The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-08
house only by unanimous consent.

Mr.. Cox Oem, TENN. the senior
Democratic member Of the currency
committee. second the protest Of Mr..
Walker. The presidents recommenda-
tions as to national bank circulation, he
said. were inextricably interviewer with
the proposition to retire the greenbacka
II the banking and currency committee
was to do anything. he submitted that
its hands should not be tied. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the object Of
the resolutionwas to 50 divide the sub
1ect that nothing practical would result.
Mr.. Wheeler Dem. Ala) at this point
got the floor and used few minutes in
a plea for government armor plate
plant in Alabama.
CIVIL SERVICE ATTACKED.
He was followed by Mr.. Grosvenor
Rep-. Oifio) who diverted the whole
course of the debate by an attack on the
civil service law. which was several
times enthusiastically applauded both
by members ON the floor and spectators
in the galleries At the outset ne re-
pudiated the idea that opposition TO the
civil service law involved an affront 10
the president. Congress was empowered
10 deal with the subject. and the presi-
dent had referred IL to congress He
agreed with the president that there
were places in the classified service
which ought to be exempt"
II am glad" said Mr.. Gro.venor, "to
go that far with the president. even IL I
am compelled TO part company with
him when ne says the civil service sys-
tenn has the official sanction Of the peo-
ple.'
Mr.. Grosvenor declared that ne had
kept in touch with the sentiment of the
country, and that IL the question were
submitted to the people west OF the AL
legheny mountains ii would be buried
under their overwhelming condemna-
ton. His remarks in denunciation OF
roarous applause from the galleries, in
which members on the floor heartily
joined.
This was a government for the people
and by the people, he declared, and no
man should be excluded from participa-
tion I'm the executive Branch Of the gov
ernment by accfdent Of birth or the
misfortune Of early education. who was
otherwise qualified. Ohio, he said, had
,epudiated the civil service law and was
opposed to building up an office-holding
class in this country.
Mr.. Brossius Rep., Pa.), the chairman
of the committee ON civfl service. de-
Tended the law and the presidents inter-
probation Of it. He thought any attempt
to legislate upon the question must he
regarded rs an indignity to the execu-
tive.
Mr.. Bailey Oen., Texas commended
Mr.. Grosvenor's utterances against
building up an off1ce-holding class In
this country-a doctrine. he said, which
was almost literally embodied in the
Chicago platform Democratic applause).
That is the only good feature of that
platform" calculated Mr. Steele CRep.,
Ind.) amid laughter on the Republican
side.
Mr.. Johnson Rep., Ind.), after some
opening remarks about the stupendous
folly Of appointing bimetallic commits
sion TO roll over Europe, made strong
speech in defense of the civil service law
General Grosvenor charged him with
being derelict to his duty as a Republi-
can. That party. ne said. was unaltera-
bly, pledged to the support of the Jaw.
Benjamin Harrison and William Nc
kinfey, the most distinguished expo
nents of its policies, had fought for the
Jaw in no uncertain language, and Cen
eral Grosvenor. he thought, well nerited
the rebuke administered to him by Mr..
Bailey when the latter charged him
with being supporter o. the Chicago
platform Qaughter).
He marveled that the mouthpiece Of
the administration had fallen so low.
No portion OF the presidents message
net with more hearty endorsement than
that relating to the civil service, and ne
warned his colleagues that IL they put |
through bill in antagonism 10 the law |
t would be vetoed.
Moreover, ne sid, II was a mistake TO |
ma agine that the sentiment OF the coun- |
.ry opposed Il. The law was heartily ap- |
proved by all except a few degenerate /
VINO opposed It from selfish |!
motives. The trouble was not WITH the |
aw, but with its administration by |
'pollsmen.
Mr.. Cochran Dem. Mo) in a .atirical !
speech spoke OF the injustice OF turning /
,ver a subject which NJ. Walker had /
reely admitted he knew all about 70 1
dr. Dingley. who had fathered a tariff I
I'll that had already produced q 10000 !
100 deficit.
Mr.. Bland CDem.. MOI averred that II 4
va. well understood that noraing would /
'e done with the currency problem, and 4
dr. Bodire Oem., MOI alleged that the 4
ivil service law was a humbug which /
he west and south opposed. The latter 1
ave some amusing Illustrations OF its
operations and caused a laugh by the
tatement that Mr.. Cleveland had been
ONE time in the White House before he
discovered that the United States was
lot bounded on the west by the Ale
.heuy mountains.
RESOLUTION MODIFIED.
During the progress OF the debate.
iessrs. Walker and Johnson had con-
ulted with Mr.. Dingiey and a rnoiihca-
ion OF the resolution OF distribution was
greed upon. 1t struck out me words:
The national finances, the public
ebt, the preservation OF the govern
nent credit" and gave the ways and
means committee jurisdiction over all
matters in the message relating ''to the
evsnue. the bonded deot OF rae United /
tates and to S5e treaties OF ne United
tates affecting the revenues"
W7aen t1is amendment was presented.
ne opposition Withdrew and the resoiu-
ion was adopted wIthour division.
The house then. at O'Clock. adjourned.