The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1897-12-24
NEWS FROM washington
Continued from FIRST Page.

propriety of giving bonded officials and
bureau chiefs greater latitude in the
selection of confidential clerks and of
making reasonable amendments to the
law governing the examination of appli-
cants for appointment. If moderate
bill.framed on lines that are not hostile
to the principles of the merit system can
be prepared it is quite likely that the
President would approve it. Mr. Nc
Kinley Is a great believer in the merit
system. but he is not crank on this
subject and the question is not too
'ssacred" for him TO discuss in a reason
able, sensible way with Republicans
who call on him to ascertain his feelings
and to eound him as to what he would
do. 1t is not unlikely. however. that he
will forestall Congress by making the
changes himself, in the form of an exec
utive order.
The Committees on Interstate Com
merce have given George NJ. Mckenzie,
representing the American Scalpers'
Association, a hearing. Mckenzie went
over about the same ground that he did
before the Senate Committee and claimed
further that the scalpers were able to
save the puolic at least five million dol
lars year in transportation charges.
Mr.. Lyons of st. Louis took the other
side of the case and produced set of
figures to show that the scalpers cost the
commercial travellers alone 81 SOC, 900 a
year by standing in the way OF the is
suing of universal and interchangeable
ticket at low rate. A bill will be re-
ported after the holiday recess. probably
about the middle of January, and before
that time further hearings will be
granted to both sides. if demanded The
outcome will probably be the passing of
bill which will break up the scalping
business.
~
Immediately after the holidays, dele
cations in Congress from several States
will get together for the purpose of
organizing, if possible, for the passage of
an omnibus public building bill. There
is still a deficit in the income of the
Government, but this will probably soon
disappear and the Treasury De in con-
dition to stand drain of some five
million dollars year in that field.
There is an urgent demand for public
buildings in many cities and towns, and
bills for their construction are now pend
ing to the amount of not less than fifty
millions of dollars. 1t is not likely that
the entire list of bills will be included in
an omnibus bill, but the proposed expen-
diture will be so distributed as TO COM
mand the greatest possible number of
votes. State delegations will have to
decsde for themselves what buildings
they want most and what they can best
afford to leave ont, and the result will
be measure which will call for, posi-
bly,. twenty-five millions of dollars.
Pennsylvania, OHIO. Indiana, Maryland
aud Illinois would form a nucleus for the
voting combination aud from these Eve.
States eighty odd 6aaatas4As
upon, it is Thought. With fhs
TO start with the rest would
Reps tentative w. A. Stone of 20,
vania, who is probably the str
manipulative leader on the Rex an
side, said to- day that he was in of
an omnibus hill if one could De famed
that was not too "hoggish. and that he
though it might be passed. Mr.. Stone
is the Republican whip in the House and
without his help rothiug can hope to sue
coed of the sort indicated. E. w. B.