The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-08
CIVIL SERVICE DISCUSSED.
Gen. CrosVenor Leads a Bitter Attack
on the Merit System.
BAILEYANDOTHER DEMOCRATS JOIN IN
Warm Debate Over the distribution OF
the Presidents Message--senstor Pet
tigrew Wishes Information in Re-
gard to safety Appliances on Cars.

sion of the House to-day, though II lasted
but two hours. Witnessed a really hVeiy
skrmish over the question OF distributing
the Presidents message TO the various
committees clothed with jurisdiction over
the subjects dealt with.
The conflict Of opinion came between the
WAYS and Means Committee and the
Banking and Currency committee. Dur
ing the debate General Grosvenor, OF ONO,
erod tho first gun against the civil service
law and this also brought the friends and
enemies of that measure into action. II
was noticeable that the galleries seemed
IN svmpathize with the opponents Of the
measure.
Pev. Henry Couden. the regular chap
lain who delivered the invocation to-day,
in his appeal to the Throne Of Grace.
asked for the Divine blessing upon the
President in his hour OF trial and anx-
iety.
The Presidents message transmitting
the report Of the special committee on the
Paris International Exposition in 1900
and recommending a liberal appropriation
for our representation at the exposition,
was laid before the House.
WARM DEBATE.
Mr.. Dingley, from the Committee on
WAYS and Means. then presented a reso-
luton adopted by that committee for the
distribution Of the Presidents message TO
the several committees having iurisdic-
ton over the various subjects treated.
Mr.. Walker Republican Of Massachu-
setts). chairman Of the Banking and Cur
rencv Committee. asked for re-reading
Of that portion OF the resolution giving
the WAYS and Means Committee jurisdic-
ton over all the portions relating 10 "the
revenues. the national finances. the pub
lie debt and the preservation of the public
credit" a very considecab debate fol-
lowed upOn what the resolution meant
and the problem as 20 the jurisdiction OF
the committees as between the Ways and
Means and Banking and Currency was
sharply raised.
Before the debate. which lasted over
an hour he'd been concluded. the House
was plunged into debate on the cur
rency problem.
Mr. Walker. after the re-roading Of the
resolution. asked with some heat what
was left 10 his committee.
Mr.. Dingley replied suavely that all
matters relating TO banking and currency
under the resolution would 90 10 the
Banking and Currency Committee.
WALKERS PROTEST.
II becoming apparent that debate would
be required 10 dispose of the question at
issue. Mr.. Dngley and Mr. Bailey arrang-
ed for thirty minutes on q side. Mr.
Walker then got the floor and Indignantly
protested that II the questions relating
TO our legal tender money which lay at
the very foundation Of our currency and
banking laws. were 20 come under the
jurisdiction Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. the Committee on Banking and
Currency might as well be dissolved. lie
avowed that i'm the last Congress his
committee had been steadily disrogarded.
It's members had cooled their heels i'm the
Speakers lobby he said. and when a last
they were allowed to bring I'm a bill the
previous question had been demanded
without permission for debate. and he
had been allowed to address the house
only by unanimous consent.
Mr.. Cox dem. Of Tennessee) the senior
Democratic member Of the Currency Com
mittee, seconded the protest OF Mr. Walk
or. The Presidents suggestions as 10 ma
tonal bank circulation were interviewer
with the proposition to retire the green
backs. If the Ranking and Currency Com
mittee was 10 do anything he submitted
that its hands should not he tied.
Mr.. Wheeler Dem. Of Alahama). AZ this
point got the floor and used a few min
utos in ii plea for Government armor-
plate plant in Alabama.
CIVIL SERVICE.
He was follow ed by Mr. Grosvenor Rep.
Of Ohio) who diverted the whole course
Of the debate by an attack on the civil
service law, which was several times en-
Enthusiastically appiauGed both by members
on the floor and spectators IN the gallery.
AT the outset he repudiatcd the idea that
opposition TO the civil service law in-
volved an affront 10 the President Con-
or. IVA cd
subject and the President had referred
it TO Congress. He heartily agreed with
the President that there were places I'm
the classified service which ought TO be
exempt"
Mr. GrcsvonOr declared that he had
kept in touch with the sentiment of the
country and that If the question were
submitted To the people west of the Ale
ghany mcunains II would be buried un-
der their overwhelming condemnation.
Ills remarks in dcnunciati0n of Life ton
ure in office were met with uproarious
applause from the galleries IN which
many members on the floor heartily join
ed.
Mr. Brosius Gep. of Pennsylvania the
chairman OF the Committee on civil Ser
vice, defended the law and the Prcsi-
dents Interpretation of it.
Mr.. Bailey dem. OF Texas commend
ed Mr. GrosVonor's utteranccs against
building up an office holding class in this
country. doctrine he said which was
almost literally embodied IN the Chicago
platform. Democratic applause)
That is the only good feature or that
platform" calculated Mr.. Steele (Rep. OF
indiana) amid laughter on the Republ-
can side.
Il am glad to relieve the other side
OF the Charge OF total depravity" retOrt-
ed Mr. Bailey to this thrust.
Mr.. Wheeler Oem. OF kentucky) ayow-
ed himself q spokesman in sympathy with
The proposition TO repeal the law and MIR.
Fitzgerald Dem. of Massachusetts,
chided the Republicans for their attempt
TO break down the law.
MIR. Johnson (Rep. Of Indiana) after
some opening remarks about the stipend
ous folly Of appointing 2 bimetalic com
mission 10 roll over Europe. made a
strong speech in defence OF the civil ser
vice law. lie charged General Grosven-
or with being derelct TO his duty and
warned his colleagues that If they put
through n bill In antagnoism 10 the law
Il would be vetoed
AFTER MR. DINGLEY.
Mr. Cochran CDem. OF Missouri. in n
satirical speech. spoke Of the Injustice OF
turning the subject which Mr. Walker
had freely admitted he knew all about
TO MIR .Dlngley, who had fathered a
tariff bill that had already produced a
so ooO 600 deficit.
Mr.. Bland Dem OF Missouri. avorred
that il was well understood that notbinp
would be done with the currency probIem
and Mr.. Bodine ODem. of Missouri aiiep-
ed that the civil service law was a hum