The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-23
Miss.); Bowers. Rep.. CALI; and Neil,

Miss.l; Bowers. (Rep.. CALI; and Neil,
Dem, Ark Mr.. Settle, (Rep., n. O.,
made the motion to strike out the para
graph relating to the civil service, which
we defeated, o9-62 The bill as passed
carries sol ,669, 800 or S36,3T9 more than
the current bill.
When the House took up the legisla-
tive appropriation bill, Mr.. Gibson, tRep.,
Tenn.1, urged greater consideration for
veterans of the rebellion in appointments
to offices, under the civil service system.
MIR. Baker, (Rep., n. H. attacked the
method of administering the civil service
laws under the present administration.
He asserted that JOG Georgians had been
appointed TO places in the Interior depart
ment by this administration, that, OF
SIG dismissals from the department, 1S5
were veterans. and that the Treasury
department had also Disseminated n
gainst Republicans in appointments and
dismissals, leaving but one Republican
in the secret service.
Under the spoils system the public
business had been better handled than
now. when the clerks are kept under Sc
eret espionage and are no better off than
factory hands. Yet the civil service com
maladministration
MIR. Walker, (Rep., Mass.), warmly en-
tlorsed the principle of the civil service
law, which he declared was the controll-
ing principle in every wcll regulated
business concern.
A remark of Mr.. Walkers about the
poor white trash of the South drew
from Mr.. Williams, Dem, M}ss.), an
eloquent and singing rebulle. He char
acteIized the so-called poor white trash
of the South as the most magnificent raw
material in this country for the making
of manhood and womanhood. The South
he said. was to-day the only American
part of America and from the poor
white trash of the South sprang Henry
Clay, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lin
coin. The latter's magnificent courage
and keen sense OF humor was Southern
and and poor white trash at that.
Mr.. Walker repudiated the suggestion
that slur was contained in his reference
to the poor white trash. He said he had
referred to class well known in history
who, before the war, were exiled to the
mountains and had the contempt both
of the wealthy siave-owners and the ne-
groes.
Mr.. Williams, in reply, declared the
class had never had any existence save
in the minds of novelists and negroes.
Mr.. Williams, expressing himself on the
Civil Service law, gave it as his opinion
that no business man of common sense
would apply the principle of competitive
examination to the selection of his EN-
ployes. lie said he, himself, was opposed
to life tenure in office.
AIY ali ,saN
Neill Dem., Arkansas both made brief
remarks in opposition to the Civil Ser
vice law.
Mr.. Settle CRep., North Cardinal
moved to strike ont all provision for
Civil Service. Mr.. Brosius expressed
his astonishment that motion to strike
out this paragraph should come from i
Republican. He read the utterances OF
the st. Louis platform and Of President
elect Mckinley on that subject
Mr. Settle said that he was not so much
opposed to Civil Service law as to the
extensions made by Mr. Cleveland.
Don't you know your amendment
would strike down the commissionT'
1T would not" replied Mr.. Settle; 'it
would cripple the law and / wish / could
cripple it still more"
This statement was heartily appIauded
by many Republicans on the floor and
was vorciferously hailed by the galleries.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Richard
son, Mr.. Brosius said he felt certain that
President-elect Mckinley would do all
he could TO improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the law There was a
great deal OF spaTing for points through
out the debate. Mr.. Settles amendment
was defeated-29 to g. Mr.. Hill (Rep.,
Connecticu0 moved an amendment to
provide that all persons in the classified
service who had not taken an examina-
tion should take such examination.
The purpose of this amendment was to
subject thosepersons placed in the cIassi-
fed service by Mr.. Cleveland's order to
an examination. The amendment was
ruled out on a point Of order The com
mittee then rose and the bill was passed.
At $40 p. IN. the House adjourned un-
til noon, January 5.