Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-13

Mf. Bland You bad q chance tho other
dav, but you did not vote with as. Now
that Mr.. Cleveland has been confirmed IN
bis views by such great statesman as tho
gentleman from Iowa I don't see bow he
can ever change his views and be con-
verted.
In speaking 10 q Pension ONCE paragraph
Mr.. Cooper. OF Indiana. made On attack
upon the Superintendent Of the Pension
building, asserting that he stored several
hundred bushelso potatoesin the PENSION
Office aud sold them 10 employees, thns
farming Government department INTO
huckstering establishment.
TnR cfvr1-sERyIcE COMMISSION.
The reading of the blu having been con-
cluded, the committee REQUIRED 70 the con-
sideration of the clause making On appro-
priation for the Ciyil-Seryice Commissloni
and Mr.. Groevenor. Of Ohio, raised point
of order against It Except so far As II re.
fers 20 the three commissioners, the chiet
examiner, aud the secretary on the ground
that Il violated an existing law. The sta,
int designated that the clerks should
be divided into four classes-l, =,
3, and a. II further provided that
no clerks should be appointed nntil Iney
were found qualified by board OF three
examiners. Under thelaw esteblishingth the
commission it was provided that clerks
should be assigned from one OF the de-
partments. Now ii was proposed 10 APP
propriate for them under the head OF the
Civil Service Commission, and thoreln the
bill was in violation OF the law.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
Mr.. McComas antsgonized the point OF
order and argued that there was nothing "a
the bill that could be construed as being
adverse to the creating law. =,
Messrs. Adams and Butterworth took
the same view.
The Chair, in rendering his decision,
said that it was attempted in an appropIl-
alton bill 20 put under the control OF the
OWL Service Commission the entire force
necessary 10 conduct its operations, when
was in violation of the organic law, when
required that clerks should be detailed
from one Of the departments. The question
was whether the provision Of the bill was
such a change of the existing law as
rendered it obnoxious 10 the point Oh
order. The Civil-Service Commission was
not n department as understood IN TINS
Government. II was q board and Doaru |
only. IL had limited power only. Inc
force provided for in the creating ACT was |
three commissioners, secretary, man |
ager, and one other employe; WhaIever
other force was necessary for the perform
anee of IT'S business might be selected by |
the commission from the different depart
ments but only after consultation WIN
and approval of the heads of the depart,
ments. Entertaining these views the point |
of order was sustained as to the secretary
because his salary was raised S4oO) anu hs
to all clerks and employees except one lheS-
senger and one laborer.
DISSENT PROM THE CHAIRS DECISION.
Mr.. Butterworth inquired whether tne
Chair held that il was not coInpetenI 10 III
crease the clerical force In the Clvli-oer'lce
The Chair: The Chair is of that opinion.
MIR. Butterworth: desire to enter as
senting opinion. n,..;.;o-
"A BLOW AT THE c1yn-sEEyIcE LAW"
Mr. Moore. of New Hampshire, argued
that the Chair was in error in his ruling,
and regarded the point of order as DIoW
at the civil-seryice law.
After a long debate the question was put
on sustaining the decision OF the Chair,
and Messrs. (Irosvenor and McComas were
appointed tellers. As the affirmative vote
poured down the aisles MIR. Butterworth
SUGGESTED that the rules be suspended ana
the decision of the Char be sustained by
reclamation. LLaughter.l
The Chairman That would be very
gratifying to the Chair, but hardly IN or
der ILaughter.I
THE CHAIR SUSTAINED.
The decision of the Chair was sustained
1lg TO 80; so the clause as 10 the clerical
force of the commission was stricken out.
HOOKER ON CLEvELAHD's POSITION,
Tn speaking TO verbal amendment Mr..
Hooker, of Mississippi, referred TO the
printing of Cleveland's letter in the Record
and said that, for one. and speaking only
for himself, he was not disposed to permit
that letter 70 become part OF the con-
pressional record of the country without
saving something In regard to It, so that
he might express the sentiment OF the peo-
pie he in part represented. He had very
great Difference for the views OF the DIS
tinguished statesman: he had very great
deference for the distinguished men who |
in the other branch of the Legislature had |
declared that the judgment of the Amerl- |
can people as expressed on many occasions, |
and especially at the last election, was un-
alterably fixed in favor of the free coinage |
of silver. lApplause.l And although the /
businessmen of the great metropolitan CITY |
ofNev York may have met and resolved that |
IL would disturb the business interests OF |
the country, he thought they ought to |
nause moment and reflect that in that |
Great CITY not one brick would have been |
1iled upon another had not the great agri- |
cultural interest of the country sown the |
earth in good season and brought It's pro- |
duce to the seaboard. 1t was something |
for New York TO be monarch; she would |
be king without subjects to obey her II |
agriculture did not bring its produce to |
her port.
THE POWER BHHIND THE THRONE OF BUSINESS. |
Il must be remembered that while bust |
ness-nen might speak, there was power |
behind the throne of tine businessmen, |
behind the banks, behind the gold-men.
and behind the silver-men-the power OF |
the people Of the country, who had de- |
clared in unmistahable terms that they \
were in favor of the reinsurance OF silver |
dollars-the dollars OF the fathers, the first |
INIT of value on this continent. II could |
not be said that those who were III favor OF |
the free coinage of silver and bimetalhc |
currency were IN favor of displacing any |
thing that had a superior value to |
silver. because silver constituted the |
original unit of value. The people |
had arisen in denunciation of the outrage |
perpetrated in Congress when silver was
demonetized by fraud upon the Govern
ment so fragrant that the President did
not know it and Congress did not know it:
He wished to say while he would not call
in question the opinion of men who
differed with HIM that there was no man
in this country, whether he had held the
distinguished position OF whether he had
an ambition to hold the highest position
within the Gift of the American people
(be he of ope party or another), who could
Law down the law to the great masses of
this country who thought for themselves.
lApplause.l
mo DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE OPPOSED to
FREE COINAGE"
In regard to the publication he wished
TO say for himself, and, he believed, for
his constituents, that they wanted free
coinage of both metals. Whatever might
be the opinion Of any one man, whether
he had occupied an eminent position IN
the past or expected to occupy 1t in the
future; whatever might be the opinion of
any one man. whether he sat on the Re-
publican or Democratic side, no one man
had the right to speak for the great labor
ing interests of the country which stood
back and behind demonstration and law.
lApplausel.
Mr.. Cannon: / would like 10 ask the
gentleman whether he is in favor of Cleve-
land for next President.
Mr.. Hooker / will say that do not
think that any man on the Continent OF
America will ever be a candidate OF the
Democratic party for President of the
United States who is opposed to the free
coinage of silver. Applause.
Without disposing of the bill the CON-
mittee rose and the House adjourned.
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