The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-10
OPENS WITH PARTY STRIFE
CONTEST IN THE HOUSE OVER
RIGHTS OF COMMITTEES

Com,nist~m~n Conte.ding for supervis-
ION over the Eiuancsal Q~u~stion-Ctvii
-:Service Attacked by Republicans aud
Democrats senator Money Takes His
seat-A kush Of B.lls In h senais
SENATE.
Washington, December "A new
member in Senator Money. Of Mtssis-
sippf was introduced in the senate to-
day and after some brief criticism of
the form OF his credentials the oath
OF office was administered 90 him.
During the session los BILLS many Of
which were private. pension measures.
were introduced. in addition to sew
eral joint resolutions and some SEN
ate resolutions.
Senator Tillman presented a resolu-
ton, which was adopted. fixing Tues
day. January 18th. at 2 p. m. as Q
time for memorial services for late
Jos. 8. Earl. a senator from South
Carolina
Senator Pettigrew. Of South Dakota,
secured h passage OF a res
olu;ion calling upon the inter
state m commission to furnish
b senate a list OF the railroad COM
panies which have complied wholly, in
part. or not all. with the law OF con-
gress. providing that saftey appliances
be affixed to railroad cars. The reso-
luton also calls for the total number
OF persons killed by the railroads dur
ing the past year.
Senator Carter. OF Montana, chair
man OF the ensus committee. requested
that the measure providing for the fed
eral census OF 1900, reported to the
senate at the last session be recon-
mEtted to the committee.
To his Senator Chandler, the aut.sor
Of the bill, objected, but after some
explanation by Senator Carter. the bill
was recommitted as requested.
The senate at 1:35 o'clock adjourned.
HONSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Dingley. from the committee on
ways and means, presented a resolu-
ton adopted by the committee for the
distribution OF the presidents message
to several committees having juris-
diction OF the various subjects treated.
MIR. Walker, chairman Of the banking
and currency committee. asked for a
~re-reading OF that portion OF the reso-
luton giving the ways and means COM
mittee jurisdiction OF all the portions
relating to the revenues. the national
finances the public debt and the preser-
walton Of the public credit"
A very considerable debate followed
upon what the language Of the resolu-
ton meant and the issue as to juris-
dictiOn of the currency problem, as be-
tween the ways and means and the
banking and currency committee was
sharply raised.
Mr.. Walker. after the re-reading Of
the resolution, asked with some heat
what was left to his committee.
Mr.. Dingley replied suavely that all
matters relating to banking and cur
rency under the resolution would go
to the banking and currency COM
mittee.
Mr.. Walker Indignantly protested
that if the questions relating to our
legal tender money which lay al the
very Foundation of our currency and
banking laws were to come under the
jurisdiction of the ways and means
committee, the committee On banking
and currency might as we'll be dissolv-
ed. He avowed that in the last con-
gress his committee had been steadily
dfsregarded. lis members had cooled
their heels in the speakers lobby, he
said, and when at last they were al
lowed to bring in a bill the previous
question had been demanded without
permission for debate and he had been
allowed to address the house only by
unanimous consent.
Mr.. Cox, of Tennessee, the senior
democratic member Of the currency
committee. seconded the protest of Mr..
Walker
Mr. Grosvenor, republican,. Of Ohio.
diverted the whole course Of the debate
by an attack on the civil service law,
hic was several times enthusiastic
cally applauded, both by members on
the floor and spectators in the galleries.
AT the outset he repudiated the idea
that opposition to the civil SER
vice law involved an affront to the
president. Congress was empowered
to deal with the subject and the presi-
dent had referred It to congress. He
heartily agreed with the president
there were places in the CLASH
fed service which ought to be exempt"
Mr.. GrosvenOr declared that he had
kept in touch with the sentiment OF the
country n that il the question were
submitted to the people west Of the
Allegheny mountains 1t would be buried
under their overwhelming condemna-
ton. His remarks in denunciation OF
life tenure in Office" were met with
uproarious applause from the galleries
in which many members on the floor
heartily Joined.
Mr.. Baily, democrat. Of Texas, COM
mended Mr.. Grosvenor's u%tterances
against building up an office holding
class in this country-a doctrine he said
which was almost literally embodied
in the Chicago platform democrat ap-
plause).
That is the only good feature OF that
PLATFORM" calculated Mr.. Steele, repub-
lican. OF Indiana, amid laughter on the
republican side.
Il am glad to relieve the other side
OF the charge OF total ~deprayity" re-
torted Mr.. Bailey to his thrust.
Mr.. Wheeler, democrat, Of Kentucky.
avowed himself a spokesman, in SYM