The San Francisco call., 1897-03-17
NUMEROUS BILLS
IN THE SENATE
More Than Four Hundred
Holdovers From Last
Congress.
Allen of Nebraska Alone Intro.
duces a Batch OF
Forty.
Frye R dicu es the Oper alton of the
Civil Service Rules in Ger.
tain Cases

WASHINGTON, D. G., March 16.-In
the Senate to-day one pension bill was
passed, and 438. bills. public and private,
were introduced and referred. There was
hardly one of them which had not been
on the calendar or on committee hles IN
the last Congress, among them being bills
by Allen (Pop. of Nebraska directing the
foreclosure OF the lien on the Union Pa
cihc Railroad; to prevent over-capitallza-
ton of companies doing an interstate
carrying trade; 10 prevent professional
lobbying; to preserve the purity of Ma
tional legislation and to increase the
circulating medium. Altogether there
were some forty bills Introduced by Allen,
most Of them relics of the last Congress.
A bill ro facili late the construction and
maintenance of telegraphic communica-
ton between the United States, the Ra-
waiian Island S, Japan and Australia was
introd uced by Chandler on behalf Of Hale
(R.) of Maine; also a bill to provide for
the twelfth and subsequent censuses
A bill for Government telegraph was
introduced by Kyle (Pop.) of South
Dakota. and one to amend the immigra-
tion laws by Lodge (R OF Massachusetts.
A bill for the relief OF William ]. Bryan,
when its title was read, caused a general
laugh.
A bill to increase all pension allow
ances was introduced by Thurston (R.) of
Nebraska.
A new Nicaraguan canal bill was intro
dnced by Morgan (D.) of Alabama; also a
bill to create board of trustees OF the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railway
companies and to fund their debts; also a
joint resolution declaring the Bulwer-
Clayton treaty abrogated.
Allison (R.) of Iowa, in gentle remon-
STRANGE against the passage of one pension
bill $50 a month to the widow OF Briga-
dier-GeneraI John P. .evenson), Sug-
ges,ed that it's passage to-day would not
expedite its becoming law, and when
Vest CD of Missouri expressed his belief
that 1t would, and that he could get ac-
lion on 1t in the House, the Iowa Senator
looked incredulous and expressed his
great admiration for the Missouri SEN
ator's confidence.
a resolution was offered by Frye (R.) Of
Maine calling for copies of all riders, cir
culars of instructions and ali correspond
ence with engineer officers in charge OF
public works relative to The application OF
the civil service rules to the operation OF
works in charge of the engineer depart
ment. He remarked. in an audible whis-
per, that he wanted to get, rid OF civil
service, which was IAN awful outrage"
, lis that STEP" Cockrell Cd OF Mis-
souri, asked, sin the direction Of aboli sh-
Ing civil service law?"
IL regard it," Frye replied, s.as step in
favor Of abolishlng civil service rules so
1ar as they relate to the em pIoy yment OF
laborers and surveyors Tor the construc-
ton of pubic works"
'Thelr employment by contractors or
the army. engineers?" Hawley 4(R.) of
Connecticut inquired.
"By the engineers" Frye replied. ut
is simply this: The civil service rules
have been extended by the President over
the EN- ploy ment OF all manner of servants
through the engineer department. of the
Government, so that If an officer way up
the Columbia River wants 20 hire a la
borer for piece OF work the laborer must
have certificate from the civil service
commission and so in the case of sur
veyor who may be wanted for twoor three
DAYS. Ii is interfering with all the inn
provements Of rivers and harbors and is
absolutely absurd and stupid"
The resolution was agreed to. ~
The Senate spent over tive hours
John a. Henderson, appointed by the
Governor of Florida to fill the Vacancy
caused by the expiration pn the
4th OF March OF the term OF Senator Call.
An effort was made by Pasco: Cd of
Florida to have Henderson ad dulitted to
the seat, but it was resisted on both sides
of ahe chamber as inconsistent with the
action of the Senate few years ago in re-
lus ng seats to appoint of the Governors
OF Wyoming, Montana and Washing IN.
Finally Pasco yielded and permitted the
matter to be reierred-as were like cases
this session from Kentucky and Oregon
to the Committee on Privileges and Fec
tions.
After short executive session, at which
to-day's nominations weie referred, the
SenaIe at $3.50 O'Clock adjourned until
Thursday next.
The third. class railway fares In Hungary
only average penny for six miles.