The record-union., 1897-01-13
Except in Case of Appointments to Fill
Vacancies.
The New York Senator Argued in De-
half of the Measure That 1t Would
be Productive of riuCh Good, and
Would Start Political Bookkeeping
on Principles Which Would be Fair
to Both Parties.

" lO1N, Jan. I'LL Iile Sell-
ate to-day bill was introduced by Hill
CD of New York, and was referred to
the PostOffice Committee, purporting to
fix the term of fourth-class PoStmast-
ers at four years, except in the case of
appointments to fill vacancies when
they are to be for the uneXpired por-
ton of the term. He explained and ad-
VCcated the measure as one which
would start political bookkeeping on
correct principles, and which would be
fair to all parties. Hill alluded in pass
ing to the wholesale removal of fourth
class Postmasters under Mr.. Stevenson,
now Vice president, and Mr.. Wanna
maker when they We're, respectively
Assistant Postmaster General and Post
master General, and to the rarity of
such removal under the present admin
Observation-Disclosures due to the demon
alization of the Presidents party or
not he would not stop to discuss. He
argued that the passage of the bill
would be productive of much good, as
it would place those offices, now the
football of politics. on a fixed and
definite basis.
The resolution offered by Allen (Pop)
y
lions of the eight-hour law was taken
up and agreed to- Chandler CR.) of New
York admitting that he had been mis-
taken in asserting that the eight-hour
law did not apply to contractors.
The resolutions on which Proctor
(R) of New Hampshire spoke yester-
day, fixing the Presidential term at six
years and prohibiting reelection, were
taken up to give Stewart (PopD of Ne
braska an opportunity to express his
views upon them. He favored the pro-
hibition of reelection, but he consid-
cred the extension of the term to six
years most objectionable. He would
much prefer to have the term limited
to two years. The strain of a four
years election was about all the coul
try could stand. If the President were
elected for two years he would come
into power in harmony with the Con-
gress elected at the same time.
The resolutions were referred to the
Committee on Elections and Privileges.
The unfinished business, the free
homestead bill, was taken up. The
was advocated by Nelson (R)
of Minnesota as a. just extension of the
free homestead policy.
After Nelson took his seat Chandler
(R) of New Hampshire presented a
n emorial from Henry A. Dupont claim
ing to have been elected to a seat in
the United States Senate ON May 8,
1895, and urging the reopening of the
question. The memorial was referred
to the Committee on Privileges and
Elections.
n Int he, 4
was resumed, and Allen (Pop) of Ne
braska made an argument in favor Of
the bill In commenting on the dec
laration made by Platt R) of Con-
necticut when the bill was last under
that he would not be
bound by the free homestead plank in
the National Republican Convention,
Allen spoke in bitter terms of the good
men, meeting in convention and put
tirg forward principles for the mere
purpose of catching votes, and with no
intention of being bound by their dec
larations.
Hoar (R) of Massachusetts chal- |
lenged the use of the phrase good |
men, as applied to such people
Perhaps said Allen, L should have
qualified my statement by saying good |
men in other respects. -
And scoundrels in that respect?" |
Hoar suggested.
Not necessarily So Allen replied: |!
politicians in that respect
Il should say scoundrels," Hoar per-
sisted.
Possibly the Senator would" said |
Allen. He is palmer in his language !
than I am
In closing his speech Allen spoke of |
the existing reign of bankruptcy" be- !
ing the logical consequences of the |
financial policy of the Government, and !
he suggested the adoption of a: policy |
that would be fair and just to all.
Villas Cd of Wisconsin said that al |
though the pending bill did not attract |
much attention, it was bill which |
according to the Secretary of |
the Interior, to surrender $50, 900 900 in |
which was in part at least due |
On contracts already made between the |
Government and settlers on the public |
lands. 1t was a bill to bestow on indi- |
viduals in small sums varying from |
$3.50 to $3.50 an aggregate very large in
1t would, therefore. seem to |
require strong reasons granting the |
power Ol SOiiSlCoSp " justify us pass
age He proceeded to rehearse at length |
the history of the homestead law. and
TO state reasons why the pending bill |
should not be passed.
Allen interrupted Villas with ques-
ton as to the homestead plank in the
Chicago Democratic platform.
If that PLATFORM Villas replied ''is
tho one / understand it to be, l will say
that there is almost nothing in it that |
IS not ininMical to the interests of the
United States"
I SUPPOSE Pettigrew (Sil.) of South
Dakota broke in, sit is the Republi-
can platform which is meant. for that
IL the one the Senator from Wisconsin
by no means said Villas. 81 sup
ported the platform adopted at Indi-
sraapolis; and if there is one sentence
line or word in that platform not
founded on Democracy, l would like to
have it pointed out"
Allen was about to read from the
Chicago platform, when Villas inter
rupted HIM and said the Democratic |