Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-15
HOUSE TO CONSIDER CIVIL SERVICE
QUESTION AT LENGTH.
NO VOTE BEFORE HOLIDAYS.
BOTH SIDES ARE ANXIOUS TO HAVE
FULL HEARING.
Proposition to Drop Nincty-six PEN
sion Office CIcrks-Mr. DOckcry,
Of Missouri, Sets Up II Howl
About the National
Expenses

after Il session oil about TWO iiouIS' ''"-
journed out of sympathy for the prcsi-
dent whose mother WAS buried at Canton
this afternoon. The time Of the session
was devoted to the consideration of the leg
islative. executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill. 1t WAS decided TO postpone con-
sidcration of the item providing for the
maintenance of the civil service commits
sion until after the other features OF the
bill had been concluded. 1t was apparent
from the remarks made to-day that the
entire subject will be eXhaustively debated.
There is seemingly no disposition to cur
tail the discussion and it probably will
not be concluded before the holiday recess.
So absorbing is the topic that almost the
entire time to-day, despite the fact that
the consideration of the question had been
technically postponed, was consumed III the
debate upon ii.
Mr.. bingham, Republican. Of Pennsyl-
vania, in charge of the appropriation bill.
explained its provisions in detail. Mr..
Bingham said he would offer amendments
to reduce the clerical force in the pension
office by ninety-siX clerks. involving re-
duction of sl15.o 800 in salaries.
Mr.. Bingham did not discuss the appro-
priations providing for the maintenance Of
the civil service commission, but stated that
the widest latitude would be allowed for
debate even if it should run over the holi-
day recess. He asked, however, that the
provision of the bill relating 10 the civil
service and the debate thereon should go
over until after the consideration of the
other features of the bill We're concluded.
Mr.. Grosveuor. Republican, of Ohio, un-
der whose direction the fight on the civil
service law is being made, expressed the
opinion that the bill should not be pressed
to final vote until after the holidays.
81.
an hour aid half was set aside for gen.
eraI debate on the rest of the bill Mr..
Barrett. Republican, of Massachusetts, took
the floor and made some general remarks
in support of the civil service law. in the
the course of which he referred to the
slender ma aiority against the civil service
law when 1t passed the house in lsSS. The
vote stood. loo to A..
Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois. and Mr.. Bingham,
of Pennsylvania. reiterated their opposition
to the broad extension of the law by cN-
ecutive orders.
The latter explained that the law was
passed under suspension of the rules. prac-
tically without debate and never contcm-
plated extension by executive orders
that would cover 5000 government en-
ployeS.
MIR. Barrett. continuing insisted that it
was Republican measure. passed by Re-
publican votes. and that the party was ir-
TeNOcablE cOHlnltlet 10 lne poilcE OF CIVIL
service reform.
Mr.. Moody. Republican, of Massachu-
setts said he was willing to give a hear
ing on the civil service question, and he
did not propose to give judgment III ad-
vance.
Mr.. Grosvenor commended this statement.
All he asked was that the house should
honestly consider the question and give its
careful judgment. The craftsmanship
| that does not do its own thinking" he
said. the craftsmanship that only respects
what others say, is the craftsmanship the
parrot displays in the course of his morn
ing ablutinns. 1-aughter.)
oussed the amazing growth of the cxpend-
lures of the government during recent
years. The ordinary expenses of the gov
ernment. exclusive of the public debt, the
last eight years, exceeded the figures of
the preceding eight years by Sl,0o0.oo0 in
were only two ways. he said, to bring the
receipts and expenses together. Either
taxation must be increased or expenses cur
tailed. If the expenses were TO be reduced.
congress alone could not accomplish much
without the aid of the executive branch Of
| the government. Despite the president 8
appeal in his message for economy, the eN-
ccutive branches of the government had
submitted TO congress estimates for appro-
prations of S21.Iooeco in excess of the APP
preparations for the current year.
AT this point the committee rose. and Mr..
Grosvenor addressing the chair, said: MI.
| Speaker as is well known. the funeral cX-
| el cises of the mother of the chief maeiS-
| trate of the nation are to take place at this
hour. and. therefore, conforming to the ac-
| tiOli of the senate. and as a token Of our
| sympathy and respect for the president, |
| move that the house do now adjourn
The motion was unanimously earned, ana
1T /: "A the house adjourned till tomorrow.