The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-12-16
TALK OF CIVIL SERVICE.
Merit Question Under Discussion
in the House.
OPPOSITION is DEVELOPED.
Gen. Grosvenor and Others Declare
Their Dislike of Existing Conditions
House and Senate Adjourn in Sym
pathy with the President.

Washington, Dec. Is. - The house
Tuesday, in committee of the whole,
proceeded to the consideration of the
legislative, executive and judicial APP
preparation bill. Mr.. Bingham (Rep.,
Pa0, in charge of the measure, ex-
not discuss the appropriations provid-
ing for the maintenance of the civil
service commission. but stated that the
widest latitude would be allowed for
debate, even if it should run over the
holiday recess. He asked, however,
that the provisions 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.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., Ohio, under
whose direction the fight on the civil
service law is being made, expressed
the opinion that the bill should not be
pressed to final vote until after the
holidays. Mr.. Bingham's request was
agreed to, and an hour and half was
set aside for general debate on the rest
Of the bill.
Mr.. Barrett Rep., Mass.) made some
general remarks in support of the civ
il service law, in the course of which
he referred to the slender minority
against the civil service law when 1t
passed the house in 1888. The vote
stood 155 to Al.
Messrs Cannon Rep., Ill) and Bing-
ham (Rep., Pa.) reiterated their oppo-
sition to the broad extension of the law
by executive orders.
Mr.. Barrett, continuing, insisted that
the law was a Republican measure,
passed by Republican votes, and that
the party was irrevocably committed
to the policy Of civil service reform.
Mr.. Grosvenor asked that the house
should honestly consider the question
and give it's careful judgment.
Mr.. Dockery Dem-, Mo- discussed
the amazing growth of the expendl-
lures of the government during the re-
cent years. The ordinary expenses OF
the government, exclusive of the pubic
debt, the last eight years exceeded
those of the preceding eight years by
81 600. 900 900 in round numbers. In
view Of this fact, there were only two
ways, he said, to bring the receipts ana
expenses together. Either taxation
must be increased or the expenses must
be curtailed If the expenses were TO
be reduced, congress alone could not
accomplish much without the ala OF
the executive branch of the govern
ment Despite the Presidents appeal
in his message for economy, the exec
utive branches of the government hau
submitted to congress estimates toF ap-
propriations of 1000, 900 in excess OF
the appropriations for the current
year.
At this point the committee rose, ana
Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., Ohio addressed
the chair. saying: 'Mr. Speaker, as is
we'll known, the funeral exercises Oh
the mother of the chief magistrate OF
the nation are to take place at thls
hour and therefore, conforming to the
action of the senate, and as token OF
orr sympathy and respect for the Fres-
ident 7 move that the house do now
adjourn"
The motion was unanimously car
ried.
The motion to adjourn the senate
was made by Mr.. Hoar (Mass.). ~All
senator's" said he, "are aware of the
great calamity that has overtaken the
chief magistrate Of the nation. He is
to-day in attendance upon the funeral
20
and as an expression of sympathy for
him in his affection, move that the
senate do now adjourn"