The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-08

the Entire Day and Takes the Turn OF
q Discussion of the a:erits and Dement'S
of Civil Service Accommodated Con-
graduates the Country Upon Hoke
smiths Neglect of Business in the In
terest of Partisanship.
Washington, April THE postoffice
appropriation bill, which has engross-
ed the attention of the senate for almost
q week, was passed by that body just
previous to adjournment today. The
entire day, with the exception of few
minutes at the beginning of the session,
was devoted to debate and voting upon
the amendments proposed TO Uhe bill,
-1fla Wolcott amendment for the cOnSol-
idaUiOn of smaller offices with larger
ones receiving the greater share Of at
tention. The discussion on this PROPOSE
tor again took the form of a debate
upon the merits Of civil service reform,
and was participated in by Messrs.
Villas, WOlcott, Allen, Hill, HOar, Cor
man, Stewart and others. There was
some rather spirited dialogue between
AIessrs. Villas and Allen and between
lIessrs. Wolcott and Hill. Mr.. WOlcott
criticized Secretary Smith for his par
ticipauon in the Georgia campaign and
was replied to by Mr.. Hill. The amend
ment was defeated by decisive vote.
receiving only seven votes in its sup
port.
Sc ator Teller presented a large num-
Der of petitions from branches OF the
American Federation of Labor in var
JOS states, asking for the restoration
Of the free coinage of silver and ex-
pressing the opinion that such course
would promote prosperity.
Call gave notice that ne would call up
his Cuban resolutions for discussion to-
Dr,rIaW.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In the discussion of the sub-office
amendment to the postofice apprOpria-
ton bill Mr.. Villas hoped that the au-
thOrityof the postmaster general to es-
7ablish sub-Ofiices would not be curtail-
cd Mr.. German had raised the ques-
fion Of civil service reform, and has
-uncorcked the bottle and let out the
genius Of opposition to civil service re-
Intm.'
Asked by Mr.. Allen if any good had
been accomplished by civil service re-
form Mr.. Villas replied that it had OPP
GRATED in 1885, 1889 and 1898 to relieve the
public Offices from part of the clamor,
at least, of office seekers. 1t had given
relief to senators and representatives
and to the holders of executive offices.
He considered the system an excellent
one and said that only the initiatory
benefits had been received.
AIr. Allen characterized Mr.. Villas re-
marks on civil service reform as a
Fourth of July effort. He CAllen) want
ed him 10 point out the cold facts and
give particulars in which the country
had been benefited.
air, Hoar Of Massachusetts, declared
that there were three men who ought
- nave credit for the great accomplish
T.Isnt and reform In the civil service.
w: Dorman B. Eaton, Senator Hawley
OF Connecticut and Theodore Roosevelt,
Who had been bold, courageous and in
tesligept- He did not think that PreSi-
Gent Cleveland, who had done a great
ElsHy good things during his admins
tra ton, deserved to be written very
high on the scroll. Civil service, the
senator thought. had come to stay, and
Il VIC nd be the policy Of the country in
the future.
BITTER THAN THE OLD WAY.
Mr. Hoar described the state of things
existing before civil service was inaug-
urated. That condition of affairs had
teen one Of the most corrupt evils that
ever cXis,ed under a free government,
an offensive stencil in the nostriIs of the
people, the degradation, the shame, the
infamv Of the American people. If the
PEOPLE did net get the best possible sub
stjtutc they got a million-fold better
than the one displaced. On the whole,
the senator concluded. President Cleve-
land and President Harrison and their
ibinets had faithfully and honestly
u ith some exceptions, carried out the
lew.
MI Wolcott made a strong speech IN
+; Vor Of the civil service law, but said
g st he agreed with Mr.. German in de-
uCIncing the habit of certain cabinet
o icers in making speeches all over the
Z untTy, and that ne had a great mind
L call attention TO that abuse by Of
ficials Of the present administration.
One OF them was now transforming in
Georgia in favor of gold recommendation
He should have called attention TO the
! matter earlier had 1t not been for the
fact that he was better away than here,
so far as attention 10 public business
was concerned.
BUSINESS BEFORE POLITICS.
Mr.. Hill Dem-, n. " asked if cabinet
officers had not the right TO make pOlIt-
icail speeches.
Mr. Wolcott replied that such officers
had no right TO make speeches TO the
neglect Of their public duties,
Mr. Hill called attention TO the fact
that il was customary for cabinet Of
ficers to make political speeches and in
this connection he referred 10 the prac-
tees Of Gladstone and Salisbury.
MI Wolcott declared, however, that
the latter were members of the paTlia-
nrent and said there was no analogy in
the case. Mr.. Wolcott commented on
what he regarded as the failure OF the
secretary Of the interior 10 carry out the
law in regard TO the Uncompahagre IN
dian reservation in Utah and shat re-
gaTlLng patents 70 Pacific railroad
lands, and added that he might just as
well be making speeches in Georgia as
10 be in his Office. He said the secre-
1ary's arguments were making friends
for bimetallism by the dozens.
During the debate Mr.. German took
exception TO what ne considered a re-
Election upon himself in Mr.. Wolcott's
remarks. This idea. however. Mr. VOL
cOtt entirely disClaimed. Mr. German
laid tlat since he had become Sena e, r
gher,e has not been a dozen postmasters
N MARYLAND appointed on his Room
na1dation and he resented the in;ima-
ton that his opposition 20 the amend
ment was because il would take away
patronage.
IN few. remarks Mr.. Stewart argued
against the civil service law and said
it was the first step toward the cen
-srSIiza ton of power in the hands o.
one man.
The debate on the amendment hsv-
e.