The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-08
Senators Fire and Cross Fire at Each
Other About the Civil Service Law.
SECRETARY SMITH is NOT FORGOTTEN.
American Federation OF Labor Want
Free Coinage of SI,ver-A Joint
Resolution offered to Limit tho
Presidents Veto Power-Anothcr
Big Sum of Money Appropriated.


i'm variou states for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver.
One of them declared that the mem
bers of the branch would not assist any
candidates who was not in favor of free
coinage. no matter to what political par
ty he might belong.
MIR. Butler. PopJ. of North Carolina.
introduced joint resolutions proposing an
amendment to the constitution of the
United States ltnfing the Presidents
veto power. 1t proposes that a pre- siden-
tial veto may be overcome by "a maj jori;y
vote Qnstead of two-thirds vote ia
both Houses: also that all orders. reso-
lutionS and bills to which concurrence
OF both Houses may be necessary except
on the question of adjournment, shall be
presented TO the President and shall be
approved by him before they take effect
The rostoflce appropriation bill was
taken up. the pending question being on
the proposition TO the compensation OF
clerks ut postal stations and sub sta
tions.
The proposition involved the question
of consolidation OF fourth class post
Offices in the vicinity OF large towns and
cities and the substitution for them OF
stations, sub stations and branch
oihces. There was q good deal OF poll
ucs in the proposition and Il lively de-
bate resulted
MIR Villas made an explanation OF the
points al Issue. He said taht the propo-
s!iion was very simple one. Ii was n
mere provision that the postmasters
who would be payable out of the np-
propriation for postmas,ers salaries.
might be paid out of the apropriati ton
Tor clerks, when the Office of such post
masters were discontinued and incorpo-
rated with some other Office
Mr.. Villas said the advantage OF the
0l,-
rioui that no opposition would have been
madc to II, had not The Senator from
Maryland. tGorran). unccrked the bot
tie. anu let out the genus OF opposition to
civil service reform. And he added
civil service advancement I'm this coun-
try owes it's success to the man now al
the head OF this government without
his firm. steady. unhinching and honest
devotion 10 II. there would have been in
my Judgment for a long period of time
10 great and substantial gain in the de-
veiopment or the cause OF the civil SER
vice reform"
Mr.. Allan challenged Mr.. Villas to
point out any benefits derived from civil
service reform
III nothing else has been gained" Mr.
Villas replied, than the decency land
cleanliness ~; political conduct on
change of administration. that would
nave bean enough to make civil service
reform great triumph. That is how
ever, but Il single circumstance OF gain
The relief that has been afforded to
Senators and representatives is of it,
self. second Item of great consequence
Mr.. Allan went on TO point out the
nosurditicS OF many or the questions
that might be put to postoffice applicants
by the civil service examiners and he
asked what earthly bearing such oues-
tions had on the fitness OF somebody to
run littl. fourth class postofficc In q
village fifteen or twenty miles from n
large town.
The rank and file of the people. many
of whom had done service for the coun-
try in It's hour OF peril were to lie set
aside. ignored ana practically disfran-
chised by the adoption of such l"s!lly
and norsen5cal rules md by that means
the people were TO be isolated from their
own postofiices.'
In the course OF a coloquy between Sen
ators Allan, Hoar and Villas on the sub
ject of civil service, Mr.. Hoer referred 10
Theodore Roosevelt as having been &
bold. courageous. intelligent and most
efficient administrator of the civil SER
vice law. The three men who deserved
the most credit for the administration OF
that law. were he said. Senator Hawley,
Dorman Il. Eaton and Mr.. Roosevelt lIc
did not think that MIR Cleveland, who
had done great many good things. de-
served TO be written UP very high on
that score.
HlI. w olCOltt (hep.), OF COLORADO, maze
an earnest civil service speech, in which
he said that he did not agree with Sena-
tor German that the corner grocery was
the corner stone of the republic. He did
did agree with that Senator, however.
In dcnouncing the habit OF cabinet Off.
GERS making speeches all over the coun
try. He himself had had great mind
to call the attention OF the country to
that abuse on the part Of the cabinet
officials. The Inst cabinet officer that
he had heard of doing SO was Barn
stalking down in Georgia in Iavor OF
gold monometallism." He should have
called attention to II earlier had IL not
been for the fast that official was better
away than al Washing ton. 10 far as his
public duties were concerned and his
performance of them.
lis dh,e point you make" Mr.. Hill
asked, that cabinet officer has no
right to make these speeches throughout
the country to the neglect of his duties.
or is 1t that he has no right to make po-
litical speeches at alp"
II take 1t" Mr.. Woloott replied. that
he has no right TO make speeches to the
neglect of his duties"
Mr.. Hill-That Is the point Of your
criticism.
Mr.. Wolcott-At this time.
Mr.. Hill suggested that II had been the
custom heretofore for cabinet officials
to make political speeches and that was