Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-23

NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Worlds Fair Bill Sent to the
President.
The House Discusses Legislative
Appropriations.
The Government Not Economically
Administered at Present.
A Large List of Civil Pensioners Kept on
the Department Rolls-Civil Ser
vice Reform Fraud.
Associated Press Dispatches. |


WASHINGTON, April 22.-In the House
today, Gambler, of Massachusetts, moved
that the House concur in the Senate
amendments to the Worlds Fair BILL
This being agreed to, the bill was finally
passed and was sent to the President.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the Legislative Appropria-
ton bill
Butterworth, in brief explanation of
the bill, said that in some of the bureaus
of the departments there was substan-
TALLY civil pension list 1t consisted
OF number of old persons who had
faithfully served the Government in the
past, but who were no longer able to
perform their duties. They were carried
on the rolls, but were of no service to
the Government. The committee OF ap-
preparations has allowed an increase in
the clerical force of the Civil Service
Commission, substantially as requested
by the commission.
Dockery criticised the increase. He
said the bill provided for the appoint
ment of 141 new officers, at a cost of
$161 800. Referring to the civil pension
list, he said in the departments there
were employed 397 persons who were
wholly or partially inefficient, but who
drew salaries amounting to $3.50, 900.
He believed if there was new blood in
the departments 1,500 clerks could be
discharged, at a saving OF 81 800, 900 a
year.
Allen, of Mississippi, quoted from a
speech delivered by Cannon and used as
campaign document declaring that
the Republican party was devoted to
the country and would, if it came into
power, administer the government with
greater economy, and greatly reduce the
expenditures. He then quoted from the
civil service plank of the Republican
party and from President Harrison's
letter of acceptance; but he said the
Republican party had gone back on its
promises, and he wanted to call the at
tention of the country to the civil SER
vice pretensions of the administration.
Allen recalled a story, as showing
Republicans opinion of the administra-
ton, which was to the effect that, meet
ing Republican and asking him what
he thought of it, he received the follow
ing reply:
"Wanamaker runs the Sunday school,
Levi runs the bar;
Baby runs the White House,
And-damn it-there we are"
[Laughterl. Bland addressed himself to
discussion of the monetary question.
He had never regarded this question as
party one, but from the fact that the
Republicans were holding caucus after
caucus, it would seem that they were 60
ing to make it one. Let the bill be
brought in as any other business should
be brought in, not under the gag law of
a caucus. He then proceeded to speak
in favor OF the unlimited coinage of sill
yer, and characterized the Window bill
as demOnetizing bill.
Cannon replied to Dockery's criticism
that in view of the record OF the last adj
ministration and the last Congress, it
seemed the gentleman had swallowed a
camel then and was now straining at a
gnat. In the Fiftieth Congress there
were created 935 offices, with an aggre-
gate expenditure of 81 ,164 900. The in
crease of salaries made by the pending
bill was only $4,000. The increase OF
salaries made in the Fiftieth Congress
was 81, 100000.
Williams, of Illinois, criticised the Re-
publican House for not bringing in bill
for the settlement of the silver question,
and thus relieving the oppressed people
of the country
Grosvenor said the anxiety manifested
on the Democratic side in regard to the
popularity and success of the admins
tration, was the best sign that the Re-
publican side ought to be satisfied with
the administration. Speaking of the
civil service system, he said he could
not believe that the law, and it's admin
istration, was approved by one-ffth of
the members of either house of Con-
gress. He was told that there was on
the eligible list enough young men and
women to fill the places for twenty-five
years to come. Yet young men and
women in his district. were cajoled and
urged to spend their time and money in
being examined, when the men who is
sued the invitations knew that the
chances. were that not one in thou
sand would get a position.
Lodge defended the civil-service law,
and resented its being characterized as a
humbug and fraud. Without finishing
the bill, the committee rose and the
House adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.