Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-25
WASHINGTON.
SPICY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE Wv
CIvIL-SEavlCE REFORM.
The virginia and North Carolina hc"-
bers Opposed TO the Commission
Reciprocity Resolution.
from Our Regular Correspondent,

bers Opposed TO the Commission
Reciprocity Resolution.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 2i-The great hum
bug of the nineteenth century-ylz, clvn-
service reform, so-called-was the lea1lng
topic Of discussion in the House to-u n.y.
and everything said condemnatory OF the
practices that have prevailed ia the nanle
Of reform" was applauded by men on
both sides of the House. There Is no
doubt that majority OF the members on
both branches of Congress are opposed 70
the system. and they know that the Ia" y
violated. if not openly. then IN secret, oS
every sort Of iugglery and trckeIY Know WV u
10 the politicians art. Inc. deDa,y MW.
precipitated on the motion OF NJ.
Houk Of Tennessee. to strike out OF tno
legislative appropriation bill the clause
providing for the expenses OF the olth.
Service Commission He made the point
that the commission was under indictlnent
/ by resolution of the House, ana that no
| expenses should be voted to that concern
until it had been cleared OF the serious
charges that have been preferred III goou
faith.
The average member Of Congress loathess
| and despises the system, and the law Wouiu
| be repealed but for the fact that 1t can DC
so easily violated by the executive oihcers
Of the Government. The congressman
can make excuses TO the people whom they
! do not care 10 appoint that they can 90
nothing for them because Of that odiouS
civil-service law"
COLOSSAL HUMBUG.
The Virginia members. go far as known,
are open and above board on this question,
or Of least il can be said that the older
mem bers of the delegation have always
| denounced the system 0s administered rs
colossal humbug. Colonel O'Ferrall and
others have invariably voted to wipe ont
the law, and there has been no double
dealing on the question so far as the VIZ
GINA members are concerned. The same
is true Of the North Carolina delegation,
especially with those who have been put
I on record. There are Of course some new
members in each delegation, and they have
not vet gone Oh record.
motion TO strike out the appropriation
for the commission will do no good. The
salaries will have TO be paid az long rs the
commission lasts. and the votes Of mem
bers Of Congress on this motion do not
signify ANYTHING. A member may be III
favor Of wiping out the commission, but
he cannot see anything TO be accomplished
in Withholding the eSpense-noney, ana
therefore ho would not vote for motion
iuub hpulu Hpe ~ ~ tflD 4 bRb VI wv N'-4A''''
JEfFREsON QUOTED.
There was some lively TALKING on the
subject. Nr. Biggs, Democratic men,
Der from California, created much laughter
and applause in ten-minutes' speech. He
held up that illustrious Virginia statesman
and patriot Thomas Jefferson "a the orlgi-
nal and NJ tho same time the most sensible
civil service reformer that he ever heard of.
Nlr. BIggs then quoted from the utterances
Of Mr.. jefferson 10 show that the author OF
the Declaration of Independence believed
that the best ciyil-seryice reform wasfor an
Administration 10 appoint 20 Office none
but its own political friends. MI. Blggs
also insisted that il was the great Viz
ginian who first proclaimed Ito the victors
belong the spoils not IN words, but IN
fact. The principle was carried ont by
Jackson, although the actual words were
uttered bv Marcy. MIR. BIggs said be be-
loved III wiping ont the humbug known
~ civil service reform. He denounced It
as Il fraud. and said that he employed 200
men IN California, and he could get en-
ploy(s without the aid of commission.
Mr.. Biggs was loudly applauded.
TO srARvE OFT THE COMMISSION.
The motion "to starve ont" the commits
sion was of course not carried. 1t was I'M
practical for the reasons stated above. but
the mere motion enabled members TO AR
their views on the subject. The question
viii come up again when the special com
mittee that il investigating the Civil-Ser-
vice Commission makes its report 10 the
House.
Senator Vance SAID to-day that he
was confident the Chandler resolution
would not be reported from the Commit
tee on Rules, much legs be adopted by the
Senate.
Chandler's object is no doubt TO have
the national election-law passed. He knows
that under the present Senate rules that
hill cannot get through, and he wants 20
amply Boss Reeds rule TO Legislative body
that has never yet called the previous ques-
ton.
Representative Cowles, who was called
home to North Carolina recently on ac
count Of the death of his son, returned 10
WASHINGTON this morning. His fellow
members of the House were very kind IN
their expressions of sympathy on account
of his sad bereavement. Colonel COwles
said that he had made the most careful IN
vestigation that be had examined every
scrap of paper left 10y the young man. and
had seen letters written by him only the
day before his death, In addition to talking
with the boys at the school, and he and
they were all satisfied beyond doubt that
vounc Cowles met his death accidentally.
1t ~ presumed that he was examining
hammorless pistol which he owned audit
was accidentally discharged.
RECIPROCITY.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs
held a meeting this morning and motion
was made to take action on Mr.. McCrearys
resolution looking 10 reciprocity with the
countries of the western hemisphere, and
providing for legislation to that end. The
Republican members of the committee said
they wanted reciprocity, but they backed
down when it was proposed. to have the
legislation. IL can be stated, however. that
uuloss there j. legislation there can be no
reciprocity, and tho Pan-American Con-
rress has met in vain unless the present
laws with regard TO foreign trade are
amended 50 as to allow an exchange OF
products.
REPRESENTATIVE Skinner introduced in
the House to-day "A bill apprOprating
$4,000 for the establishment of range
lights to guide into the entrance OF Beau
fort harbor. North Carolina.
A post-ofice. TO be known as Newmans
has been established in Hanover county,
Va, with William O.. Newman az post
master.
After May 1st the mail service from
Stingersvile to Forest Hill, Va, will be In
creased to three trips per week.
NO APPOINTMENT.
Speaker Reed declines. 1t is said, TO ap-
point either Judge Crisp, of Georgia, or
Mr.. Mills, of Tcxas. TO tine position made va
cant on the Committee on Rules by the
death of Mr. Randall he is now thought
TO be considering the names of MIR. Forney.
of Alabama, and Judge Holman, of Indiana.
Mr.. Mutchler, of Pennsylvania, will sue
coed Mr.. Randall on the Appropriations
Committee.
The speech of General Hooker in the
House to-day on the negro question and
political conflicts in the South was one OF
the most forcible and eloquent presenta-
tions of the case ever heard in Congress.
NJ. Zimmerman is appointed postmaster
ct Landmark, Fauquier county, rice Annie
T.. Skinner, resigned.
TIE ELECTlONBlLL.
The Ubiquitous Measure Denounced by