Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-26
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
POLITICS IN THE HOUSE.
Lively Debate on the Civil-Service.
Discussing an Amendment to the Legisla-
tive, ETC., Appropriation Bill.
House Of Representatives.

House OF Representatives.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. MatsOn, of Indiana, the
consideration OF various private pension bills
which came over from last nights session with
the previous question ordered, was postponed
until June 90. Mr.. Matson remarking that on that
day the House would be In 1, state of truce.
THE LEGISLATIVE, ETC., APPROPRIATION BILL
The House then went into committee OF the
whole (Mr. Blount, OF Ca, in the chair on the
legislative. executive and judicial appropriation
bill.
The pending amendment offered by Mr.. McCo-
mas Md increasing the clerical force OF the Civil
Service Commission, was advocated by aIr. Tracey
IN. ". who said that the increase would enable
the President to extend the classified list. The
President had been criticized for not having made
the extension. The President was not to blame.
ie waited for action on the part OF the commits.
sion, and the commission was delayed by reason Of
the want OF necessary means, which Congress
alone can provide.
Mr.. Whitthorne (Tenn.) thought that with 20 900
Ice there was no necessity for having that number
multiplied The effect or the multiplication would
country by withdrawing them from business pur-
suits and putting them
ON THE ANXIOUS SEAT
as applicants for office. He was glad that he had
voted against the civil-service law. He had be-
lieved then, as he believed now, that 1t was anti
He believed that it would grow to be sore on the
body polite, full of mischief and danger to the
theory on which the Government was founded.
against the Administration for not turning repub-
llcanS out and putting democrats In, he had
reason to admire the fidelity of the President,
the pledges made in his letter. and his course in
the execution OF what he found to be the law OF
the land. He knew In his own personal experience
that when he had applied to the President for the
removal OF officials because they were republicans
the President had stood 1mmOvable In his own
state OF Tennessee there had not been one single
dent had waited until the oficiars term expired.
MIR. Hopkins Ql.) WAS any charge Of ineficiency
brought against any Of them?
TAKING IT FOR GRANTED.
Mr.. Whitthorne.-I take it for granted that the
ineficiency is the republicanism Of the on1ce-
holder. Laughter and applause] am perfectly
frank, for believe that at the baot-box the peo-
pie OF the United states are sovereigns and there
they preserved the character OF our Institutions
that stands between them and their judgment is
working contrary to the theory OF our tnstitu-
t1Ons. Applause on democratic side.l
Mr.. HOpklnS-l thank you for your rrankneSS
Mr. Whitthorne-I am frank and IL YOU ever
come into power (and God forbid that you do)
nope you will act on the principle have stated.
lievtng that the system should be tried in good
faith, and that the commission should be given
ample approRriations to nnd out whether the sys-
an honest spoils system was far better than an
alleged ctvil-service system, which was accused
and suspected from one end OF the country to the
other OF being carried out with insincerity.
MR. ENLox AND Mr. M'coMAs
Mr.. Enloe CTenD) stated that he was not enam-
CURED with the civil-service law, but he asserted
that its administration by the democratic party
was much more sincere than had been its admins
tration by the republican party. He cited in
in $780, when he was Interrupted by Mr.. McCOmas
with the question whether he wanted TO stop those
ths hey Sese q be
at all the country must look to the democratic
party to stop them.
Mr.; Williams tohlo> said that the remarks Of
gentlemen on the other side reminded him or
THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK.
MI. Butler CTenn) said that the democratic
party In Tennessee had method which beat Jay
Hubbell all hollow. He sent to the clerks desk
and had read letter from j. r. M. Davis secre-
tary OF the Hancock County democratic committee
to us. commissioner Williams, tXenephon, Tenn,
asking him what steps he intended TO take in the
next campaign, and saying: '"The party Is willing
TO give TO gain strength. but otherwise say bust
nsss WV kno% nesins about the
truth OF the allegation. don't know the parties;
but am gratiied, for one that the thing Is work.
THE AMENDMENT AGREED 70.
The amendment was then agreed tO-S1 to n.
While the vote was In progress Mr.. Spinola N.
W entered the chamber and inquired what the
pending question was. On being informed by the
creasing the force @ Of the civservice Commission.
he passed between the telers, with the remark,
II want to be recorded In the negative against
1.-THE amendment provides for one additional
clerk of class three one Of class two and one at
$1,000 and increases the appropriation for neces-
Sary travelling expenses from 81, 600 to $5,OOO.l
POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Grain Tex) raised point OF order against
afj NJ colo
First Auditor OF the Treasury. He quoted from
the statute law fixing the salary OF this oficial
at $4,000, and denounced the practice OF cutting
down dow salaries in appropriated bills II the sala
brought in; but they should not be
the democratic party to go before the people In an
election year and point TO economical appropria-
tions. The point OF order was sustained and the
Pending further action the committee rose, and
the House, at I :O5 O'Clock, adjourned
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
The republicans OF the House Immediately went
into caucus.
The District i'm Congress.
THE CITY POSr-oFFICR SITE.
The advisory committee Of the House committee
on public buildings and grounds were to have met
this morning to consider, among other things the
report OF the subcommittee on the Washington
quorum.
Capitol Topics.
LOOKING INTO THE ALASKA SEAL FISHKRIEG
The House committee on the merchant marine
and the fisheries yesterday authorized its chair
man, Mr.. Dunn, with such other members OF the
committee as may md time to assist him, to pro-
ceed with the proposed investigation into the fur
seal fisheries or Alaska. The resolution authoriz-
ing the Investigation directs the committee to
fully and thoroughly investigate the character
duration and conditions OF all contracts leases
made by the Government with any persons or
companies for the taking OF fur seal other fur.
bearing animals In Alaska. and whether such con-
tracts or leases have been complied with or vio-
lated; also, to investigate and report upon the
nature and extent Of the rights and interests Of
the United States In the FUR seal and other sheres
In the Behring Sea, In Alaska, and whether these
rights have been violated and by whom. The
committee Is directed to report as TO whether any
and what legislation Is necessary for the better
preservation and protection OF these fisheries,
the exact time for beginning the investigation has
not Jet been determined on.
TIE SENATE IN HxECUTTvE SESSION
yesterday debated MI. Sherman's resolution au-
thorfznr the consideration Of the 1sh0r1eR treaty