The record-union., 1897-03-24
GalInger Of New Hampshire Character
lies the System as a Humbug.
Declares He Would Like to Cast His
Vote to Blot It Out.
The Act Also Condemned by Allen of
Nebraska, Wilson of Washington
and Stewart OF Nevada-Turpie
Addresses the Senate in Advocacy
of the Election of United States
Senators by Popular Vote.

Senators by Popular Vote.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The Sem
ate was Unexpectedly precipitated into
a civil service debate to-day. 1t pro-
ceeded for two hours on the Civil Ser
vice Act, the Commission being under
fire most of the time. The debate as
sumed added significance, owing to the
recent change of administration and
the attendant demand for offices.
German of Maryland called attention
to the presence in Washington of the
horde of hungry place hunters, and ex-
pressed profound sympathy with his
Republican associates over the restric-
tions of the civil service system.
The discussion came up on a resolu-
tion to investigate Federal removals at
the South Omaha, Neb, office.
Gallinger of New Hampshire charac-
terized the civil service system as a
humbug, and declared he would be glad
to cast his vote to blot out the system
There was continued applause in the
galleries at this statement.
Allen of Nebraska called the civil SER
vice act a monumental humbug" and
Wilson (R) of Washington said it was
a "humbug, a delusion, a snare and a
fraud"
HaWley of Connecticut, while defend
ing the principle of civil service. said it's
practice had been attended with glar-
ing incompetency.
Stewart of Nevada regarded the Civil
Service Commission as an ''office brok-
erage establishment"
The Massachusetts Senators, Hoar
and Lodge, defended the law.
The resolution directing the Civil
Service Committee of the Senate to in
vestigate the South Omaha CNeb1. re-
movals was broadened by an amend
ment instructing the committee to in
quire into the general operation of the
law, and to report whether it should be
continued, amended or repealed.
During the day, Berry of Arkansas
received a telegram that five hundred
Mississippi River flood sufferers had
landed at Helena, Ark. He secured
the adoption of a joint resolution for
the purchase of 1000 tents for the use
CT the sufferers.
Turpie of Indiana spoke at considera-
bic length in advocacy of the election
of United States Senators by popular
vote, detailing the uncertainties and
frequent scandals attending the pres
ent method of choosing Senators. After
reviewing the historical points, he
spoke directly upon the subject of the
cases now pending in the Senate, in
two Of which the Legislatures failed to
elect, and the Senators We're appointed
by the Governors of the States It is
r.
Legislature of a State spends the whole
Of it's session in attempting to elect
Senator, and adjourns without succeed
ing in the attempt, thus submerging
the rights and interests local to the
people of the State. Under the pres
ent method of electing Senators many
of the States have been deprived from
time to time to their equal suffrage in
the Senate, evils which would disap-
pear by the change he advocated
He then spoke of what he called the
usurpatiOn of the power of trusts and
the influence they exerted over State
Legislatures. He said: This is an
instance of despotism so odious and
offensive, so contrary to the Unborn
freedom of manhood, in such deadly
hostility to liberty and justice, as could
only have been invented and enforced
by the shameless insolence and audac-
ity of the syndicate of trusts
The defeated force bill'' had been de-
nounced by the press as infamous, but
the later force bill of the syndicate Of
trusts was tenfold more worthy of such
designation. THE oligarchy of thirsty
trusts processes intense opposition to
free lumber, free wool, free coffee, free
coinage, but it abhors with most per-
feet hate the free ballot
The Senator said he did not include
all corporations. Some of them had
acted quite honorably, but they were
not considerable in number The plot
ters in this tyranny of trusts had not
tried to avail themselves of the terms
of the public laws; they had not made
a pretense of authority. They skulk
behind secret orders. hide among the
shadows of the incorporated ghosts.
who, unseen and unknown, conduct
this raid against the franchises
Turpie closed at $40 D. n., and the
Senate went into executive session.
The open session was resumed at
3:20. The bill was passed to establish
the official survey of certain lands in
On motion of Hoar the bankruptcy
bill, which was reported favorably, was
made the unfinished business, thus Civ
ing it right of way after p. m. daily.
A resolution by Chandler was agreed
to, calling on the Secretary of State for
information as to the amounts paid to
aliens as indemnity for personal in
jury from mobs, and whether efforts
had been made to secure reimburse
ment from the States where the mob
violence occurred
Pettigrew called up the bill to amend
the Act repeating the timber culture
laws. When some opposition was man
ifested Pettigrew said: 'aThis bill
passed the Senate and the House at the
last session, but it failed to receive the
Presidents signature as he was too
busy fishing"
The bill was then passed.
At $40 p. m. the Senate adjourned.
KENTUCKY SENATORSHIP.