Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-06
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Senator's Discuss Civil Ser
vice Reform.
/" PRESENT SYSTEM A FARCE"
Animated Debate In the House On
the Nicaragua Canal Bill
Amendments Rejected.
T Associated Press DISPATCHES to the HERALD

fAssociated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, February Sin the Sem
ate to-day, the House bill for the estab-
lishment of Territorial Government in
Oklahoma was presented. Platt moved
its reference to the Committee on Terri
tories. Dawes moved it's reference to
the Committee on Indian affairs. After
a long debate, the bill was referred to
the Committee ON Territories.
The Ways and Means Committee to-
day continued the formal reading of the
tariff bill land progressed as far as the iron
schedules. Notice was given by men,
Der OF his intention to m owe to strike out
the paragraph relating to the fortifcation
Iof wines, but so far no amendment has
been voted upon. Another motion en-
tered this morning was one by Brecken-
ridge, of Arkansas, to strike out the Sec
ton providing for a bounty on sugar. In
fact nearly all the motious entered 30
far are to strike out the Senate amend
ments to the original bill.
Hawley offered an amendment to the
Sundry Appropriation bill, which was
referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs, for the payment to the widow of
General Sheridan of $5 900.
The House joint resolution for the pay
ment of $500. 900 to the representatives
of the late James B. Eads, was taken up
and passed.
The Legislative, Executive, and Judi
ciary Appropriation bill was then taken
Tbo to tr, -
ed from the Committee on Appropria-
tions were agreed to without question.
They we're few and unimportant, the
only noticeable one being that increas-
ing the salary of the Presidents
private secretary from $3.50 to
$1,000. The amendment offered
by Hawley to increase the clerical force
of the Civil Service Commission pro.
voked discussion on the question OF
Icivil service reform, during which
Stewart characterized the present sys-
tenn as "a broad farce" and Plumb said
that partisanship OF a most desperate
character had peen practiced in its ad-
ministration. Before the discussion
closed, the conference report on the bill
amendatory of the Interstate Commerce
law was presented and read.
The Conference Committee not having
agreed on the House amendment in ref
erence to the transportation of oil, Sher-
man moved to concur in that amend
ment, as being in the line of the Inter
state Commerce law. Platt argued
against the amendment.
While the discussion was still in pro
gress Riddleberger made an effort tC
have an executive session so as to re-
move the obligation OF secrecy from the
proceedings on the British EXtradition
treaty, out the motion to adjourn pre-
} vailed, leaving the conference report and
the Legislative Appropriation bill not
; disposed of.
II THE HOUSE.
u WASHINGTON, February 5.-In the
Cured in to the House bill for the re-
tirement of General William F. Smith
with the rank of Major of Engineers.
The House proceeded to consideration OF
the conference report on the Nicaragua
Canal bill. Cobb thought the House
should reject the report. 1t was not fit
ting for a great Government like the
United States to put power in the hands
of a set of men to go abroad and get
money under false pretenses. There
|
if the enterprise was a success. There
was to be no loss if it was a failure.
He then proceeded to argue that
authority to erect private business cor
poration. Rayner defended tho action
of the conferees in receding from the
amendment requiring the printing on the
obligations of the company statement
of the Governments lack OF liability. 1t
was an amendment which was intended
to kill the bill. 1t was intended to in
timidate investors. He also justified
the action of the House conferees in re-
ceding from the amendment requiring
that shares, stocks, bonds, certificates or
. other securities shall be disposed oi
equitably for cash. 1t would be impos.
sible to raise $2O0,OOO,0OO in cash.
Cobb suggested that the engineers
. had stated that the canal would
cost only $60,0OO,00O. Raynor said il
the engineers estimated it at $50 ,OOO, ,O0O
it would cost 5000, 900 900; but even $780,.
600, 900 was a good deal of money to
| raise. Touching the action of the con.
ferees in receding from the amendment
authorizing the United States Govern.
, ment to fix the tolls upon the canal,
Raynor said the rates of tolls we're fixed
{ in the concession and the Nicaraguan
, Government was to receive percentage
, of them.
Bland, Missouri, criticized the confer.
ence report in that it eliminated from the
, bill the amendment which had been
adopted in the House upon his motion
reserving to the Government the rights
, of the United States under the Bulwer
CLAYTON treaty.
Pending further debate the House took
recess.
The evening session of the House was
devoted to the consideration OF Distric,
of Columbia business.
, CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
WASHINGTON, February 5.-The Presi
dent to-day transmitted to Congress fol
its approval and ratification the pro
visional agreement lately entered into
' between the United States and the Greek
Indians. The Greek nation cedes to the
United States the title to the entire west.
ern half Of the domain of the nation w.
ing west of the division line established
by the treaty of 1866, and the United
States agrees to pay the Indians 81, $780,.
S57, of which $3.50, 1857 is to be paid to
, the national treasurer of the nation and
t 81, ,00O, 900 to remain in the United States
Treasury to the credit of the nation and
bear interest at the rate of per cent.
The nation agrees to devote not less than
: | Co.