The Portland daily press., 1897-12-15
AN EXH4uSTIyE DEBATE.
House Will Discuss Civil Service Law
Thoroughly.
WILL NOT BE CONCLUDED UNTIL
AFTER HOLIDAYS.

preparation Bill Under Consideration
Adjournment Taken in Sympathy for
the President.
Washington, December 1.-THE House
today, after q session of about two hours,
adjourned out Of sympathy for the Presi,
dent, whose mother was buried at Canton
this afternoon.
The time of the session was devoted to
the consideration of the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill.
1T was decided to postpone the consider
alton of the item providing for the main
tenance of the civil service commission
until after the other features of the bill
had been concluded.
1t was apparent from the remarks made
today that the entire subject will be OK
haustively debated. There is seemingly
no disposition to curtail the discussion
and it probably will not be concluded be-
fore the holiday recess. So absorbing is
the topic that almost the entire time to-
day was consumed in debate upon it.
AA ouo A1oGso bOuAy. Oh InOblOu OF b1r.
Lawrence, Saturday, January Sth, was
set aside for paying tribute to the memory
of the late Representative Wright, his
predecessor.
Then without further preliminary busi-
ness the House went into committee of
the whole, and proceeded to the consider
alton of the executive, legislative and
judicial appropriation bills. Mr.. Bing-
ham, in charge Of the measure, explained
it in detail. Mr. Bingham said be would
offer an amendment to reduce the clerical
force in the pension Office by ninety-six
clerks, involving reduction Of $ll5,00O
in salaries.
Mr.. Bingham said that he and his col
leagues on the appropriation committee
felt satisfied that a reduction of from ST.
900, 900 to ST. 500, COO could be made in the
salaries of subordinate officers by a pro-
cess OF wedding without in any way i'm
pairing the government service and there
fore every suggestion from heads of de-
partments for increases of salaries had
been rejected. He called attention to the
provisions of the bill curtailing the sick
leave allowed clerks which had been great
ly abused.
Investigation had shown that in addi-
tion to the regular thirty day leave, 10
per cent of the clerks obtained each year
80 days sick leave. Mr.. Bingham did not
discuss the appropriation providing for
the maintenance of the civil service COM
mission but stared that the widest lati-
tude would be allowed for debate, even If
it should run over the holiday recess. He
asked, however, that the provision of the
bill relating to the civil service and the
debate thereon should go over until after
the consideration of the other features of
the bill were concluded.
MIR. Grosyenor, Republican Of Ohio,
under whose direction the fight on the
the opinion that the bill should not be
pressed to q final vote until after the holi-
days. While he did not favor an attack
on the appropriation in this bill, the
country was greatly interested in the sub
iect and he thought It, could be discussed
with profit at this time.
Mr. Bingham's g request was agreed to,
and an hour and q half was set aside for
general debate on the rest of the bill.
Mr.. Barrett, Republican of Massachu-
setts, made some general remarks in sup
port of the civil service law, in the course
of which he referred to the slender
minority against the civil service law
when it passed the House in 1888. The
vote stood l54 to A. But three Of that
minority, he said, were now members Of
the House-Messrs. Bland, Democrat Of
Missouri; Mcmillan. Democrat of Tennes-
see and Mr.. Steele, Republican of Indiana.
This statement gave use to series Of ey-
plantations that gave the anti-civil service
members repeated opportunities to ap-
plaud. First, Mr. Steele arose and said
he had never had occasion to apologize
for that vote. Then MIR. Brumm, Repub-
lican of Pennsyl gania, called attention to
the fact that his name was one of those
who voted against the measure, had been
overlooked. He was proud, he said, to be
included in the "roll of honor
Mr. Marsh, Republican of Illinois, also
claimed place in the list and added that
he had never cast q vote with which he
was better satisfied.
Messrs Cannon, Republican Of Illinois
and Bingham, Republican of Pennsyl.
vania, reiterated their opposition to the
broad extension of the law by executive
orders. The latter explained thae the
law was passed under suspension Of the
rules, practically without debate and
never contemplated an extension by ex-
ecutive orders that would cover $1,000
government employees. There was much
Of statements, and Mr.. Dockerty, Demo-
orat of Missouri, suggested that the mem
bers of the other side to save time, have
leave to file their apologies for voting for
the law.
Mr.. Barrett, continuing, insisted that
the law was Republican measure, passed
by Republican votes, and that the party
lIA0VOcSDtf bO t1l0 pUllCy
of civil service reform. The Republicans
of Massachusetts, he said, believed in
leaving the law and it's administration to
the Republican President in the White
House.
Mr.. Moody, Republican of Massachu-
setts, said he was willing to give hear
ing on the civil service question and he
did not propose to give q judgement in
advance,
Mr.. Grosvenor commended this state
ment. All he asked was that the House
should honestly consider the question and
give its careful Judgment.
1.-the craftsmanship that docs not do
it's own thinking" said he, "the states
manship that only respects what others
say, is the statesmanship the parrot dis
plays in the course of his morning alb
lutions."
Mr.. Dockery. Democrat of Missouri,
discussed the amazing growth Of the eS-
penditures of the government during the
recent years. The ordinary expenses of
the government, exclusive of the public
debt, the last eight years, exceeded those
of the preceding eight years by s., ,0o0, ,000,-
0Oo in round numbers, In view of this
fact. there were only two ways, he said,
to bring the receipts and expenditures to-
r~o4I,av Either taxation muSt ha increased