The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-15
WILL DEBATE THE WHOLE SUB
JECT EXHAUSTIVELY.
TALK or CUTTING DOWN EXPENSES
After Short Session the House Adjourned Out
Of Sympathy for the President, Whose
Mother Was Buried Yester-
day Afternoon.

tWo hours, adjourned out Of sympathy
for the President, 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 consldera-
lion of the item providing for the main
Aenance of the Civil Service Commits
sion until after the other features of
he bill had ben concluded. 1t was APP
yarent from the remarks made to-day
that the entire subject will be eX-
Aausti,ely debated.
There is seemingly no disposition to
eurtail the discussion and it probably
viii not be concluded before the holiday
.ocess. SO absorbing is the topic that
almost the entire time to-day despite
the fact that the consideration of the
question had been technically proposed,
was consumed in debate upon it.
Mr.. Bingham Rep., Pennsylvania,
In charge of the measure, explained It's
1rovisicns in detail. Mr.. Bingham said
he would offer an amendment to reduce
the clerical force in the pension office
~ 96 clerks, involving reduction of
$115, 900 in salaries. This reduction did
not appear in the bill as reported and
0ust be reckoned in the new totals.
Mr.. Bingham said that he and his
colleagues on the Appropriations COM
mittee felt satisfied that a reduction of
from $1,OOO.OO0 to $1,500,000 could be
made in the salaries of subordinate
officers by process of wedding, without
in any way impairing the government
service, and therefore, every suggestion
from heads of departments for increases
of salaries had been rejected. He called
attention to the provision of the bill
eurtailing the sick leave allowed clerks,
which bad been greatly abused. In
vestigation had shown that in addition
TO the regular 30-day leave, 10 per
cent of the clerks obtained each year
3O-day sick leaves.
Mr.. Bingham did not discuss the APP
propria tons providing for the main
tenance 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 provision of the bill
relating to the Civil Service and the
debate thereon should go over until af-
ter the consideration of the other fea-
lures of the bill were concluded.
His request was agreed ito and an
hour and half was set aside for gen
eral debate on the rest of the bill. Mr..
Bartlett (Rep., Massachusetts, took the
floor and made some general remarks
In support of the Civil Service law in
abe course Of which he referred to the
slender minority against the Civil Ser
vice law when it passed the House in
1888 The vote stood 155 to AZ. But
three of that minority, he said, were
now members of the House-Messrs.
Bland Oem., Missouri, McMillin
Dem., TENNESSEE and Mr.. Steele, (Rep.,
Indiana.) This statement flushed a
series of explanations that gave the
antf-Civil Service members repeated
opportunities to applaud First, Z Mr..
Steele arose and said he had never had
occasion to apologize for that vote. Then
Mr.. Brumm Republican, Pennsylvania
called attention to the fact that his
name, as one of those who had voted
against the measure, had been over
looked. He was proud, he said to be
included in the roll of honor"
Mr. Marsh Republican, Illinois) also
claimed place in the list, and declared
that he had never cast vote with
which he was better satisfied
Then Messrs. Cannon Republican, II
Fnois) and Bingham reiterated their OPP
position to the broad extension of the
law by executive orders. The latter ex-
planned that the law was passed under
suspension of the rules, practically with
out debate, and never contemplated an
extension by executive orders that would
cover $1,000 government employees.
There was much applause and laughter
during. these series of. statements, and
Mr.. Dockery Democrat, Missouri sug-
gested that the members of the other
side, to save time, have leave to file their
apologies for voting for the law.
Mr.. Moody { Republican, Massachu-
settS) said he was willing to give hear
tns on the civil service question, and he
did not propose to file judgment in ad-
vance.
Mr.. Grosvenor commended this state
ment. All he asked was that the House
should honestly consider the question
and give it careful judgment.
Mr.. Dockery democrat, Missouri dis
eussed the amazing growth of the ex-
penditures Of the government during re-
cent years. The ordinary expenses OF
the government, exclusive of the public
debt, the last elSnt years, exceeded Cnose
of the preceding eight years by $1,000.
100000, in round numbers. In view OF
this fact, there were only two ways, he
said, to bring the receipts and expenses
together. Either taxation must be in.
creased or the expenses must be cur
tailed. If the expenses were to be re-
euced, Congress alone could not accom-
plish much without the aid of the ex
ecutive branch of the government. De
spite the Presidents appeal in his mes
sage for economy, the executive branch
rs of the government had submitted tt
Congress estimates for appropriations Of
S21, 100000 in excess of the appropria
tons for the current year. At this poin
the committee rose, and Mr.. Grosvenol
IN hs<ln1A AgAstr1s sfHr