The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-15
OPENING GUNS IN THE ENGAGE
MENT FIRED EARLY IN THE
HOUSE.
LONG DEBATE In PROSPECT.
No EFFORT IS TO BE MADE TO
APPLY THE GAG
RULE.
PENDING APPROPRIATION BILL
Commission, and VIII Be Fully
Discussed.

w <AOA44~N1 O&NJ LEV hC 1NONNS
today, after session of about two
hours, adjourned out Of sympathy for
the president, whose mother was buried
at Canton this afternoon. The time of
the session was devoted to the consid-
GRAFTON of the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill. It was de-
cided to postpone the consideration Of
the item providing for the maintenance
Of the civil service commission, until
after the other features OF the bill had
been concluded. 1t was apparent from
the remarks made today that the entire
subject would be exhaustively debated.
There is seemingly no disposition to
eurtail the discussion and it probably
will not be concluded before the holt
day recess. So absorbing Is the topic
that almost the entire time today, de-
spite the fact that the consideration Of
the question had been technically post
poHed, was consumed in debate upon 1t.
Mr. Bingham, in charge Of the meas
ure. in reporting the bill In committee
of the whole stated that the widest lat
itude would be allowed for debate,
even IL it should run over the holiday
resess. He asked. however, that the
provision OF the bill relating to the civil
service and the debate thereon should
go over until after the consideration of
the other features of the bill was con-
Guided.
Mr. Bingham's request was agreed to
and an hour and half was set aside
for general debate on the rest of the
bill Mr.. Barrett (Rep., Mass.) took the
floor and made some general remarks
In support of the civil service law, In the
course Of which he referred to the
slender minority against the civil SER
vice law when it passed the house in
1883 The vote stood 155 to AZ. Messrs.
Cannon (Rep., Ill) and Bingham Rep.,
Pa) reiterated their opposition to the
bread extension of the law by execu-
tive orders. The latter explained that
the law was passed under suspension
of the rules practically without debate
and never contemplated an extension by
executive orders that would cover ST.
600 government employees.
M. DOckery Dem, Mo- discussed the
amazing growth of the expenditures of
the government during the recent years.
y
ment, exclusive of the public debt, in the
last eight years exceeded those of the
preceding eight years by 81 900, 900 600 in
round numbers. In view of this fact
there were only two ways, he said, to
bring the receipts and expenses togeth-
En- Either taxation must be increased
or the expenses must be curtailed. If
the expenses were not to be reduced
congress alone could not accomplish
much without the aid of the executive
branch of the government. Despite the
presidents appeal in his message for
economy, the executive branches of the
government had submitted to congress
estimates for appropriations of $27, O0O,-
the current year
AT this point the committee rose and
Mr.. Grosvenor addressed the chair,
saying: Mr.. Speaker: As is we'll
known the funeral exercises Of the
mother of the chief magistrate of the
nation are to take place at this hour
and therefore conforming to the action
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 carried
and at As the house adjourned until
tomorrow.
The special committee of Republican
representatives in congress, who are
seeking to change the civil service law
held its first meeting today and out
lined it's action. 1t was determined to
divide the work between two subcom-
mittees. one to draft a bill changing
the law, and another to gather evidence
on the defects of the present law, it's
extension beyond the original purpose
Of the law, etc. The purpose of the lat
ter committee is to make clear to the
house when the subject shall come up
that change is imperative. Chairman
Grosvenor named as the subcommittee
to frame bill, Messrs. Hepburn Qo),
Pearson On. c., and Evans RyD, and
as the subcommittee to examine into
defects of the law, Messrs. Tawney,
(Minn.), Odell On. V, and Steele Qnd.).
Their work will begin a once.