The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-24


this afternoon ran unexpectedly into an
interesting and possibly Significant dis.
cussion of the civil service law. 1t came
about by the consideration OF bill to
amend the revised statutes so us to give
the governors of Territories the power TO
remove as wellas toappoint certain Terri.
torial officers.
IT was participated in by Il dozen mem
bcrs or more. nearly all of whom CRITICS
cd and condemned the civil service law,
it finding its only defenders in Represen.
tativcs Brosius: of Pennsylvania, end
Walker, OF massachusetts.
Mr. GrosvcEor, of Ohio, denounced the
law as II "sinuous, Infamous conspiracy
apon the Government" and expressed
the opinion that II tide ~as rising in this
country which would sweep bureaucracy
from power
Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, denounced the
system MS humbug, and said the reason
why the Democratic party did not repeal
the law, when it had the power, was that
it lid not have sense enough
Mr.. BroSiuS deprecated the sentiment
of Mr.. Grosvenor and of the Republican
applause which their utterance evoked,
saying that in view of Major McKnlcy's
well known attitude toward the merit
system it seemed TO MIN "a lleshng of II
sword in the heart of the President
elect The bill that started the debate
was passed.
Most Of the session was spent in the
consideration Of the naval appropriation
bill. Mr.. Barrett. of Massachusetts. crit
iciscd the bill for its failure to make up
proprations for what he deemed to he
one of the most important parts of the
service, the construction of dry docks, and
he moved ian amendment authorizing one
to be built at the Boston navy yard to
cost not exceeding one million dollars
lie made IN extended speech in support
of the amendment, which was followed
by long and somewhat acrimonious
discussion. but it was finally defeated,
only about half IL dozen members sup.
porting it. The bill was passed exactly as
it came from the committee on naval
affairs
Senate bills were passed granting IL men,
sion to thcwidow of the late Gen. Thomas
l.. Casey, chief of enginecrs. with an
amendment reducing the amount from
SO to $50 per month; also authorizing
the Montgomery, IayneSville and Cam.
den hallway Company To huld IL bridge
across the Alabama river between lower
Peachtrec ard Mary bluff
At 5:l5 D. III. adjourned until NOR.
row.
:
In the Senate to-day IL resolution was
offered by Mr.. Mills, of Texas, and was
agreed TO. requesting the President to
furnish a statement of the facts concern
ing the arrest, imprisonment and death
of DR.. Ricardo Ruiz in II Cuban Jail,
The Vice-President laid before the Sen.
ate II report from the Secretary OF State
as to the persons claiming to he American
citizens who were captured on board the
Competitor. Referred to the committee
on foreign relations. The report con-
tains nothing new, Secretary Olney stat
ing that practically all the information
called for by the resolution had been
submitted to the Senate january % last,
and that since that date nothing had
taken place of consequence either in the
way of information received or CORES
pondence exchanged.
Practically the entire day was consum-
ed in Il discussion of an amendment in
the Indian appropriation bill for the open
ing to settlement Of the Uncompaghre
Indian reservation in Utah, containing
over 9, 000,O 600 acres. The measure was
resisted by Mr.. Villas, of Wisconsin, prin.
cipally on the ground that it was in the
Interest OF rich corporations who were en-
gagged in the business of extracting gil.
sonite, of which there are large valuable
deposits in the resei vation. Before aban.
doning the fight Mr.. Villas proposed i'm
amendment looking to the survey of these
mineral lands and their division into
lots, which were then to he leased for
twenty-five years, Il royalty of so much
per ton to be paid TO the Government
This was fought by Mr.. Brown, of
Utah, as entirely at variance with the
mining laws of the country, and with the
interests of the people. 1t was defeated,
and then the original amendment some
what modified, was agreed to That one
paragraph was the only one which the
Senate made in the Indian appropriation
bill.
1t was laid aside mt lao p m. and the
Senate proceeded to the consideration of
executive business and shortly afterward
adjourned until tomorrow at IL Il. m.
ID