The Red Cloud chief., 1897-12-24
WASHINGTON T

As a party man who has followed
his party oftener than he has led 1t,
President Mckinley finds himself con-
fronted with some hard party nuts,
one at least of which will be cracked
before January 9Th, when congress re.
assemblies. This nut relates to the
civil service, and consists of a plain
proposition submitted TO the president
by some Of the leading senator's and
representatives, which may be briefed
as follows; "Will you in the exercise
of yoar unquestioned authority, issue
an order annulling all extensions OF
the civil service rules made by your
prede cessor, and thus w the party
in congress from the impending fac.
tional fghte" There is not the slight.
est doubt that the republicans in the
house postponed the debate on the
civil service section Of the legislative,
executive land judicial appropriation
bill until after the holiday recess solely
for the purpose Of giving the president
an opportunity to take such action as
would make the debate unnecessary.
Notwithstanding MIR. :::McKinley's fat.
footed declaration in his annual mes
sage in favor of.::the present civil ser.
vice conditions, many OF his party ex-
pc ct him TO do what Is asked OF MIN.
They say thatlwheu heIwrote his mes.
sage he did not realize the extent OF
republican sentiment against the
Wholesale extension Of civil service
rules made by Mr.. Cleveland. The
men who asked Mr., Mckinley to do
this, told him that II he. failed to do so
the fight over civil service among the
republicans In both branches Of con-
grsss would make it impossible for the
party to win in the congressional cleo.
ton next fall, and would probably re-
suit in the repeal of the entire civil
service law, rs the democrats in caucu
decided that they would .vote.solidly
for repeal, but would not.votc for any
bill proposing qualification. which
would only result in replacing demo
srat., now in Office, with republicans.
~"
Just before the s%cnatcs.~ adjourned for
the Cl't'tm - rtr,Ss thnsfollowing res
olutions were adopted 1One.. by SEN
alor Cullom, directing the heads of the
executive departments TO inform the
senate what mDiltirition should be
nude IN the civil service .rules. One
by Plat, of Connecticut, calling upon
the secretary of the interior for the
status ofIthe freedmeniin the Choctaw
aud Chicasaw nations, in the Indian
Territory. One by Senatorl.Allen, di-
recting the postmaster general to send
copies Of all steamship Email contracts
now in force. One by Senator White,
asking the president what FACTION had
been taken in behalf of two Californians
held a. prisoners in the.!repub'i c OF
Colombia, and olc by Senator Kyle
calling upon the secretrry Of state fol
all correspouience with Hayti relating
to Bernard Campbell,
~
The most, importsnts legislation, in
fact almost. the onlyrlegiSlation, eX
cep ing that.for the reliefIof the Klon
dixie gold hunters, accomplished bcfor,
the Christmas recess (which will las
until January 9Th Twas the bill pro
hibiling citizens .of 3tht u, S. killing
seals in the open seas.O II that was al
the bill did it wouldlpleasc the Canad
ians, who have refusedsall invitation
to join the United States, Japan an,
Russia in stopping open sea sealing
but it goes much farther. lit prohibit
the bringing of seal skins, in any con
n - H--- nll-- nAuA-.