Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-19
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.



WASHINGTON, December 1sth.-In the Senate
o-day the resolution for evening sessions was
taken up, and an amendment offered by Morrill,
providing that the daily hour of the meeting of
the Senate should be II A. NJ, and that at $50 a
reTess would be taken till 5 P. NJ.
Vest opposed the resolution. He understood
its political Importance. The Democratic SEN
ators did not propose to make factious oppo-
sltlon TO the tariff but it was cruel and out
rageous to ask them to hold night sessions in
order to rush it through.
Morrill, argued that the sessions were neces-
sary in order that the Senate might do the work
before it, which included not only the tariff bill
but the appropriation bills, which would require
time.
Vest warned the Republicans that the propo-
sition to put the tariff bill through under whip
and spur could not be carried out
Further debate followed. Finally, further
consideration OF the resolution for evening ses-
sions was unanimously postponed until to-mor-
row. compromise is under consideration
The House concurrent resolution for holiday
recess was reported back from the Finance
Committee with an amendment restricting it 10
the House of Representatives and went over
without action till tomorrow.
The bill to permit the construction of a rail-
way bridge across Young Bay Or. was reported
from the Committee on Commerce and passed
The consideration of the tariff bill was then
resumed. The Senate, having disposed of about
three paragraphs of the bill, proceeded to execu-
tive business and then adjourned.
In the House.
that he would not call up the Territorial bills to-
day. There will be meeting of the Commit
tee on Territories tomorrow 1t would be then
determined when those measures will be con.
sidered.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the legislative appropriation bill
Henderson of Iowa moved to increase the
clerical force of the Civil Service Commission,
and the amendment was opposed by Randall
lengthy debate then ensued on the matter of
the civil service. Henderson said the spirit of
the law had not been carried out in good faith
by the present Administration.
Mcmillan of Tennessee challenged this state
ment.
Henderson replied that he was thoroughly
satisfied, and believed that every other member
OF the House was that in the selection of clerks
under the civil service law, politics have abso-
lutely dominated. He is well satisfied that Re-
publieans who passed examinations with higher
records than those of some Democrats who had
been selected, utterly failed to secure receg-
nltlon When we find it stated under
oath by Bureau Chief, and boasted of, that "a
per cent. of the appointments in his Office are
Democrats, we know that some singular manip-
ulGtion is going on. Gentlemen on the other
law, as it has been administered, is a farce and
a sham.
Cummings of New York moved to strike out
the whole clause relating to the Civil Service
Commission. He believed the Commission to
be undemocratic, and he knew that if the rules
of the Commission Were applied to members of
the House not fve-eighths of them would ever
reach its floor again.
SpinoIa of New York favored the motion as
one with which seyen-eighths of the people of
the country sympathized. He knew that three
fourths OF the Republicans are sincerely in
wardly opposed to the civil service law, and the
Democratic side of the House, if it could be
polled sincerely, would be unanimous, because
1t would be acting in accordance with the re-
quest of an overwhelming majority of the peo-
pie. The Democrats are going to obey the order
OF November like thorough Americans and
Democrats.
Henderson asked if the Democratic party did
not pledge itself in favor of the civil service
law.
spinola-''It said it was in favor of an honest
civil service law. will explain that from the
Democratic standpoint. 1t is the civil service
law of Jefferson, When an applicant appeared
he was asked, is he honest? Is he capable?
Is he friend of the Constitution? That means
the civil service of the Democratic party.
Buchanan of New Jersey-"Did the gentle
mans clarion voice ling out in behalf of those
principles in 1SS4?'
Spinola-"Eever, in my life, and what is more,
that ancient and powerful organization that
sent me here has, time after time, by resolution,
denounced this law, and until it changes front
l. as an humble member of Tammany Hail.
shall stand here and oppose this legislation"
Henderson's amendment was finally rejected
-27 to GO, and the debate was continued at
length by Brown OF Indiana and Springer of
Illinois. The latter took occasion TO say that if
President Harrison administered the civil serv-
ice law in the same spirit in which it had been
administered by Cleveland the people would
have no reason to complain. Continuing he
said that If 1t were not for that cumbersome
and absolute machine known as the Electoral
College the Democrats would now be rejoicing
in great national victory on the principle
which his party submitted at the last election.
There was large majority of the people who
dec'd dad in favor of the platform of the Demo
cratic party.
Lodge of Massachusetts said that, in view of
the opportunity which the Democrats possessed
for increasing Clevelard's msjority in the South
ern States, they must feel like Lord Give, and
wonder at their own moderation in giving him
only 100000 majority.
The motion of Cummings to strike out the
civil service section was finally rejected-25 to
13s-and the reading of the bill concluded.
The committee then arose and the bill was
passed.
Tillman reported the military academy bill,
and it was placed on the calendar. Adjourned.