Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-16
NINETY-FIVE CLERKS DROPPED,
SAVING $II3.OOO a YEAR.
DoCKERY WANTS 500 DROPPED
CIVIL SERVICE DEBATE CONTINUED
IN THE HOUSE.
MIR. DcArmOnd. of Missouri. Breaks
Out with II Violent Attack ON the
Republican Majority for OPP
posing Senate Cuban
Resolutions.

Washington Dee. 15.-The house spent
| the day III TIE consideration of the lcGis-
| lative executive and judicial appropria-
| tion bill. Eighty y-niue OF the l22 pages of
| the bill were covered, and only one amend
ment of Importance Was adopted. 1t re
duced the clerical force at the pension Of
| flee nnety-iive. involving reduction in
salaries of $il5,wr. The civil service qucs-
| tlon, as on yesterday. was the chief topic
| of discussion to-day. and the proposition of
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Van
derlp to retire clerks for age was made
| the text of denunciatons by Mr.. Moody,
of Massachusetts. and Mr.. Johnson. of In
| diana. both of whom are defenders OF the
civil service law.
| Mr. DcArmond, Democrat, of Missouri,
| under the latitude allowed in debate ON
| appropriation bills, made impasSioned
! speech, reproarching the majority for not
voting upon the Cuban helligerency resolu-
tion passed by the senate at the last ses
| sion. His remarks We're given added i'm
portauce in view OF the action of the Dem
CCratc caucus last night, declaring for
aggressive support OF the recognition of
Cuban belligerency. He declared that he
could not be mistaken in his belief that
| the American people without distinction
OF party, sympathiZed with the Cuban
cause.
would prove menace to liberty the world
over. and. in conclusion. amid round of
applause, he appealed to the majority 10
give the house opportunity of voting
on that resolution.
The debate then drifted back to the civil
service question. and Mr.. Moody, Repub-
lican. Massachusetts, called attention to
what he termed the extraordinary propo
stion" advocated by Assistant Secretary
10 NaulerIin ar
view published this morning. In that in
terview, Mr.. Moody said, Mr.. Nanderlip
proposed to establish in the treasury de-
partment what in effect. would be civil
pension list. AS one of those who believed
in the merit system. he thought congress
ought to meet this proposition at the thres-
hold. IF this system, which we sup
port, is to lead to the establishment of
a civil pension list" said he, impressively.
then the people ought to wipe it out OF
existence" Great applause)
.'AS friend of civil service REFORM.
said he Il say its worst enemies are not
those who are fighting it openly, like Cen
eral Grosvenor. but men like the author
of this proposition. who sits in the cabinet
by the side of President Mckinley" Gap
pIause.)
Mr.. Johnson. Republican, of Indiana. de-
clared that the last census. conducted I'M
efficient. and expressed his regret if this
important work TO ne ineiticiently
done. He also said he shared Mr.. Moody's
Indignation over the proposition OF Mr..
Vanderlip and said it was particularly un-
fortunate ut this inopportune time. He 4
thought Mr.. Nanderip's superior. Secretary
Gage, shoudld admonish him. His PROPOSE
ton violated the spirit and letter of the
law.
Mr.. johnson was beSieGed with nleS-
tions from those clustered about him. but
he held his own, declaring that government
was not conducted for the purpose of pro-
viding for men in their old age They
should do. he said. as others did-provide
for rainy day.
Mr. Qugg, Republican, of New York;
Mr. Pearson, Republican. OF North Caro-
lima. and others became involved in the
debate. Finally Mr.. Bingham. in charge
of the bill, appealed to the house TO let
this subject which had been postponed un-
til after the rest of the bill was completed.
go over, and the debate suhsided. The
bill was then read for amendment under
the five minute rule.
Mr.. Wheeler, Democrat, of Alabama, Of
fered an amendment providing that, SO
long as the gold standard is maintained
in this country. the salaries of all officials
shall be scaled % per cent. He made a
ten minute speech in support of the amend
ment which was ruled out on Il point of
order.
When the paragraph relating to the
pension office was reached. Mr.. Bingham
offered the amendment of which he gave
notice at the opening of the debate. to re-
duce the clerical force by ninety-iivc. in
volving Il reduction of salaries acgreGat-
ing $lla,cS.
Mr. Handy, Democrat. of Delaware, suC-
gested that the amendment might result
in the removal of ninety-tive Democrats
when the commissioner of pensions thinks
could now be spared. and later the ap-
pointment of ninety-five Republicans, when
il became evident that the force was too
meager.
Mr. Bingham said the clerks were all
under the civil service.
Mr.. Cannon gave a brief history of the
increase of the pension office force made
Commissioner Dudley, on account of ar
rearage of the work in the bureau. The
work. after the passing of the act of 1>,0
was four years behind. The increase had
at last brought the work up to date
Mr. Dockery thought the reduction in
the pension force should be 800 instead of
ninety-iive. In his opinion. If the dead
wood were cleared out of the offices, the
work of the bureau would actually be ex-
pedited.
Mr. Todd. Democrat, of Michigan moved
an amendment to the amendment provid-
inS that reductions should be made from
to their representation on the pension Of
fice force. The amendment to the amend
ment ruled out Il point of order
and the original amendment was adopteI,