne and
William Penn. Committee of the whole.
THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION BILL.
After the reception of various committee re.
ports, the House went into committee of the
Wuoio (o1T. DiOuHG IN Inc CQalr,) ON the le&l6.
lative appropriation bill.
THE CIVIL SERVICE CLAUSE
having been read, the chair stated that the
pending question was the point Of order raised
by Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, against the provi-
sion looking to change of the rules of the
commission.
Mr.. Holman Qnd) briefly antagonized the
point, holding that the provision was merely a
limitation on the expenditure of public money.
MI. Morrison, in support of his point, said
lations devolved on the commission and the
PRESIDENT. The purpose of the proposed legisla-
ton was to impose certain conditions which the
law did not impose, and, therefore, was q
change OF law, In contravention of the rules OF
the house.
Mr.. Reagan (Tex) laid down the principle
That the House might refuse to appropriate at
all tor the civil service commission without q
violation OF the rule, and argued that such
limitation on the expenditure of the appropria-
ton. The commission assumed an autocracy
which this bill sought and ought to take away
from it.
MR. REEDS SARCASTIC REMARKS
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, promised his argument
with a sarcastic apolog for interfering in this
affair among brethren, who, however they
might differ as TO ways and means, were united
with tearts In the cause Of real economy and
they said so. fLaughter.l 1t panied him to see
that the gentlemen from Indiana and Texas
(Mr. Holman ana MIR. Reagan) mad to arrive at
House ought not to be limited in its power.
Both these gentlemen had been for many years
united in refusing to the House the power to
increase expenditures because they had been
opposed to any increase that had been consti-
tutionai and suitable, but the moment the
thorn went across their groin it became an un-
constitutional and unsuitable limitation. He
inquired OF Mr.. Holman why he had not en-
pioyed the leisure which the House had forced
on him In taking five great bills away from the
appropriation committee in framing a bill reg
mating salaries and expenditures. The gentle
mans mind had been active on othef sebjects,
such as the matter he had brought in yesterday
Ito abolish the provision for paying the Vice
President.
Mr. Morrison stated that he had suggested to
Mr.. holman the propriety of making the
change which had been made.
Mr.. Reed said he admired the way the dem.
see them split, for one wing was sure to be right
then. He spoke caustically upon the variety Of
views OF civil service reform held in the demo-
cratic party. He then turned again to Mr.. Rea-
gan with some cutting reference to his frequent
calling up Of the Constitution.
After sitting quietly under the deluge of cut
ting irony for a few minutes the Texan could
stand 1t no longer. He jumped to his ieet aud
cried: ~ haven't mentioned the Constitution
a.a ROARs OF LAUGHTER.
The House, which had been in an uproar all
along, fairly got beside itself at this. Members
fairly kicked their heels in the air and clapped
their hands, while the gallery roared.
SHARP PASSAGE BETWEEN MR.. HAMMOND AND
MIR. RANDALL.
Later Mr.. Hammond got the floor in support
OF the point of order, quoting the constitution
and the law pointing to the question at issue.
Mr.. Randall asked If he could find ANYTHING
In the constitution that took from a citizen Of
the United States the right to vote or to hold
place OF trust or profit after he reached the age
of fOrty-fve.
Mr., Hammond replied testify that he would
proceed when the gentleman from PennsyIva-
MIA took his seat.
~ will take my seat when see f1t,.' retorted
Mr.. Randall, angrily.
Mr.. Hammond then disclaimed any inten-
ton to be discourteous
STRICKEN FROM THE BILL,
The chairman OF the committee of the whole
has sustained the point OF order made against
the provision attached to the civil service
clause of the legislative appropriation bill, re-
curing the commission to amend its reuula.
lions, and the provision is, therefore, stricken
from the measure.
The District in Congress.
THE GAS INVESTIGATION
Senators Spooner and Blackburn, SUBJ District
committee, conducting the gas investigation
are not idle in the matter because no public
meetings are being held. They are diligently
acquiring Information and are determined
they say, to protect the interests OF the people
here <oS.~