The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-15

| the Senate. That was a very grave and serious
/ step to take. This bill was brought forward in
1 apparent aid of their friends on the other side,
/ and to relieve the President of the difficulties
1 and embarrassments now attending removals
and suspensions. 1t was an ivitation to him to
| make short work Of the whole civi-service bust
ness, and TO expel from Office at once all
! the officers who within the purview of
| the statute. Its passage would be the greatest
practical step backward in the theory of the
| reformation of the civil service Of the United
States. 1t would be affirming that Congress was
willing and DESTROYS that the President should
exercise the power of selecting persons to FIJI OF
| ices, whether the Senate advised and consented
to 1t or not If he had the slightest doubt of the
constltutlonality of the tenure-of office act he
would be willing to consider how far that law
trenehed on executive power, and, so far as it
did So to retreat from it Immediately. But If it
were found that the statute was not only con-
sentative of the public good, but constitn-
Conai, then Congress ought to stand by IL. If
the Senate voted to repeal that statute it would
make mistake which it would live to regret
Mr.. Hoar advocated the passage of the hill. It
had been reported from the judiciary comenittee.
last session, but on account of the controversy
then existing with the President on the subject
OF Offices he had not deemed it proper to ask the
Senate to act upon it. But, as that question had
subsidized, he now deemed it proper to ask the
Senate to vote whether it would return to the
ancient policy of the government, to the rule
which had existed from 1889 to 1867 and which,
Notwithstanding the condition of the statute
books, had practically existed since the Access
sion to power of General Grant in 1869 Presi-
dent Grant had recommended it's repeal. So
that he Mr.. Hoarl was acting under pretty sub
stantlal Republican authority in trying to get
rid of this legislation. While expressing him
self IN full sympathy with the principles of civil
service reform he still declared his conviction
that the people of the United States expected
and demanded that should be kept in
ecutive employment who had not the confidence
OF the person responsible for the of these
executive functions
Pending discussion the Senate went into
utive session, and when the doors were reopened
adjourned.
The HOnse Considers the Sundry Civil Bill.
WASHINGTON, Dec 14-The Speaker laid be-
fore the House letter from the Secretary of
the Treasury submitting the book of estimates
for the fiscal year 1888 The Speaker also laid
before the House letter from the Secretary of
War, transmitting a report of tests of iron and
STEEL Referred
Mr.. Belmont. of New York, from the commit
tee on foreign affairs reported back the resolu-
ton calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
Tor information AS to what Interpretation is
given by the Treasury Department TO the tariff
law of 1883, which in one section declares that
fish, fresh, for immediate consumption, shall be
free of tax on arrival at our sea and lake ports,
and In another section declares that foreign
rate of so cents per hundred pounds. Also, re-
questing him TO transmit copies of all official
correspondence on the subject, together with a
statement of duties collected each year since
1873 on the several descriptions of fish caught in
the lakes, of Canadian tributaries thereof, or in
the North Atlantic. Adopted.
The House went into committee of the whole
MIR. Hammond, of Georgia, in the chair-on
the sundry civil appropriation bill
Mr.. Ryan, of Kansas, and Mr.. Long, of Mas
cQd ma ri nc hoi DiYo6 TO
and contended that the appropriations were
made not with an eve to the puplic service, but
with view to carry out the foolish policy that
no appropriation of this year should exceed the
appropriation of last year for similar object
Mr.. Long also took occasion to criticise the Pres
ident for failing TO make permanent appoint
ment of superintendent of the coast survey.
The President WAS forgetting that "a public
Office is public trust" was neglecting his duty,
and was making the coast survey the sport of
public ridicule in failing to make this appoint
ment.
Mr.. Atkinson, of Pennsylvania, spoke in favor
of amendment which he proposed to offer to
the bill. increasing So 900. 900 the appropria-
ton for outdoor relief of veteran soldiers who
are entitled to admission to the Soldiers Home
The bill was then read by paragraphs for
amendment.
Mr.. McComas, of Maryland, moved to increase
the appropriation for continuation of the post
office building at Baltimore from 600 to
$287 900 The limit of cost of the building. he
said, was g. 800 900, and it never would be COM
pleted If an appropriation of only 500, 600 year
was made. 1t would be economical for Congress
to appropriate the sum suggested by him. which
would be sufficient to complete the building.
Mr.. Finday, of Maryland. took the same view
and protested against the stopping of great
public work for the purpose of allowing Congress
to make sham show of economy.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, denied there
was any sham economy in the appropriation
On the 10Th of November there remained unex-
Tod IF he iotio fho h,i diDo
$2l9 000 which, however, involved in pend |
ing contracts. But there was also unexpended
1920 900 against which there was no indebted- |
ness The committee on appropriations had rec
ommended the appropriation OF 100000 max
ing total of over $3.50. 900 which could be ex |
pended within eighteen months.
The motion was agreed to-1OO to sc.
On motion of Mr.. Grain, of Texas, an amend |
ment was adopted increasing from $50, 600 to |
$65, 900 the appropriation for the public building
at Galveston, Tex. An amendment was adopted |
increasing from $50 900 to $40 900 the appropria-
ton for the public building at Jacksonville Fla.
An amendment was adopted appropriating $780, |
600 for the building at Troy, n. Y.
On motion of Mr. Msybury, of Michigan, an |
amendm ent was adopted appropriating $685. |
900 to commence the public building at Detroit |
Mich.
An amendment was adopted increasing from
$50. 900 to 100000 the appropriation for the
building at Rochester. N. Y.
On motion of Mr. Adams of Illinois, an arnend |
ment was adopted apppropropriating 600 for
5reak-water at the Marine Hospital. Chicago,
III.
An amendment was adopted appropriating
$4,000 for repairs to the Smithsonian Institu-
tor. Washington.
Pending further action the committee rose and
the House adjourned.
Losses by the Charleston Earthquake.
CHARLESTON, Dec, 14-At a meeting of the
City Council tonight, Mayor Courtenay sub
mitted preliminary report of the executive re-