Rock Island Argus., 1897-12-08
.GReSvEN0h'S HOBBY.
Ohio Man Opens on the Civil Ser.
vice Law at His First
Opportunity.
J5HEs0N ,0r INDIANA In REPLY.

Defends the Law and Tells the Buckeye He
Is Reoreant to His Party Policy-ways
and Means Committee Given the Presi-
dents Gresnback Suggestion to Ponder
Upon - Treasury Official Makes Some
Comparisons Between Present Income
and That Of Other Years.
Washington, Dec. S.-The session of
the house yesterday. though it lasted
but two hours, witnessed a very lively
skirInish over the question of distribute
ing the presidents message to the vari-
Gus committees clothed with jurisdiction
over the subjects dealt with. The con-
dict OF authority came between the
ways and means committee and the
banking and currency committee. The
battle ragged all along the line. During
the DEBATE Grosvenor of Ohio fired the
hrst gun against the civil service law,
and this also brought the friends and
enemies OF that measure into action.
johnson OF Indiana. in a ringing warn
Ing. declared that if bill to emasculate
the civil service law were passed it
would meet the presidential veto.
Eventually Dingiey, in Difference to the
opposition of the members of the bank
Ing and currency committee. agreed to
q modification of the order of distribu-
ton 50 as to send to the ways and
means committee all matters relating
10 the revenues. the bonded debt Of the
country and she treaties affecting the
Nsg
adopted.
Attack ON Civil Service Reform.
The attack on civil serv;cere.orm was
the most lively feature of the session.
II was led by Grosvenor, and he was
several times enthusiastically applaud
ed both by members on the floor and
spectators in the galleries. At the out
set he repudiated the idea that opposi-
ticn to the civil service law involved
an arront to the president. Congress
was empowered to deal with the SUBJ
jeci. and the president had referred it
to congress. lie heartily agreed with
the president that there were places
In the classified service which ought to
be exempt"
Il am glad" said Grosvenor. ito 60
that far with the president, even IL I
am compelled To part company with him
when he says the civil service system
has the official sanction of the people"
Grosvenor declared that he had kept in
touch With the sentiment OF the country
and that III the question were submitted
10 The people west of the Allegheny
mountains IL would I've buried under
their overwhelming condemnation.
Calls Grosvenor E<reIicf.
johnson OF Indiana. after some OPEN
Ing rer.arHs about the stupendous folly
OF appointing q bimetallic commission
TO roll over Europe, made a strong
speech in defense of the civil service
law. Grcsveno- he charged with being
cerelict 10 his duty as a Republican.
That party, he said. was unalterably
Pledged to sAc support OF the law.
benjamin Harrison and William Nc
kinley. tie most distinguished ex-
ronents of It's policies. had fought for
the law in no uncertain language. and
Grosvenor. he thought, we'll merited the
rebuke administered to him by Bailey
when the latter charged him with sun
porting the Chicago platform. laugh
sNa"J 'aN mo- Sci'i tli4l iut lflOutnDlecG
Of the administration had fallen so low.
No portion % the presidents message
met with more hearty Endorsement from
him than that relating to the civil ser
vice and lie warned his colleagues that
w they put through bill in an;agonism
To the law IL would be vetoed More
over. he said, il was n mistake to
imagine that the sentiment OF the coun-
try opposed Il.
Nothing of Interest in the senate.
Washington. Dec. S.-A new member
IN II. De :. Money. Of Mississippi, was
introduced In the ser~'N yesterday. and
after some brief criticism of the form OF
his credentials the oath of Office was
administered to him. During the ses-
sion los bills, many Of which were pri-
vate pension measures. We're intro
duoed. In addition to several Joint reso-
luton and some senate resolutions.
An interesting contest for prece6 nee
In consideration by Lodges immigra.
tion bill and the proposed legislation TO
confer authority upon the president TO
act for the protection Of the govern
ment's interest at the sale OF the Kan
sas Pacific was pending at the close Of
the session.