The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-16
CIVIL SERVICE THEQUESTION
II is Brought Up Prominently in SeV
Ual Discussions.
The PROPOSED CIVIL PENSION LIST.
Schemes the Worst Enemies ofReform
SAYS Mr.. Moody-'Mr. Wheeler's
ProposItion--The Next Census.

ProposItion--The Next Census.
WASHINGTON. Dec. B-The House
spent the day in the consideration of the
legislative, executive ana judicial appro-
priation bills. E.ghty-nine OF the IL
pages Of the bill were covered and only
two amendments Of importance were
adopted-one reducing the watchmen
force at the State. War, and Navy build
ings from 5s to 40 and the other reducing
the clerical force at the Pension office. s5;
involving a reduction in salaries Of sll5,-
900
The former amendment was carried
over the protest Of the Appropriation
Committee while the latter was advocated
by General Bingham, In charge Of the
bill and had been recommended by Com
missioner Evans who said the reduction
would not impair the efficiency of the
bureau Tho civil service question as
on yesterday was the chief topic OF dis
cussiOn to-day and the proposition OF
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury Van
derlip To retire clerks for age. was Wig
orously attacked.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.
At the opening OF the session resolu
ti0n for the holiday recess from Satur-
day, December 1Sth TO Wednesday, Jan
uary 9Th, offered by AIR. Dinglcy 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
Mr.. Livingston Dem. OF Georgia. sub
mifted some general remarks in opposi-
tion to the civil service law which he de-
nounced as humbug and fraud.
Mr. Dslrmond (Dem. OF Missouri under
the latitude allowed IN debate on appro-
priation bills followed with an impas-
stoned speech reproachng the majority
for not voting Upon The Cuban beliger-
ency resolution passed by the Senate at
the last session. Ills remarks were given
added importance in view of the action
of the Democratic caucus last night de-
claring for an aggressive support for the
recognition OF Cuban bclligcrency
lie declared that he could not be mis-
taken in his belief that the American
people without distinction of party SYM
pathized with the Cuban cause. The war
the one hand by heroism. devoted TO the
cause Of freedom. and independence and
on the other hand by all the cruelty and
devastation of The darkest ages OF the
world. The triumph of tyranny in Cuba,
he said would prove menace TO liberty
the world over and in conclusion. amid
a round Of Democratic applause. he
appealed to the majority 10 give the
House an opportunity of voting on that
resolution.
CIVIL PENSION LIST
The debate then drfted back 10 the
civil Service question. and Mr MOODY
(Rep. of Massachusetts) called attention
10 what he termed the extraordinary
prOpOsltiOn" advocated by Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury Nanderllp, 10 es-
tablsh in the Treasury Department What
in effect would be civil pension list.
IF this system which we support ls 10
lead TO the establishment OF "a clyil pen
sion list" said he impressively, then the
people ought 10 wipe it out OF existence.
Continuing. Mr. Moody said he did not
believe the act Of 1883 led logically 10 a
civil pension list but on the other mana
he dld believe the declaration OF the AS
sistant Secretary OF the treasury Wouiu
meet the disapprOval OF American peO-
"As a friend Of Civil Service reform,
said he, II say its worst enemies are not
those VINO are lEllllE IL openly iAh' RNiA-
eral GrosVcnor, but men Ike the author
Of this proposition, who sits IN The Cab
met by the side Of President Mckinney
(Applause)
llfe-tenure In office led naturally TO civil
pension list IL would be brutal, he said,
10 turn men out 10 starve after they had
spent their lives in the service ana were
incapacitated from doing anything else.
Mr.. Moody denied that 10 was brutal 10
turn out man after he had ceased 90 be
valuable and especially IL he had enjoyed
long service at a salary double thdt TOT
the same service In private life.
THE CENSUS.
Mr.. Johnson Rep.. Of lndiana) declared
that the last census conducted under the
spOils system, was mOtOriOusly inefficient
and expressed his regret II this important
work was 10 be incfcicnuy done. He
also said he shared Mr.. Moody's indigna-
ton over the proposition OF Mr.. Nanderlip
and said % was particularly unfortunate
at this inOpportune time. Ills pfOposl-
tion violated the spirit and letter OF the
Mir. Quigg Rep., Of New York;. Mr
Pearson (Rcp., OF North Caroiind) and
others became involved in the debate.
Finally Mr.. Bingham, In charge Of the bill.
appealed to the House 10 let this subject
which has been postponed until aiter the
rest Of the bill was completed, 90 over ana
the debate subsidized
The bill was then read for amendment
under the hve-minute rule. Mr.. Dockcry
tDem., Of Missouri offered an amend
ment which was agreed TO, reducing the
salary OF the Deputy Comptroller OF the
Treasury from $500 TO $500 thus making
the law conform 10 the appropriations
made in recent years
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 twenty-five per cent. lie MADE
a ten-minute speech IN support OF the
which was ruled out on a
point of order. The amendment reducing
the force I'm the pension was adopted al
ter an interesting debate. The committee
then arose, and st 5:lJ the House adjourn
ed.