The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-16
RETRENCHM EN TssF SWlVE !
"A LIVELY ANTI-CIVIL SERVICE
SKIRMISH.
THE DESPERATE CHASE FOR Pie
The Presidents Cabinet Advisers Declared to
be the Greatest Enemies to Civil Service
OeArmonds Stir ing Plea For Cuba
Appeals to Majority.
Appeals to Majority.

Appeals TO Majority
Washington, D. c., Dec. 15.-The
House spent the day in the discussion
Of the legislative, executive and judi
eial appropriation bill. Eghty-nine of
the 112 pages Of the bill were covered
and only two amendments Of Importance
were adopted; one reduced the watch
men force at the State, War and Navy
huikling from So to 40, and the other
reduced the clerical force at he Pen
sion office to 95, involving a reduction
m salaries of $4,000. The former
amendment was carried over the protest
Of the Appropriation committee, while
the latter was advocated by General
Bingham, in charge of the bill, and had
been recommended by Commissioner
Evans, who said the reduction would
not impair the efficiency of the bureau
The civil service question, as on yester-
day, was tie chief topic Of discussion
to-day and the proposition OF Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Vanderlip
TO retire clerks for age was vigorously
attacked. At the opening of the session
q resolution for the holiday recess from
Saturday, December IS, to Wednesday,
January 5, offered by Mr.. Dngiey, from
the Committee on Ways and Means, was
adopted.
The House then went into committee
Of the whole and resumed the considera-
ton of the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill. Mr.. Living
ston tDe1n., Georgia) submitted some
feeling remarks in opposition to the
civil service law, which he denounced
rs humbug and a fraud
Mr.. DeArmond Dem., Missouri, I'M
DER the latitude allowed in debate on
appropriation bills, followed with am i'm
4 \ssioned speech reproaching the ma
i Gty for not voting upon the Cuban
be igerency resolution, passed by the
Sen ute at the last session. His remarks
were given added Importance in view of
the action of the Democratic caucus last
night, declaring for an aggressive sup
port of the recognition of Cuban bellig-
erency. He declared that he could not
be mistaken in his belief that the
American people without distinction of
party sympathized with the Cuban
cause The war on the island had been
characterized on the one hand by
heroism, devoted to the cause of free
dom and independence, and on the other
hand by all the cruelty and devastation
Of the darkest ages of the world.
The triumph of tyranny in Cuba, he
said, would prove menace to liberty
the world over, and in conclusion, amid
. round of Democratic applause, he ap-
pealed to the majority to give the House
an opportunity of voting on that resolu-
ton.
The debate then drifted back to the
civil service question, and Mr.. Moody
Rep., Massachusetts, called attention
to what he termed the ''extraordinary
proposition" advocated by Assistant Sec
rotary of the Treasury Vanderlip to
establish in the Treasury Department
what in effect would be a civil pension
list.
IF this system which we support is 10
lead to the establishment of civil pen
sion list" said he, impressiyely, Chen
the people ought to wipe it cut Of ex-
lstence." General applause.)
Continuing, Mr.. Moody said be did
not believe the act of 1883 led logically
to civil pension list, but, on the other
hand, he did believe the declaration Of
the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
would meet the disapproval Of the
American people.
"As a friend of civil service REFORM
said he, 81 say its worst enemies are
not those who are fighting it openly like
General Grosvenor, but men like the
author of this proposition, who sits in
the Cabinet, by the side of President
Mckinley" (Applause)
Mr.. Quigg Republican, New York;
thought life tenure in office led natural
ly to a civil pension list. 1t would be
brutal, he said, to turn men out to
starve, after they have spent their lives
in the service and were incapacitated
from doing anything else.
Mr.. Moody denied that it was brutal
to turn out man after he had ceased
to be valuable, especially if he had en-
Joyed long service at salary double
that for the same service in private life
Mr.. Johnson Republican, Indiana)
declared that the last census, conducted
under the spoils system, was VIGOROUSLY
inefficient, and expressed his regret ii
this important work was to be ineffi.
GENTLY done. He also said he shared Mr.
Moody's Indignation over the PROPOSE.
tion OF Mr.. Vanderlip. and said it was
particularly unfortunate at this inoDpor
rune time. His proposition violated the
spirit and letter Of the law.
MT. Qul2S tReDuDl1can. New YORK;
Mr.. Pearson Republican. North Caro-
fna> and others became involved in de
bate. Finally, Mr.. Bingham. in charg
Of the bill, appealed to the House to 10
This subject. which had been postponed
until after the rest OF the bill was com
p'eted. 90 over. and the debate subsidized
The bill was then read for amendment
under the five minute rule.
Mr.. Dockery Democrat. Misour) Of
fered an amendment, which was agree
TO. reducing the salary OF the deput,
comntroller Of the Treasury from S. 90
TO $4,000. thus making the law conform
TO the appropriations made in recen
years.
Mr.. Wheeler democrat, AIabama) OF
f"red an amendment, providing that s
long ms the gold standard is maintaine
IN this country the salaries Of all off
cials shall be scaled - per cent. Fl
made ten minute spcech I'm support Q
the amendment, which was ruled out o
n yospt -