The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-13
POTATOES AND PENSIONS.
A GOVERNMENT BUILDING PUT TO
A NOVEL USE


| The Superintendent of the Structure
Used it as Storehouse for Potatoes
Whice Ee Sold to Government En-
ployes-Other Lively Incidents Dur
ing the Day in the House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l2.-In the House
this morning during the debate on the
legislative appropriation bill Mr.. Cooper
of Indiana made an attack upon
the superintendent of the pension
building, asserting that he stored
several hundred bushels of potatoes in the
pension Office and sold them to employees,
thus turning a governments department
into huckstering establishment.
THE CIVIL SERVICE CLAUSE.
The reading of the bill having been con-
cluded the committee REQUIRED to considera-
ton of the clause making an appropriation
for the civil service commission, and Mr..
Grosvenor Of Ohio raised a point Of order
against il Except 30 far as it refers
to the three commissioners, chief
examiner and secretary on the ground that
it violated the existing law. The statute
designated that clerks should be divided
into four classes, =, 3 and T. 1t further
provided that no clerks should be appointed
until they were found qualified by a board
Of three examiners. Under the law estab-
fishing the commission IL was provided that
clerks should be assigned from one of the
departments.
Now it was proposed to appropriate for
them under the head of the civil service
commission; and therein the bill was In
violation of the law.
Mr.. McComas antagonized the point of
order, and argued that there was nothing
in the bill that could be construed as being
adverse to the creating law.
Messrs Adams and Butterworth took the
same view.
THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR.
The chair in rendering its decision said
that it was attempted on an appropriation
bill to put under control of the civil service
commission the entire force necessary to
conduct its operation, which was in viola
ton OF the organic law, which required
that clerks should be detailed from one of
the departments. The question was
whether the provision of the bill was such
change of the existing law as rendered it
obnoxious to the point of order. The
civil service commission was not a
department as understood in this govern
ment. 1t was board, and a board only.
Il had limited power only. The force pro-
vided for in the creating act was three
commissioners, a secretary, manager and
one other employee. Whatever other fore Q
was necessary for the performance of bust
ness might be selected by the commission
ers from the different departments, but
only after consultation, and with the APP
proval of the head of the department.
Entertaining these views the point of order
was sustained as to the secretary because
his salary was raised S400), and as to all
clerks aud employees except one messenger
and one laborer.
CAN'T INCREASE THE CLERICAL FORCE.
Mr.. Butterworth inquired whether the
chair held that it was not competent to in
crease the clerical force in the OWL service
commission.
The Chair-The chair is Of that opinion.
Mr.. Butterworth-I desire to enter a dis
seneing opinion.
Mr.. McComas appealed from the de-
cision.
Mr.. Moore of New Hampshire argued that
the chair was in error in his ruling; aud re-
garded the point of order as a blow at the
civil service law.
After long debate the question was put
on sustaining the decision Of the chair, and
Messrs. Grosvenor and McComas were APP
pointed tellers.
As the affirmative vote poured down the
aisles MIR. Butterworth suggested that the
rules be suspended and the decision of the
chair be sustained by reclamation. laugh
teri.
The Chairman-That would be very graf
flying to the chair, but hardly In order.
Laughter.
The decision of the chair was sustained by
a vote of 119 to 80
So the clause as to the clerical force of
the commission was stricken out.