St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-08
AFTER A WEEK OF TALK THE
SENATE GRANTED THE AP-
PROPRIATION.
CIVIL SERVICE INVOLVED.
CAUSTIC COMMENTS WE'RE IN
DULGED IN by SEVERAL OF
THE SENATORS.
THE CONSOLIDATION IDEA KILLED.
WOlcOtt Amendment-VOte as to
Steamship Subsidies.


ate for almost a week, was passed by that
boy just previous to adjournment today.
Ihe entire day, with the exception of few
minutes at the beginning of the session, was
devoted to debate and voting upon the amend
ments proposed to the bill, the Wolcott
amendment for the consolidation of smaller
ofdces with larger ones receiving the greater
share Of attention. The discussion on this
proposition took the form of debate upon
the merits of civil service reform and was
participated in by Messrs. Villas, Wolcott, AL
len, Hill, Power, German, Stewart and
otners. There was rather spirited
dialogues between Messrs. Villas and Allen,
and between Messrs. Wolcott and HILL. Mr.
Wolcott criticised Secretary Smith for his
participation in the Georgia campaign and
was replied to by Mr.. HILL The amendment
was defeated by a decisive vote, receiving
only seven votes in its support
Just after the senate convened Mr. But
Ter pop. N. c. introduced joint resolution
providing for an amendment to the constitu-
tion to limit the veto power Of the president,
so as to make it competent for the two
houses to pass bills over the veto by a ma
jority VOTE Speaking of the resolution he
said that the idea of requiring two-thrds
vote was due to the fact that when the con-
stitution adopted the American people
were not far removed from English ideas
1dent was too great and should be limited
Mr.. Call gave notice that he would call up
his Cuban resolution for discussion tomor-
row during the morning hour. The postof-
flee appropriation bill was then taken up, the
pending question being the amendment fix
ing the compensation of clerks at postal sta
tions and substations, involving the matter of
the consolidation of postoffices.
Mr.. Villas contended that the amendment
did not OP
general, and that postmasters had always had
the power to estblsh substations. He denied
that the postmaster general had power to
send a man thousand miles to establish
an office as Mr.. Allen had charged.
Mr.. Allen read from Mr.. Villas former
speech in support of his statement, Mr.. Villas
oeclared the Nebraska senator had con-
founded Two propositions and added, tartly:
The senator from Nebraska was, as usual.
incorrect, and cannot see that he was.''
Asked by Mr.. Allen if any good had been
accomplished by civil service reform. Mr.Vi
las replied that it had operated to relieve the
pupilc oHlces from a part of the clamor of
once seekers. 1t had given relief to senator's
and representatives and to the holders of the
offices. He considered the system
an excellent one and said that only the inftia
tory had been received.
Mr.. Wolcott made strong sneecb in fo1,o,
with Mr.. German in denouncing the habit of
certain cabinet officers in making speeches all
over the country, and that he had a great
nina 10 call attention to that abuse by Off
Gals OF the present administration. One was
now transforming in Georgia in favor of gold
monometallism. He should have called at
tentlon to the matter earlier had it not been
Tor the fact that it was better that he was
away than here, so far as attention to public
business was concerned.
Mr.. Hill Dem, N. W asked If cabinet off,
GERS had not the right to make political
speeches.
Mr.. Wolcott replied that such officers had
no right to make speeches to the neglect of
his public duty. Mr. Hill called attention to
the TACT that 1t was customary for cabinet
officers to make political speeches. and, in this
connection, he referred to the practices of
Gladstone and Salisbury Mr. Walcott de-
clared, however that the latter were members
of parliament, and said there was an analogy
in the case. Mr. Wolcott commented on what
he regarded the failure of the secretary of the
interior to carry out the law in regard to the
Uncompahgre reservation in Utah, and that
regarding patents to Pacific railroad lands,
and added that he might just as we'll be MAX
ing stump speeches in Georgia as to be in his
office. He said the secretarys arguments
were making friends for bmetallism by the
dozens.
During the debate Mr.. German took excep-
tion to what he considered a reflection upon
him in Mr.. Wolcott's remarks. This idea,
however, Mr.. Wolcott entirely disclaimed. In
a few remarks Mr.. Stewart argued against
the civil service law and said it was the first
step toward the Capitalization of power in the
hands of one man. The debate on the amend
ment having been closed, Mr.. Allison moved
to lay 1t on the table and this motion pre-
vailed; yeas, 49, nays, T. It's defeat was sig
nificant as showing objection to the con-
of postof1ces.
Considerable discussion resulted on the Pas
coe amendment, prohibiting the establishment
or maintenance of substations or branch Of
fees beyond the limits of city in which the
principal office Is located. Mr.. Allison thought
that in view Of the debate in the senate on
the subject, the postmaster general could be
trusted not to make further consultations,
and he, even, might retrace some Of the steps
he had taken. Mr.. Pascoe modified his amend
ment so as to prohibit ths establishment or
Of substations beyond the "cor-
porate limits or boundaries Of city in which
the principal Office is located" and in this
shape it was carried--36 to 25.
The committees amendment, appropriating
$50 600 additional for mails from San Fran
cisco to New Zealand and New South Wales,
via Honolulu, was adopted-32 to 21. The de-
tailed vote was something of a test on subsi-
dies, and was as follows:
Yeas-Republicans, Allison. Baker, Brown,
Burrows, Cannon, Carter, Chandler, Clark,
Cullom, Gallinger, Hale Hawley, Hoar:
Oregon; Nelson, Perkins, Pritchard, Rector,
Sewell, Shoup, Teller, Thurston, Wetmore,
26; Democrats, Brice, Call, Roach. White, 4;
Populists, Jones, Of Nevada, Stewart, 2.
Nays-Republicans, Pettigrew, 1; Democrats,
Bacon, Bates, Blacburn, Chiffon, Cockrell,
George, German, Gray. Harris, Hill, Jones,
Arkansas; Lindsay, Martin, Mills Turpie,
Vest, Villas, Walthall, IS; Populists, Butler,
PETER, 2.
Mr.. Villas moved to strike out the appropria-
ton Of $196 164, made by the house for special
facilities on trunk lines from Boston, via
New York and Washington, to Atlanta and
New Orleans. Defeated-13 to 80. Another
amendment by Villas, reducing the amount for
such special railroad facilities to $175, 900, was
defeated-19 to 33. The bill was then passed
The conference report on the agricultural bill
was then agreed to. The senate at $50 ad-
iourned.