The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-08
WORKOFCONGRESS
Nicaragua Canal Bill Passed
by the Senate.
InEeersrs Desussude OF Civil Ser.
vice Kefsrm-swe~ping Re
form az the Land Law.

WAsaEyG1ox, Feb. Tin the senate
the conference report on the bill 70 IN
corporate the Maritime Canal Co. Of
Nicaragua was presented By Sher-
Eaan and agreed to. The hiI. now
goes 70 the president for approval.
The committee on wonanss suffrage
reported back fayorahly the joint res
ol ation proposing . constitutional
amendment 10 prohibit denial of the
night 10 vote by the United States or
any state on account OF sex. Placed
on the calendar. A. minority report
will be made soon
The Committee or military affairs
reported substitute for the house bin
to remove the charge OF desertion
from soldiers OF the late war and Mexi-
can war when such soldiers afterwards
served faithfully TIL the expiration Of
their enlistment. Agreed 70.
The senate bsii 10 suspend operation
os the section OF the revised statutes
in relation TO the Guaao islands fer
ave years from April Is, isS9, was
passed
Cockyel expressed regret that the
fourth auditor and the treasurer OF
the United States had permitted their
names 70 be used by TirIn of Wash
ington claim agents. as shown BY a
circular read yesterday. He sent TO
the clerks desk and read another
Washington claim agency circular, Of
fering to obtain special acts for the
benefit OF persons having claims for
pensions. This circular, be said, was
an attempt to collect fee OF SO with
oCs q possibility of rendering any
equivalent. Cocsrel proceeded 10
give some other instances OF dishonest
attempts on the part of Washington
Claim agents. and declared that there
never had been such imposition prac-
tised on any class, as had been pfac-
tsed on soldiers OF the late war and
their widows and orphans. He attrIb-
uted Isaach of the sgccess Of the claim
agents. 90 The fact that government
officials did not adjust accounts and
hunt up and pay the claimants, but.
on the contrary, suppressed and con-
cealed the facts.
The house anendm ent 90 the senate
bin g. TO cutting timber on Indian
lands was coucurred in.
The senate then resumed considera-
ton OF the legislative appropriation
bill, the pending question being on
Hawley's amendment TO give an ad-
6itionai clerk OF class 3 10 the civil
service commission. Chandler hoped
one OF the first acts of the new ad-
ministrat;on would be 10 get rid of the
disreputable and incompetent postal
clerks appointed since March, 1885.
Allison expressed the belief thai the
civil service law, as long as it remained
on the statute book. would be fairly
carried out. He conteneed, however,
that lis extension to the postal mail
clerks last December was not an ex-
tension by the commission itself, for
the commission was practically not a
commission since October last One
of its menbers was confirmed as COM
missioner OF Indian affairs, while an
other of its members had paid no at
tention to it since then. He thought
the new administration should be al
lowed to make rules for the extension
Of the law to postal mail clerks.
Teller defended the last administra-
ton In regard 10 the fidelity with
which il had observed the civil service
law.
German replied TO Allison and
argued that If there was no civil SER
vice commission now the fault was
not with the president nor with the
Democratic party, but with the Re
publican majority in the senate. which
would not allow offices to be flied. but
acted on the principle that when there
vas TO be change OF administration
the wheels of the governments must be
stopped and the Offices not permitted
10 be filed.
Hoar approved the extension by Mr..
Cleveland of the civil service law TO
postal mail clerks, whether that extern
sion came late or early.
After further discussion the amend
ment was agreed TO.
Another long discussion took place
as to whether the board of pension
appeals, fixed in the bill at three mem
bers, should be increased 10 six. The
change was made. The bill then went
over until tomorrow. Adjourned.