Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-17
1t Forms an Interesting Topic Of
Discussion in the Senate.
SEVERAL PHASES OF IT ALLUDED TO
The House is Occupied With the
Tariff Debate.
MIR. SPRINGER'S STATEMENT.

The appearance Of the Senate chamber
today while the journal was being read
would have led any stranger visiting the
Capitol to suppose that the democratic
Senators were in very small minority, for
there were only three of them in their seats
While more than 4 score Of republican Sen-
ators were present.
After the presentation of the usual num-
Der OF circumstances against the Wilson
tariff DILL. a private bill for the refunding
OF small amount wrongfully collected for
internal revenue tax in 1885 engaged at
tention for nearly half an hour and was
finally placed on the calendar
Debate ON the Civil Service.
The resolution offered YESTERDAY by Mr.
Call Fla-1 for an examination into the con-
dition OF the civil service Of the United
states and as to the expediency of It's re-
trenchment or its increase. was laid before
the Senate, and Mr.. Berry (Ark.) expressed
ms hostility to any further extension of
the civil service, characterizing the whole
business as great hUmbug. He was told
by Mr. Call that the resolution had moth
ing whatever TO do with party politics. 1t
was simply as to the question of the ap-
portionment of civil employees among the
states In proportion to population.
Mr- Hoar Mass) said that whatever
q
complete application of the principles of
civil service reform. he did not see how
anybody could desire to continue the sys-
tenn which has prevailed since the time of
andrew Jackson. il not before, of using
the offices of the United States to bride the
people to activity In the service of political
parties He did not think that any APP
plause could be got cuywhere for such
talk as that OF the Senator from Arkansas,
except from office holders or office seekers
Distinct Class of Omceholders.
Mr. Allen CNebD asked Mr.. Hoar whether
the civil service law as now administered
mad not a tendency to throw upon the
country distinct class Of office holders,
entirely apart from their merit.
Mr. Hoar said that he did not think So
Such motive for political activity as the
obtaining of public Offices was degrading
and debasing. He did not think 1t a good
thing. when the present administrat ton
came into power. to have all the foreign
consulships suddenly and promptly chang
ed The newspaper expression of :.lootine',
the consuiships was hardly an extravagant
statement.
The Federal Elections bill,
The discussion on the resolution for a CIV
II service inquiry continued until o'clock.
when the resolution went over until to-
morrow. The bill to repeal the federal
election laws was then taken up as the
unfinished business"
THE HOUSE.
When the House met this morning there
was good attendance on the floor and in
the public galleries.
Delegate Rawlins Utah) asked unani-
nous consent for the immediate ccnsidera-
ton of a bill fixing the amount of indebt-
edness which might be incurred by Salt
for he
continuing certain improvements for which
appropriations were exhausted. and which
would be damaged unless work was contin-
eud- Consent was given, and the bill was
passed.
The Tariff Dill Again Up.
At HIS the House went in,o committee
of the whole to consider the Wilson bill.
Mr.. Richardson CTenn.) took the chair, and
Mr.. Morse CMassD was recognized. He
predicted disaster to the country as a re-
suit Of the passage of the bill
Mr.. Cultivate (Ohio) followed and spoke
in defense of the measure. The present
business stagnation, he said, had been st.
tributed by the republicans to the incoming
of a democratic administration.
He had statistics which showed that this
depression had begun in July 1892 and in
the following six months ave IF them
previous to the election of President Cleve-
land) there had been ralling off in ex-
ports of s9l.OO,Ooo. 1t was only the good
luck of the republicans which enabled them
to get out of power before the crash came.
lie almost regretted that the republicans
had not remained in power. SO that the
people could see the mighty Of the Nc
Kinley bill
Mr. Burrows CMich) then read from sta
tistics to show that our foreign trade and
expectations had increased under the full
operations of the Mckinney law.
Mr.. Springer'x Statement.
Mr.. Springer QIlJ jumped to his feet
with the statement that the balance of
trade between 1880 and 1860 under a low
tariff was In favor of this country.
Several republicans were alert at the
statement. and all were eager to contra
dict it. when Mr.. Springer went on to
explain that what he meant was that this
country had bought more than IL had sold,
and he thought the country was so much
better OF by the excess of importations.
;Derisive laughter among the republicans
Then the gentleman believes that ii
would be TO the interest of the country to
go abroad for everything we want?" asked
Mr. Burrows tarnid the laughter of the re-
publicans)
Mr. Springer explained that goods were a
source of wealth more desirable than
money, and that that was the view held
by Great Britain. The balance of trade
had been against Great Britain, according
10 the understanding of the republican
must be getting poorer every year. The
fact was. however. as was well known,
that England was getting richer every
year.
The people Of the world were indebted tc
Great Britain to the extent of $4,000. COO
Vs1 and il took $500. GOO00O a year to pay
the interest on this debt. That was what
the republicans called the balance of trade
being against the country, said Mr.. Sprin-
ger. triumphantly-
Some Questions by Mr.. Hulick.
Mr.. Hulick (Ohio) inquired whether Mr.
Springer intended TO vote for the bill 70.
the reason that it would produce balance
OF trade against US.
Il hope the time will come when our i'm
ports shall exceed our exports" said Mr.
Springer, in reply. land as our income ex
ceeds our outgo. We will grow richer
'.Win the adoption Of this tariff law result
IN the balance of trade going against u.s.
persisted Mr.. Hulick.
mo; not against this country; in favor Of
it," reiterated Mr.. Springer.
I'VE will get more into this country thar
goes OUT
An Amusing Incident.
An amusing incident occurred in the
early part of this colloquy, participated in
BY Mr.. Burrows and Mr.. Springer The
former had been speaking when Mr. Spring
or broke in. and when Mr.. Burrows called
ont IN ba Hoi