Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-05

OF yesterdays session found when
they left the capitol at o'clock in the
morning the ground covered with snow
and those who were in attendance when
to-days session began had made their
way to the capitol through snow
storm. As soon as the morning prayer
was offered by the chaplain and the
Journal of yesterday read by the
secretary the galleries were cleared
and the doors We're closed for an execu-
tive session. The doors were re-opened
at 1915 when the general deficiency APP
preparation bill was taken up and all the
amendments that had been agreed to in
committee of the whole last night were
agreed to in bulk by the Senate except
us to four that were reserved including
the French spoliation claims and the
Pacific railroad claims.
Mr.. Plumb Offered an amendment APP
propriating $50,000 for the relief of the
citizens of Oklahoma who have been
rendered destitute by the unexampled
drought of the past season. Agreed to.
Mr.. Plumb desired to have an amend
ment offered, and agreed to distributing
among the various departments of the
government a number of census clerks
whose employment is about to cease;
but Mr.. Edmunds objected on the
ground that it was a purely legislative
subject, and that it interfered with the
operation of the civil service rules; those
clerks not having had to go through the
forms of civil service examination.
Mr.. Plumb said that il anybody sup
posed that civil service was run without
fear, favor or affection, he was entirely
mistaken. His information was that it
could be shown that favoritism of the
worst kind was practiced, that system
of back-scratching and underhand work
was carried on whereby persons were
picked out for selection. This was done,
either with or without the permission
of the commissioners, for it often hap
pened that the butler of house dis
pensed hospitality as well as the pro
prietor.
Mr. Edmunds remarked that those
who did it ought to be punished.
Mr.. Plumb assented to that but said
that such IL thing was inevitable under
the sort of autrocacy that had been built
uponcivil service reform, and which con-
sidered itself not only beyond The Presi-
dent of the United States but beyond
the constitution itself The system was
run in way that would in his iudg-
ment, break it down. He did not wish
to have it broken down. He did not
wish TO have restoration of the former
condition Of things under which clerical
offices were scrambled for as the prizes
Of politics.
The first of the reserved amendments
las to payment TO the Pacific railroads)
was agreed to without division.
The next reserved amendment was
that for the payment of the French
spoliation claims.
Mr.. Edmunds made the point Of order
that every one of them was purely
private claim and had no business on
the appropriation bill.
Mr.. Hale argued against the point of
order, and the point was oyerruled by
the Vice-President.
Mr.. Reagan argued that these claims
were really for the benefit of lobby
agents and not for that of the descend
ants of the original claimants.
Mr.. Hoar asserted that there never
were claims that made strongerappeal
to the honor and public faith of the
government than these French spolia-
ton claims made.
The discussion was carried ON at much
length by Messrs Stewart, Hoar,
Edmunds, Spooner, Morrill,, Daniel,
Blair and Hawley. Finally, Mr.. Cor
man having appealed to the senators to
stop the discussion and to pass the bill
before it was too late the vote was taken
and the French spoliation claims amend
ment was agreed to, yeas Al, rays a.
The last reserved amendment was
that striking out of the House bill a
mn t.n rrrn11b ufIfino v1Dptbc a1yIro ~, :,
officers and employees Of the Senate and
session rolls. The amendment was disa-
greed to, and the paragraph was re-
tained-Yeas "a, nays SO.
Mr.. Faulkner moved to add to the
paragraph the words land the official
reporters of the Senate and House."
Mr.. Hale-And | move to add to that
the words SENATORS and Representa-
tives in Congress- If the business of
Congress be to add continually to the
compensation of officials Of both bodies,
there is no reason why that of Senators
and Representatives should not be added
too.
Subsequently Mr.. Hale withdrew his
amendment-with the remark that he
had not intended it seriously.
Mr. Faulkner's amendment was agreed
to.
Mr.. Stewart offered an amendment to
reimburse to the states of California,
Oregon and Nevada moneys expended
by them in the suppression of the re-
bellion-S2, 451 1863 to California, S224,-
526 to Oregon and $404,040 to Nevada.
The amendment was agreed to without
a division.
Mr.. Carlisle offered an amendment to
the extra months pay paragraph so as
to include employees in the law depart
ment of the congressional library. Agreed
to.
Mr.. Frye offered and amendment rati-
flying permits heretofore granted by the
commissioners of the District of Goium-
bia for an extension Of buildings be-
yond the building lines but requiring
such permits in future to have the assent
of all the commissioners.
Mr.. Chandler made point of order
against the amendmentan also opposed
it on its merits. The vote was taken
and the decision of tine chair was not
sustained-Yeas, IL; nays, 40. The
amendment was then agreed TO.
The Senate has adopted the confer
ence report on the Diplomatic Appro-
priation bill including the provision for
the Hawaiian cable.
DELAwARE's 1919 WAR DEBT.
Mr. Daniel moved to insert para
graph directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to resettle and pay the claims
of the states of New York, Pennsyl
vania, Delaware, Virginia and South
Carolina and the city of Baltimore on
account of advances made in the war of
1873 and appropriating $s,5Oo,OOo for