Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-02
tjopsl currency mot including the
amount sstimstsd - lost or destroyed,
e6.054,557.52.
XIX. COsaREss.
WASHINGTON, May l, 1886.

House or representatives.
Mr.. Findlsy, OF Maryland, from the
Committee on Civil-Service Reform,
submitted a report on the resolution
offered by Mr.. Taulbee, of Kentucky,
directing the Secretary Of the Treasury
70 inform the House by what authority
the practice Of permitting the employees
in bis Department to appoint substitutes
ia allowed. The committee in its re-
mort says that it can see no good reason
for questioning the good faith of the
statement made by the Acting Secre-
tary of the Treasury that substitution
is allowed when the permanent en-
ployees are absent on account Of sick.
ness. Accepting this as valid reason
for the temporary appointment Of sub
stitutes, the committee asks to be dis
charged from the further consideration
Of the subject.
Mr.. Taulbee moved that the resolu-
ton be adopted. lie thought the state
ment of the Acting Secretary could not
be construed so as to mean that substi-
tutes we're appointed only when perma-
nent employees we're absent on account
of sickness. Such a statement, to his
personal knowledge, would be unwar-
ranted. The practice was an abuse Of
public power and abuse Of the civil
service law. That law was piece Of
hypocrisy. 1t had been conceived in
sin and brought forth in iniquity.
1t had been conceived IN the mind Of
Mr.. Eaton, who had afterwards made
more money out Of it than any other
man. A cats paw had been made out
of Senator Pendleton, for whom, pre-
yious to his connection with this law,
he (Mr. Taulbee) had had the greatest
admiration but who, through his con-
nection with that obnoxious law, had
been relegated to that obscurity which
no man would envy him. But while it
was a bad law the Government was
committed to it, and while it could not
be repealed it should be respected and
lived up to.
Mr.. Findly advocated the rejection
of the resolution, not that he was in
favor Of indiscriminate substitution, but
because he could conceive Of instances
when refusal to permit permanent
employee in time Of sickness to employ
a substitute would work great hard.
ship. Speaking generally on the civil
service law, he favored its enforcement
both in letter and in spirit. He would
like to see every rogue turned out of
Office, and he would like to see the Ad-
ministration put its strong heel on the
necks Of some men instead Of elevating
them to high places. lie moved to lay
the resolution on the table.
The vote upon this motion was so
close that some excitement and interest
was manifested as the clerk proceeded
10 call the roll. and at the conclusion
Of the call several changes were made,
thus reversing the result a number OF
times. AS finally announced the vote
stood yeas Ia, nays ll3; so the reso-
luton was tabled.
After reports had been made from
several committees the floor was ac-
corded to the Committee on Territories,
and several bills passed Of local in
terest only. The Oklahoma bill was
then called up, and its provisions ex-
planned by Mr.. Hill. of Ohio.
Mr.. Baker, of New york, opposed
the bill.
Pending further discussion Mr.. Nor
rison, of Illinois, from the Committee
on Rules, submitted reports providing
that after May 10th the House shall
meet at IL A. NJ. and adjourn at 5 p.
NJ, and making it in order when gene.
raj pension bills are under considera-
ton to amend the same so as to provide
by taxation for the payment thereof.
Laid over under the rules.
The House then, at 595 P. NJ, adj
iourned.