Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-08
Proposition from Rf. Butler TO Limit
The Presidents Ye.o Power.
SERVICE
REFORM.
CIVIL
Criticism OF the Administration-The
speech-Malxing Throughout Coun-
try OF Cabinet omcers-consoIida-
don OF Post-Omces Disfavored.


az 10 the fund against which the ex-
penses Of the institution should be
charged-the Senate providing that they
should be divided between the District
and the General Government, and the
House that they should be paid entirely
by the District. The Committee on AZ
fairs of the District OF Columbia recon-
mended that the House recede from
its amendment 10 the bill; but after two
hours discussion the recommendation
Of the committee was disagreed to--113
to l27. The bill was then sent to con-
ference
The other was the bill reported from
the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and
Measures. TO adopt the metric system
in government business January 1, 1875,
and 20 make IL the legal standard OF
Tue country January l. 1901. 1t was sup
ported by Mr.. c. w. Stone Republican).
OF Pennsylvania, and opposed by Messrs.
Bartlett DemocraD, Of New York:
Otey DemocraD, Of Virginia; and Park
er Republican). OF New Jersey. The
House refused-65 to SOTO order the bill
to its engrossment, and third reading;
and, pending demand for the yeas and
nays, HI DIV y CiOth, Oh IuollOH ul ME-
Stone. adjourned until tomorrow
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Teller Republican,. of Colorado,
presented resolutions from branches OF
the American Federation OF Labor in
various States for the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver. without waiting for the
aid of any other nation-one of them de-
claring that the members OF the branches
would not assist any candidate who was
not In favor of free coinage, no matter
TO what political party he might belong
Mr. Butler PopulisD Of North Carolina
introduced joint resolutions proposing an
amendment to the Constitution Of the
Unified States limiting the Presidents veto
power. 1t proposes that presidential
veto may be overcome by a majority vote |
0nstead of two-third vote in both |
houses; also that all orders, resolutions !
and votes 10 which a concurrence Of both |
houses may be necessary, except on the |
question Of adjournment shall be pre- |
scented to the President, and shall be an |
proved by him before they take effect. II |
was referred.
The post-office appropriation bill was |
taken up the pending question being Oh |
@ proposition as to the compensation OF |
clerks at postal-ststions and sub-stations, |
The proposition involved the question |
Of the consolidation Of fourth-class post !
cities, and the substitution for them OF
stations. sub-stations. and branch offices. |
There was a good deal Of politics In the |
proposition, and lively debate resulted. |
Mr.. Villas made an explanation OF the |
points at issue. He said that the propo- |
sition was a very simple one. II was a |
mere provision that postmasters who |
would be payable out Of the appropria- |
ton for postmnsters' salaries might be |
paid out of the appropriation for clerks |
when the Offices OF such postmasters were |
discontinued and incorporated with some |
other Offices.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Mr. Villas said the advantages OF the |
postal consolidation system were so obvi- |
GUS that no opposition would have been !
made to il had not the Senator from |
Maryland (Mr Gorman) uncorked the bot /
tie and LET out the genius Of opposition |
TO civil service reform "And." he added |
'ciYil service advancement in this coun- |
try owes its success 10 the man low at |
the head OF this government. Without his |
frm steady, unhlnching, and honest de- |
votion to IL, there would have been. in my |
judgment, for a long period of time, no !
great and substantial can in the develop !
ment OF the cause Of civil service reform"
Mr. Alen PopulisO. Of Nebraska. chal- !
ienged Mr.. Villas 10 point out any bene- |
fits derived from civil service reform.
IF nothing else had been gained" Mr..
Villas replied, than the decency and lean
illness OF political conduct on a
change OF administration. that would
have been enough to make civil service
reform a great triumph That Is. how
ever, but a single circumstance OF gain.
The relief that has been afforded 20
Senators and Representatives Is Of itself
a second item of grcai consequence. No
one would propose the repeal of the bene-
hcent system"
Mr.. Allen said that he had listened
TO the Senator from Wisconsin, in the
hope that he would point ont something
that had been accomplished under So
called civil serv ce reform, u.l g., ? H1-
tor had only delivered g Fourth Of July
Grafton on the beauties. II not the holt
ness. of civil service reform. without ever
undertaking 10 point out an instance in
which IL had bettered the public service
He went on TO point out the absurdlties
OF many Of the questions that might
be put 10 post-offlce applicants by the
civil service examiners; and ne asked
what earthly bearing such questions had
on the fitness of somebody TO run little
fourth-ciass post-ofiice In "A village fifteen
or twenty miles from "A large town.
The rank and file Of the pc pie many
OF whom had done service for the coun-
try In its hour of peril, were TO be set
aside. ignored. and practically disfran-
chsed by the adoption or Suoh silly ana
nonsensical rules" and by that means
the people were 10 be isolated from their
own post-oiticcs.
In the course OF a colloquy between
Senators Allen. Hoar. and Villas on the
subject OF the civil service, Mr. Hoar
referred to Theodore Roosevelt as havins
been a bold. courageous. intelligent. ana
most efficient administrator of the civil
service law. The three men who deserved
the most credit for the Administrative OF
that law were. ne said. Senator Hawley,
Dornan J.. Eaton. and Mr.. Roosevelt.
He did not think that Mr. Cleveland,
who had done a great many good things,
deserved TO be written up very - on
that score.
CABINET-OFFTCE SPEECH-Ml KING.
Mr.. wolcott Republican). OF Colorado,
made an earnest civil-service speech, ia
which he said that he did not agree with
Senator German that the corner grocery
was the cornerstone of the republic.
He did agree with that Senator, how
ever, I'm denouneing the habit OF Cabi-
net officers making speeches all over the
country He himself had had a great
mind 20 call the attention Of the coun-
try 10 that abuse on the part OF the
Cabinet officials OF the present admins
tration. The last Cabinet officer that he
had heard OF doing II was barn-storm-
ing down In Georgia In favor OF gold
monometaliism He should have called
attention 10 II earlier, had it not been
for the fact that that official was better
away than at Washington. 50 far as his
1 public duties were concerned. and his
performances Of them.
us the point you make" Mr. Hin