Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-08
A LIVELY SKIRMISH.
FEDERAL HOUSE PLUNGEs INTO
CURRENCY PROBLEM.
ATTACK ON THE CIVIL-SERYICE LAW.
II IL Made by the RepubIicans-De-
punciation of "Life-Tenure In
Daniel Changes His Seat.


skirmish over the question of distributing
the Presidents message to the various
committees clothed with jurisdiction over
the subjects dealt with. The conflict of
opinion came between the Ways and
Means Committee and the Banking and
Currency Committee.
During the debate General Grosvenor.
Of Ohio, fired the first gun against the
civll-service law. and this also brought
the friends and enemies Of that measure
into action. It was noticeable that the
galleries seemed to syTspathize with the
opponents of the measure.
Rev. Henry Couden, the regular chap
lain, who delivered the invocation to-day,
in his appeal TO the Throne of Grace ask
ed for the Divine blessing upon the Presi-
dent in his hour of trial and anxiety.
The Presidents message transmitting
the report of the special committee on
the Paris International Exposition in
| 1900 and recommending a liberal appro-
priation for our representation at the
exposition, was laid before the House.
Mr. Dingley, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, then presented "a reso-
luton. adopted by that committee, for
the distribution of the Presidents mes
| sage to the several committees having
jurisdiction over the various subjects
treated Mr.. Walker (Republican, of
Massachusetts, chairman of the Banking
and Currency Committee, asked for re-
reading of that portion of the resolution
giving the Ways and Means Committee
Jurisdiction over all the portions relating
to "the revenues, the national finances,
Jaht nd a
the public credit" very considerable
debate followed upon what the resolution
meant, and the jurisdiction problem as
between the Ways and Means and Bank
ing and Currency committees was sharp
ly raised.
CURRENCY PROBLEM.
Before the debate. which lasted over
an hour, had been concluded, the House
was plunged into a debate on the cur
rency problem.
Mr.. Walker. after the rereading of the
resolution. asked with some heat what
was left to his committee.
Mr.. Dingley replied suavely that all
| matters relating to banking and currency
under the resolution would so 10 the
Banking and Currency Committee.
1t being apparent that a debate would
be required TO dispose of the question at
issue. Mr.. Dingley and Mr. Bailey ar
ranged for thirty minutes on a side.
| MIR. Walker then got the floor, and in
| dignantly protested that If the questions
| relating to our legal-tender money, which
| Law at the very foundation OF our cur
rency and banking laws, were to come
under the Jurisdiction of the Ways ana
Means Committee. the Committee on
Banking and Currency might as well be
dissolved. He avowed that in the last
L; baH
disregardeo. Its members had cooled
their heels in the Speakers lobby, he
said, and when at last they were allowed
TO bring I'm bill the previous question
had been demanded, without permission
for debate, and he had been allowed 10
address the House only by unanimous
consent.
Mr. Cox OemocraO, of Tennessee, the
senior Democratic member Of the Cur
rency Committee, seconded the protest
of Mr.. Walker. The Presidents sugges-
tions as to national-bank circulation were
interviewer with the proposition TO re-
tire the greenbacks. If the Banking
and Currency Committee was to do any
thing. he submitted, its hands should
not be tied.
Mr. Wheeler OemocraD, Of Alabama, at
this point got the floor, and used feg
minutes in a plea for n government
armor-plate plant in Alabama.
CIVIL-sERVICE LAW.
He was followed by MIR. Grosvenor
Republican,. of Ohio, who diverted the
whole course of the debate by an at
tack on the civil-service law, which was
several times enthusiastically applauded
both by members on the floor and specta-
tors in the gallery.
At the outset, he repudiated the idea
10 piyil-EnFWina
involved an affront to the President. Con-
gress was empowered to deal with the
subject. and the President had referred
If TO Congress. He heartily agreed with
the President that "there were places In
the classified service which ought TO be
exempt"
Mr. Grosvenor declared that he had
kent in touch with the sentiment OF the
country, and that if the question were
submitted to the people west OF the Aile-
ghany mountains ii would be buried un-
der their overwhelming concentration.
His remarks in denunciation of life
tenure in office" were met with uproarous
applause from the galleries in which
MANY members on the floor heartily join
ed. .,
Mr.. Brosius Republican,, of Pennsyl-
vania. the chairman of the Committee on
Civil Service. defended the law, and the
Presidents Interpretation OF II.
Mr.. Bailey DemocraD, OF Texas, com
mended Mr. Grosvenors utterances
against building up an ofiice-holding class
i'm this country-a doctrine he said, whlch
was almost literally embodied in the chi
caro nIatform. democratic applause)
s'rhat is the only good feature OF mat
nlatform." calculated Mr.. Steele Repub-
Iican). of Indiana, amid laughter on the
Republican side.
81 am glad TO relieve the other side or
the charge of total depravity," retorted
Mr.. Bailey to this thrust.
WHEELER A SPOKESMAN.
Mr.. Wheeler Oemocrap, OF KENTUCKY
avowed himself a spokesman, in sympa-
thy with the proposition TO repeal the
,a1. ond Mr.. FITZGERALD DemocraD, OF
Massachusetts,, chided the Repupllcahs
for their attempt TO break down the law.
Mr. Johnson Republican,. of Indiana,
after some opening remarks about the
stunendous folly OF appointing bime-
tallic commission 10 roll over Europe
made a strong speech In defence OF ths
cIyu service law He charged General
Grosyenor with being derelict TO ms duty
and warned his colleagues that II they
nut through a bill In antagohism 10 tne
law IL would be vetoed
Mr.. Cochran DemocraD, OF missouri
in a satirieal speech, spoke or the MUS
tice OF turning over a supJec. Wnicn
Mr.. Walker had freely admitted ne knew
all about, TO Mr.. Dingley, VINO hau
fathered a tariff bill that had aie"uS
produced a 100000 deficit.
Mr.. Bland Democrap, OF Missouri,
nell understood