The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-16
CLERICAL FORCE TO BE CUT.
HOUSE VOTES TO REDUCE PENSION
OFFICE STAFF 50 MEN.

A Reduction of $I15.OOO in Salaries
InvOIved-The Civil Service cues
ton Again the Chief Topic of Dis
cussiOn-The Proposition to Retire
Clerks For Age Denounced by
Messrs Moody of massachusetts
and Johnson of Indiana.
Washington, Dec. 15.-The House spent
the day in the consideration of the legis-
Iative. executive and judicial appropria-
con bill Eighty-nine of the 112 pages Of
the bill were covered and only one amend
ment of Importance was adopted 1t re-
duced the clerical force at the pension
office nnety-five involving a reduction in
salaries of $4,000.
The civil service question, as on yester-
day, was the chief topic of discussion to-
day, and the proposition Of Assistant Sec
rotary of the Treasury Vanderlip to retire
clerks for age was made the text for de-
nunciation by Mr. Moody of Massachu-
sets and Mr.. Johnson of Indiana, both of
whom are defenders of the civil service
law.
At the opening of the session a reso-
luton for the holiday recess from Satur-
day, Dec. IS. to Jan. s. offered by MIR
Dingley from the committee on ways and
means, was adopted.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole and resumed the consideration
of the legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bill.
MIR. Livingston, dem of Georgia. sub
mitted some general remarks in opposition
20 the civil service law, which he de-
nounced as a humbug and fraud.
Mr.. De Almond dem, of Missouri, I'M
der the latitude allowed in debate on APP
preparation bills, followed with an impas-
stoned speech reproaching the majority
for not voting upon the Cuban beligeren-
cy resolution passed by the Senate at the
last session. His remarks were given ad-
ded Importance in view of the action of
the democratic caucus last night declar-
ing for an aggressive support of the recOg-
milton of Cuban belligerency. He declared
that he could not be mistaken in his be
lief that the American people, without
distinction of party, sympathized with the
Cuban cause. The triumph of tyranny in
Cuba, he said would prove a menace to
liberty the world over, and in conclusion
amid a round of applause, he appealed to
the majority to give the House an oppor-
tunity of voting on the resolution.
The debate then drifted back to the
civil service question, participated in by
MeSsrs. Moody, rep, OF MaSSac husetts,
Johnson, rep, of Indiana, Quigg, rep, of
New York, Pearson, rep, of North Car
DINA, and others.
Finally Mr.. Bingham, In charge of the
bill, appealed to the House TO allow this
subject, which had been postponed until
after the rest of the bill was completed
IN Ia 1,a
bill was then read for amendment under
the fiVe-minute rule.
Mr.. Wheeler, dem, of Alabama, offered
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 a point of
order.
When the paragraph relating to the pen
sion Office was reached Mr.. Bingham Of
fered the amendment, of which he gave
notice at the opening of the debate, to
reduce the clerical force by So, involving a
reduction of salaries aggTegating $115 600.
Mr.. Handy, dem, of Delaware, sug-
gested that this amendment might result
in the removal of ninety-five democrats,
whom the commissioner of pensions thinks
could now be spared, and later on the
appointment of ninety-five republicans
when it became evident that the force
was too meager.
Mr. Bingham said the clerks were all
under the civil service.
Mr. Cannon said the increase of the pen
sion Office force was made necessary dur
ing the administra ton of Commissioner
Dudley, when the work, after the passage
of the act of 1890. was four years behinc,
but it was now up to date.
Mr. Dockery thought the reduction in
the pension force should be 500, instead of
ninety-five. In his opinion if the dead
wood were cleared out of the office the
work of the bureau would actually be eX-
pedited.
Mr. Todd, dem, of Michigan, moved an
amendment to the amendment providing
that the reductions should be made from
the several political parties in proportion
to their representation ON the pension Of
flee force The amendment to the amend
ment was ruled out a point of order,
and the original amendment was adopted.
The committee. then arose, and at sos
o'clock the House adjourned.
urrpuU