The Anaconda standard., 1897-12-16
GHOST WILL NOT DOWN
Civil Service Question the CHEF
Topic of Discussion.
DENOUNCED AS A HUMBUG
Assistant Secretary Vanderlip's Propo-
sition to Retire Clerks or Age Meets
Bitter Criticism -Dearmond Gets
in a Word Tor Cuba.


the DAY in the consideration of the, leg
islative. executive and judicial appro-
pfiatlon bill and SO of the 1l2 pages of
the bill were covered and only one
amendment Of Importance was adopted.
1t reduced the clerical force at the pen-
sion Office 55 involving a reduction in
salaries of $115.000 The civil service
! question, as on yesterday. was the chief
topic of discussion to-day. and the
proposition of Assistant Secretary of
| the Treasury Nanderlip to retire clerks
| Tor age was made the text for de-
nunciation by Mr.. Moody of Massachu-
| sets ana MIR. Johnson of Indiana. both
OF whom are defenders OF the civil SER
| vice law.
| Al the opening of the house a resoIu-
ton Tor holiday from Saturday. Dec
| is, TO Wednesday, Jan. 5, offered by
Dingley from The committee on ways
ana means, was adopted. The house
went into committee of the whole and
resumed consideration of the legisa-
tive, executive and judicial bills
LiVlnaston. democrat, of Georgia.
submitted some general remarks in op-
position TO the civil service law, which
be denounced as a humbug
MI Dearmond, democrat, Missouri.
under the latitude allowed in debate ON
appropriation bills, followed with an
lhpassioned speech reproaching the
| majority for not voting upon the Gu
ban belligerency resolution passed by
the senate at the last session His re-
! marks were of additional Importance. IN
view of the action Of the democratic
caucus last night declaring for an ag-
gIessiNe support of the recognition of
cuban belligerency. lie declared rnat
he is not mistaken in his belief that the
American people without distinction OF
party, sympathized with the Cuban
cause. The triumph of tyranny in Cuba.
he said. would prove a menace to lib
erty the world over and, in conclusion.
amid round of applause, he appealed
to the majority to give the house an
opportunity OF voting on that question.
The debate then drifted back to the
civil service question and Mr. Moody,
republican, Massachusetts. called at
tention to what he termed the extra
ordinary proposition" advocated by
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Nanderlip in an interview published
this morning. In that interview" Mr.
Moody said Mr.. Vanderlip proposed to
establish in the treasury department
what, in effect, would be civil pension
list. AS one of those who believed in
the merit system, he thought congress
ought 10 meet this proposition at the
threshold. If this system, which we
support, is to lead to the establishment
Of civil pension list" said he impress
sively then the people ought to wipe
IT out Of existence. tGreat applause).
AS a friend of civil service reform
said he, Il say its worst enemies are
not those who are 6gnting it openly
like General Grosvenor, but men like
the author of this proposition, who sits
in the cabinet by the side of President
Mckinley" (Applause.)
Mi. johnson, republican, Indiana de-
clared that the last census conducted
under the spoils system. was notori-
ously inefficient, and expressed his re-
gret if this important work was to be
inefficiently done He also said he
shared Mr.. Moody's Indignation over
the proposition of Mr. Nanderlip, and
said it was particularly unfortunate at
this lnopportune time. He thought Mr.
Nanderlip's superior, Secretary Gage.
should admonish him. His proposition
violated the spirit and letter of the
law
MIR. Johnson was besieged with ques-
tions from those clustered about him but
he held his own, declaring that the gov
ernment was not conducted for the pur-
pose of providing for men in their old
age. They should do, he said as others |
did, provide for a rainy day
Mr.. Quigg, republican of New York.
MIR. Pearson, republican of North Caro- I
lima, and others became involved N the I
debate. Finally, Mr.. Bingham. in charge I
or the. Dill Appealed To the house to let T
this subject which had been postponed |
until after the rest of the bill was com |
pleted, so over and the debate subsided |
The bill was then read for amendment /
under the five-mnute rule. Mr. " h eler /
democrat OF Alabama, offered an amentt- |
ment providing that so long as the gold I
is maintained IN this country the
salaries of all officials shall be scaled . T
per cent. The amendment was ruled out
on point of order. When the par graph
relating TO the pension office was read
Mr.. Bingham offered the amendment of /
which he gave notice at the opening OF
the debate TO reduce the clerical force by
50, involving a reduction of salaries ag-
gregating S1l5.t00.
Mr.. Handy democrat of Delaware sug-
gested that the amendment might result
in the removal Of 70 democrats which ths
commissiouer Of pensions thinks could
now be spared. and later on in the ap-
pointment of - republicans when il he
came evident that the force was too
meager.
Mr.. Bingham said the clerks were all
under the civil service. Mr.. Cannon gave
"A brief history OF the increase OF tn pen
sion office force. made necessary during
the administration Of Mr.. Dudley. on ac-
count of aTTcarage of work in the bu-
reau. The work caused by the act Of
1850 was four years behind. The increase
had at last brought the work up 70 date
Mr.. Dockery said the reduction in the
pension force should be 500 instead OF 81
In his opinion If the deadwoad yV#s
cleared out Of the Office the work of the
bureau would actually be expedited
Mr.. Todd. democrat Of Michigan moved I
an amendment to the amendment pro-
vidiuG thai reductions should he made
from rhe several political parties rs pro-
pCulnu fu thcir representation an the
pension office force The ameudmt to
the aU-u 4ru ~ was rules out oa 4 point
Of arEar .Cd Jhe original amen dmeHt W4s
adopt E-
Tha lnm.ttee then rose and ii 5a5
b. n tae mousse adjourned