The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-12
HALE vs.. ALLEN.
Senator from Maine Has a Tilt
! ! With tho Pepulist.
AN ATTACK ON THE CIVIL SER
VICE.

Woicott and Lodge Denfended 1t Warmly
| Hale Used Quiet Sarcasm on Allen
| Some Sound Republican Principles Set
| Forth in the Eouse-Doings of the Day.
Washington, February ia message
from the President on the subject of
imprisonment IN France Of ex-Consul
Waller Of Madagascar, was was laid be-
fore the Senate today.
Mr.. Allen, Populist of Nebraska, and
Mr.. Vest. Democrat of Missouri, took
up che question of the Secretary of Agri-
cultures action in reference to seeds.
| Mr.. Hale, Republican OF Maine. who
desired to proceed with the urgent de-
ficiency bill, remarked that tho Senate
| had today disposed of the seed bill, and
the discussion was now over, oaput NOR
| tuum.
Mr.. Allen, Populist of Nebraska, criti-
| oized sharply the senator from Maine
and the committee on appropriations
generally, for attempting to control the
proceedings of the Senate. He ridiculed
Mr.. Hale for assuming that when he
entered the chamber every other senator
| is supposed to take a back seat and
tamely submit to his dictation and per-
haps obtruseness until the committee on
appropriations has got through. He
the senator from Maine the opportunity
! to stand
| LIKE A SLAVE DRIVER
and crack his whip over the backs of
other Senators.
Mr. Hale in replying to Mr.. Allen
made no show of irritation. He was an
xious, he said, to get on with the bill;
they were now in the third month of the
session and this was the first time the
appropriations committee had taken up
any time. There were five general ap-
propriation bills reported. There was a
general demand, not from the commit
tee but from the Senate, and the country,
| TO proceed with their consideration
and when the Senator from Nebraska,
Ia good-natured man at the bottom,
should read tomorrow his ebulition
against the committee, he would not be
proud of it.
The consideration of the
l OldEIfI 1C1hNC1 BILL
was proceeded with and attention was
called to the fact that the amount in
cluded in the bill had been increased from
about four and quarter millions, to
about six millions. Considerable discus
sion was had upon the habit of the House
to omit necessary appropriations and
leave them to be put in by the Senate.
An amendment authorizing the ap-
pointment Of % expert money counters
in the treasury outside Of the civil service
rules, lead to discussion of the merits
of the civil service examinations.
Mr.. Halls explained that such examina-
tions could not possibly touch the ques-
tion of expertness OF money counters,
and suggested satrically, that since
member of the committee (meaning Mr..
Roosevelt) had left that position, 1t had
been found that man or woman was
able to do duty In departments without
going before that board.
Mr.. Allen declared that two of the most
GIGANTICALLY USELESS
institutions in the country were the civil
service committee and the inters tate
commission.
Senator Walcott. Republican Of Colo
RADIO, spoke very earnestly in defense of
the civil service commission, and in
an arraignment Of the President and
Secretary Of the Treasury for, as he al
legged, debauohing the members Of Con-
gress by the power of patronage into
rafting" and going back on their
pledges to their constituents on the silver
question In the last Congress. He hoped
civil service would be SO extended SO
that fitness alone should govern in ap-
pointments, and SO the public servants
would not be compelled to hang about
the do ors-of the cabinet officers or attend
the White House like servants to
BEG FOR A MORSEL
of House patronage.
Mr.. Gray clapped his hands in arpro-
val. of this speech.
Mr.. Lodge Of Massachusetts followed
with remarks in the same line, declaring
that patronage and favoritism were ad-
verse to every American idea. The sit
uation was degrading.
The bill went over without action on
the amendment, and the Senate, after
an executive session, adjourned.
The Senate today confirmed the follow
ing nominations: Postmasters for
Maine, ii. H. Harden of Ellsworth, 6.
r. Smith of Kennebunk and G. A.
Wllber of Madison.
IN THE HOUSE.
A number Of District of Columbia bills
were passed today. Consideration of
the bond and silver coinage bill was
, resumed
Mr.. Hill, Republican of Connecticut.
, opposed the Senate free coinage substi-
, tute. He said free coinage would not
be used this year except in the Demo
cratic national convention, and there it
) will be crushed to death in one more