The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-17
SPIRIT OF LAW IGNORED
NJ HONEST ENFORCEMENT OF
THE REGULATIONS.
CAMPAIGN TALK KILLS SENATE'S TINE
Senator Wolcott Speaks For the Monetary Com
mission mo Report Yet Ready--Senator
Hanna Greeted by Colleagues Re-
solution For Relief of Miners.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 16.-Mr. VOL
colt, of Colorado, chairman of the COM
mission appointed by President Mckin-
ley to secure, if possible, the co-opera-
ton of foreign countries in an interna-
tional conference upon the silver ques-
ton, said in the Senate today that fhe
commission had not yet made report TO
the President, and it was uncertain
when a report would be made. Nego-
tiations for a bimetallic conference, he
said are still pending, but Mr.. Wolcott
assured the Senate that the commits
sion had no intention of prolonging its
effort beyond the point where reasonable
hope of success should exist. Mr.. VOL
colt promised to explain the work OF the
commission in speech to be delivered
after the holiday recess.
Mr.. Hanna, of Ohio, after an illness
of week, appeared in the Senate to-
day and was cordially greeted by all his
colleagues.
Mr.. Allison, of the Appropriation Com
mittee, reported favorably the House
Joint resolution providing for recess
OF Congress from December Is, 1897, to
January 5, 1898. The resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Hawley, Of the Military Affairs
Committee, reported the resolution of
Mr.. McBryde, lOregon), for the relief
OF American miners and other sufferers
in the Yukon valley, Alaska. The COM
mittee struck out all the enacting clause
and amended the resolution by appro-
priating $250,000, which is to be used
by the secretary of war for the purchase
of subsistence and supplies, and for
their transportation and distribution,
the consent of the Canadian government
first to be obtained to pass over the
Canadian territory. The resolution fur
ther provides that the supplies are to
be distributed among the needy miners
as the Secretary of War may deter
mine, and that the supplies are to be
transported by means of reindeer, the
reindeer to be sold after they have
performed their service.
Mr.. Hawley asked for immediate con-
sideraton of the resolution and it was
then adopted.
Mr.. Gallinger called up the census bill,
for the purpose of replying briefly to a
statement by Hon. Carroll ID. Wright
incorporated in Mr.. Lodges speech of
yesterday, in which Mr.. Wright was
reported to have said that $2,000,000
would have been saved if the last CEN
sus had been taken by force under
the classified service.
He expressed surprise that so reckless
q statementn should have been made by
a man usually so careful as Mr.. Wright.
Mr.. Pritchard, North Carolina),
chairman of the Committee on Civil Ser
vice, which is engaged in general in
vestigation of the civil service system,
followed in a speech dealing with the
general features of the civil service law,
contending that under the Democratic
administration there had not been an
honest enforcement of the law. lie did
not, he said, impute corrupt motives TO
those administering the law, but he did
assert that they had permitted their
partisan zeal to induce them to place a
construction on the civil service law in
many instances that is at variance with
the spirit, as well asst he plain letter Of
the law" ''There can be-" he continued,
mo such thing as an honest enforce
ment of the law il we are to permit the
classification as made by Mr.. Cleveland
to remain in force, and it is the impera-
tive duty of the Republican party to
modify the law so as to give expression
TO the honest intentions Of the trainers
of the statute"
III Was, ue Sttiu, a eihSui SoAheiuSutC
that it never occurred to make his
sweeping extensions of the civil service
law until he reached that point where
1t was obvious to him that his party was
to be repudiated by the American peo-
pie at the next general election, nor
until nearly all Republicans had been
removed from office and their places fill
ed with Simon-Pure Democrats.
At o'clock the bill went over to fu-
ture day, and on motion Of Mr.. Quay,
the Senate went into executive session.
at O'Clock the executive session was
concluded and the Senate adjourned.