Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-02
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY,
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS,
Both Houses of Congress at Work
Economy and Civil Service Reform Dis
cuSSed In the Senate.
Land Grant Forfeitures in the House.

Land Grant Forfeitures in the House.
The Senate.
The Senate proceeded to vote on the reserved
amendments to the legislative appropriation
Dill. A long discussion took place on an amend
ment reducing the number of Senate messen-
GERS from 27 to 25.
Messrs. Riddleberger Teller and Harris op-
posed the reduction.
Mr.. Allison, chairman of the appropriations
committee, stated that only part of the addi-
tional force employed when the Butler mansion
was leased, was dismissed when that lease was
terminated, and it was now proposed to do
away with the remainder OF that extra force.
Mr.. Riddleberger replied that a number of
new committee rooms had been constructed in
the Senate wing and that the extra force is still
needed.
Mr.. Harris said the additional force was not
given to the Butler mansion, but to certain
committees of the Senate; that these COM
mittees are still in existence. He maintained
that there was not single supernullerary on
the force, and he would not vote to reduce it.
MI Ma; Conger said it was matter of public no
torlety that when the Butler house was given
up it was claimed that more committee rooms
than were afforded by that house could be pro-
Vided In the Capitol building. The architect Of
the Capitol was instructed to provide additional
committee rooms. Ten additional committee
rooms were provided, and the committees, still
In existence, require their messengers and la
oorers as much as they ever did. Mr.. COnger
contended that there were no more men on the
force than are actually needed.
On the committees amendment to cut off
messengers the vote stood, ayes 21, nays 25 So
the amendment was rejected There was no
poltlcal significance In the vote at all, II being
made up, on both sides of the question, of re-
pubicanS and democrats.
The next question was on the adoption of the
&C committees m amendment TO cut of one fireman
Mr.. klddleberger criticised the appropriation
committee Tor cutting off poor laboring men. but
iabor1ng men let them dismiss the tonsOrial
artist who splits the hair to cover bald places
On senatorial heads and wakes the dudish mus
tacheS OF Senators.
The amendment to cut off the fireman was
carrled-24 TO %. The amendment to reduce
aae messy Skilled la6orers from ten to eight was
auOpteo-24 10 ~. The amendment cutting
to "a.
AGAINST THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
An amendment for an additional clerk Tor
the civil service commission was opposed by
MIR. Vance, who remarked that ii the commits
mission was unable to do do any more business
IL would be SO III UGH the better.
"a USELESS PIECE OF MACHINERY"
MI. Salisbury looked upon the civil service
commission from beginning to end as useless
piece OF machinary. 1t he had his way he
would repeal the law.
MI. VOORHEES, said that be had never been for
the law, sleeping or waking, but, while it was
y law, he Wouiu qreat IT fairy aud give it fair
chance. Ii there was any good in II he hoped
the good would come Out. Ii not, the TACT
would be made manifest in due time and the
people would pass upon 1t.
MIR. INGALLS, DID NOT WONDER
Mr.. Ingalls, did not wonder at Mr.. Voorhees,
being in favor of the civil service law as admin
1stered by the democratic party, and he quoted
from the statement OF the commissioner of pen
SOnS that, out OF seventy-seven men appointed
by him under civil service rule, seventy-tWo
were democrats, and the other tive were OF un-
clerical force OF the commission had been sutfi-
cient the politics of the other five would have
been found out, and the men would have been
MIR. VOORHEES, VIEWS.
Mr.. Voorhees, defended the commissioner of
pensions, and commended the practice of the
two great parties in putting their own ad-
herents into office. Still he would no more cut
down the force OF the civil service com mission,
or deny it the means of giving the system a
fair trial. than he would vote to cut off supplies
from an army In the feld. even If he did not
approve the policy OF the war. The commission
was discharging its duty, and he was for up
holding its hands in q liberal and proper spirit
MIR. Harrison said that if the civil service
was willing to give il.
House Of Representatives,
On motion of Mr.. Toole (Mon.), q Senate bill
was passed providing for an additional Justice
OF the supreme court OF the territory of Mon
tana.
Mr.. Payson Qlls.). from the committee on pub
lie lands, reported back a bill for;eiting lands
granted to certain southern states to aid in the
construction of railroads, with Senate amend.
ment, excepting the Gulf and Ship Island rail-
road from the terms OF the forfeiture
Mr.. Pays0n said that the committee recon-
mended a concurrence in the amendment He
was in favor of the forfeiture OF the Gulf and
Ship Island lands, but the Senate had taken a
stand against this forfeiture, and he feared that
ii the amendment was not concurred in the
whole bill, which involved 7,OOO,OO acres of
l1frI,t fail II,n
forfeit the lands OF six railroads, and he Thought
that six-sevenths Of loaf was better than no
bread.
Mr.. Anderson (Kan.) opposed concurrence,
He wished to let the country understand the
position In which the Senate placed the House
ON these forfeiture bills He was not ready TO
have a thumb screw put upon him by the Sem
ate or by any conceivable form OF railroad
power The question presented was whether
the House would maintain its position or give
way to the railroad power in the Senate.
MIR. Weaver IOwa) indorsed Mr.. Anderson's
remarks and favored sending the bill to a con-
ference committee.
MIR. Adams Qil.) thought that the amendment
should be non-concurrcd in, as he saw no reason
tor excepting the Cult and Ship Island from the
operation OF u bill which applied to other rail-
roads in exactly the same condition.
Mr.. Barksdale lMiss) declared that Mr.. An
derSon'S lntlInatlon Lnat the Senate was con-
trolled by railroad influences was unjust and
unjustlfiable.
The amendment was finally agreed to-154 to
~.
PETITION OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Mr.. Harmer Pa.) presented petition signed
by 1000 Knights OF Labor of the 9Th congress
sional district of Pennsylvania urging the pass-
age OF bills now pending before Congress calcu-
lated to protect the interests OF labor. Referred
THE BILL REPEATING THE PRE-EMPTION Laws
On motion OF Mr.. Cobb (Ind.) the Senate
amendments were nonconcurred In to the bill
repeating the pre-emption, timber culture and
desert land laws, and Messrs. Cobb, Stone (Mo.),
ana PaysOn were appointed as cOnferees.
nNv vur0
Mr.. Taulbee (Ky.), from the committee on
invalid pensions, submitted q report upon the
veto message OF the President on the bill grant
ing pension to Carter w. Tiller.
Mr.. sawyer IN. y submitted q similar report
on the veto message on the bill granting q pen
sion to Andrew j. Wilson.
The reports were ordered printed and laid
over for the present.
THE GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL
The House then went into committee of the
whole tMr. Hammond. OF Georgia, in the chair
on the general deficiency bill. ;,
The District In Congress.
THE GAS INVESTIGATION REPORT
The Senate District committee at their regu-
lar meeting to-day ordered a favorable report
upon the nomination of Mr.. TAFT to be justice
OF the peace for the District. MIR. Spooner then
submitted the report of the subcommittee on
the price OF gas, but had not finished reading 1t
when the hour OF noon arrived, and the COM
mlttee adjourned to attend the session OF the
Senate. special meeting will be held at 1880
q. M tomorrow 10 resume consideration OF the
report on gas, and 1t Is the purpose of the com.
mtttee TO reach q dnal conclusion on the sub
ject tomorrow.