, 1890-04-18

WASHINGTON. April Islanders and
Powers, the new Montana senators, we're
in their seats this morning, their desks
having been placed on the Republican
side since adjournment yesterday. The
desks were first on the Democratic side,
after the four new states were admitted,
aud there they remained until the action
of the senate yesterday seating the Re,
publican contestants. Under the terms
of a resolution presented in executive SEES
sion yesterday by Hoar. Sanders and
Powers were assigned by lot to the classes
OF senators whose terms expire in 1898
and 1895, respectively.
Among the bills introduced was one by
Reagan proposing an amendment to the
constitution Tor the election of senators
by a vote Of the people.
The senate bill a2propriatinR s20,0 600
for the improvement of the military res
ervation known as Fort Walla WaIla,
for the appointment and retirement of
John G. Fremont as a major general Of
the United States army. The house bill
to transfer the revenue cutter service to
the navy department was taken up.
Sherman opposed the bill, which was
laid ove-, and the senate proceeded to
consider the house joint resolution for the
appointment of thirty medical examiners
for the pension bureau without reference
to the civil service law.
Faulkner moved to strike out the pro.
vision taking the appointments from the
civil service. and Cockrell said he had
hoped some ReTublican-the party of
civil service retorm-would nave raised
his hand in defense of the civil service.
This precipltated a breezy political debate.
Cockrell tainted the Republican sena-
tors with lack of sincerity and
SAID the commissioner of pensions is now
trampling under his feet the civil
service law and rules approved by the
president, in which he is aided and abbot
ted by the secretary OF the interior.
1t the Republicans intend to trample the
civil service law under foot it should be
done in a bold and manly way and not
stalking behind this Joint resolution. He
charged the object of the pending measure
was 10 destroy and break down the civil ser
vice law. The vote on Faulkner motion
resulted, yeas Is, nays 24-not a quorum
Aldrich, Hoar and Sanders (Republicans)
voted in the affirmative with the Demo
Gratis. A roll call disclosed the presence
Of forty four senators.
Hoar moved an amendment by insert
ing the words, Under regulations to be
prescribed by the president of the United
States" These examiners, he said, were
to be appointed only for a brief service.
an emergency, and this was an additional
reason why the general civil service rules
should not apply. Ii was perfectly clear
to him that the record OF no party, no
president, and he suspected no senator.
would be found absolutely in accord with
the strict letter of their declarations in re-
gard to civil service reform.
Plumb hoped the senator from Massa-
chusetts would limit his confessions TO
himself, and commented upon the com
binaiiOn which seemed to exist between
the Democratic party and the senator
from Massachusetts," The bill, he said,
simply put the whole question OF appoint
ments in the presidents power. 1t did
not seem to him The bill should have ex-
cited debate. The appointments were
mere temporary ones. After considerable
further discussion Holr modified his
amendment to read: The examination
Tor the appointment of these examiners
shall be under regulations prescribed by
the president. This was agreed %
yeas 3S, nays 8, and without finishing the
bill the senate adjourned.