Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-16
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
IT Is AGAIN THE CHIEF TOPIC IN
THE FEDERAL HOUSE.
SEALING MATTER IN THE SENATE.
Bill Prohibiting Pelagic Operations
.>Americans Passed-Re1ief Tor
Sufferers on the Yukon-ihe
Twelfth Census.

House spent the day in the consideration
OF the legislative, executive, and Judiciai
appropriation bill. Eighty-nine OF the liz
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 hfty-eght to forty. and the
other reducing the clerical force at the
Pension Office ninety-five, involving re-
duction in salaries of $4,000
The former amendment was carried
over the protest Of the Appropriations
Committee, while the latter was advo-
Gated by General Bingham. in charge OF
the bill, and had been recommended py
Commissioner Evans. who said the re-
duction would not impair the efficiency
Of the bureau.
The civil-servce question, as on yes
terday, was the chief topic OF discussion
to-day, and the proposition OF Assistant
ry-of-the-Treasury Vanderlip TO
retire clerks for age was vigorously at
tackled.
At the opening of the session resolu-
ton for the holiday recess from Satur-
day, December 18TH to Wednesday, Janu-
airy 5th, offered by Mr. Dingley, from the
Committee on Ways and Means, was
adopted
The House then went into committee
of the whole, and resumed the considera-
ton OF the legislative. executive, and ju-
dicial appropriation bill. Mr.. Livingston
| DemocraD, of Georgia, submitted some
! general remarks I'm opposition to the CIVIL
service law, which he denounced as a
humbug and a fraud.
Mr. De Almond DemocraO, Of Missouri,
under the latitude allowed in debate on
appropriation bills followed with an i'm
passioned speech, reproaching the ma
| jority for not voting upon the Cuban bel
| ligerency resolution passed by the Senate
at the last session. His remarks were
given added importance in view of the
action of the Democratic caucus last
night, declaring for aggressive support
| of the recognition Of Cuban belligerency.
! He declared that he could not be mis-
| taken in his belief that the American
| people, without distinction or party, SYM
| pathized with the Cuban cause. The war
| on the island had been characterized on
the one hand by herolsm. 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,
| ne Sdlu, WOulu DItNt al litHdNt " ilptiNy
| the world over, and in conclusion amid
a round of Democratic applause, he ap-
pealed to the majority to give the House
| an opportunity of voting on that resolu-
ton.
CIVIL PENSION LIST.
The debate then drifted back to the
| civil-seryice question, and Mr.. Moody
| Republican,. of Massachusetts,, called at
| tention 20 what he termed the "eXtraordi-
nary proposition" advocated by Assistant
| ry-of-the-Treasury Vanderlip, to
establish in the Treasu Department
what In effect would be a civil pension
| list
IF this system which we support is
| to lead to the establishment of a civil
pension list" said he, impressively,
then the people ought to wipe it out
of existence" General applause)
Continuing, Mr.. Moody said he did not
| believe the act of 1883 led logically to a
! civil pension list but, on the other hand,
| he did believe the declaration of the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
would meet the disapproval of the Ameri-
can people.
"As friend of civil-service reform"
said he, 81 say its worst enemies are not
those who are fighting it openly, like
| General Grosvenor. but men, like the
author of this proposition. who sit in
the Cabinet by the side Of President Nc
Kinley." (Applause)
Mr. Quigg Republican,. of New York,
thought life tenure in office led natural
ly TO a civil pension list. 1t would be
brutal, he said, to turn men out to starye
after they had spent their lives in the
service, and were incapacitated from do
ing anything else. Mr.. Moody denied
that ii was brutal to turn out man
D. aIttah 10 al
especially If he had enjoyed long service
at a salary double that for the same SER
vice i'm private life.
Mr. Johnson Republicam, Of Indiana,
declared that the last census, conducted
under the spells system, was VIGOROUSLY
inefficient, and expressed his regret II
this important work was 10 be Inefficient
~ done. He also said he shared Mr.
Moody's Indignation over the proposition
of Mr.. Vanderlip, and said ii was partic-
ularly unfortunate at this iDoportune
time His proposition violated the spirit
and letter of the law.
Mr. Quigg Republican), of New York;
Mr.. Pearson Republican,, Of North Caro-
lima and others became involved in the
debate. Finally Mr.. Bingham. i'm charge
of the bill, appealed to the House to let
this subject, which has been postponed
until after the rest Of the bill was com
pleted, 20 over. and the debate subsidized.
REDUCTION OF SALARY.
The bill was then read for amendment
under the 5-minute rule. Mr.. Dockery
DemocraO, OF Missouri, offered an
amendment, which was agreed TO, re-
ducing the salary of the Deputy Comp
troller OF the Treasury from 5000 to
$500, thus making the law conform to
the appropriations made in recent years.
Mr. Wheeler DemocraD, OF Alabama,
offered an amendment providing that so
long as the gold standard is maintained
I'm this count"v the salaries of all OFF, |
Gals shall be scaled % per cent. He |
made a Commute speech In support of |
the amendment which was ruled out on |
a point of order.
The amendment reducing the force in |
the Pension Office was adopted, after an |
interesting debate.
The committee then arose, and at 5:15 |
the House adjourned.
Senate Discusses Sealing.
The proceedings of the Senate were en-
livened to-day by an interesting debate
on the bill presented by the Foreign Re-
lations Committee, providing for the pro-
hibiton OF pelagic sealing by Americans.
The provisions OF the measure were ex
planned by Mr.. Davis, chairman Of the |
FoT,\n Relations Committee. who said
that IL, was in aid OF negotiations now
pending among the representatives OF the
governments of the United States. Great