Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-13
A TEST VOTE SOON
SENSE OF HOUSE TO BE SHOWN
ON CIVIL SERVICE.
MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE
Friends of Law Want Speeches Shut
Of-Senate Decides to Debate Ha-
waiian Treaty in Public-Secre-
taries Gary and Bliss on Civil Ser
vice Exemptions.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE oppon-
ents Of the civil service law had much
so far as the number OF those engag-
ing in it were concerned. Eleven
speakers supported the opposition.
The friends of the law are very anxious
will have the cooperation of Speaker
Reed and the rules committee.
Mr.. Moody, who has charge of the
Hill, gave notice that he would test
the sense Of the house today ON mo-
ton to close the debate. The opposi-
ton Immediately sent word to all it's
ranks to be on hand and says it will
have no difficulty in defeating the
motion. Those who participated in
the debate were: In opposition to the
law, Messrs. Coney (dem., MOI,
Door (rep., w. Va, Cox (dem.,
TENN. Little (dem., Ark.), Brumm
(rep., Pa, Cowherd dem, MOI,
Sulloway (rep., N. H., Low rep,
N. ", and in defense of the law
Messrs. Mccall (rep., Mass. } and Par
ker (rep., N. J.). Mr.. Brumm in his
speech also opposed the reform"
system. He doubted, he said, whether
the president of the United States or
the members of the supreme court,
senate or house could pass some civil
service examinations. He defended
Wtat is known as political pull,
which he said ought to be cultivated
Every young man should have such
influence and if he does not have it,
ii is the best evidence of his beng I'M
worthy of political privileges. He
was ready to vote for tie repeal of
the law.
SENATE.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Rev.
Bishop Merrill, D. D., of Chicago de-
livered the invocation at the opening
of the senate. The senate then went
into executive session to consider the
Hawaiian treaty. Immediately after
that treaty was called up Senator Pet
tigreW offered his motion for conduct
ing the debate with open doors, which
vas antagonized by Senator Davis,
chairman of the committee on foreign
relations, ard others, the principal
portion of the debate for the first two
hours of the session being upon that
motion. A majority of those favoring
open doors are opposed to ratification
1t was finally decided not to debate
the treaty in open session.
Postmaster General Gary sent to
the senate his reply to the resolution
asking what positions should be ex-
my judgment the following positions
should be excepted from the rules gov.
erning the Classified civil service, in
addition to those of private secretary
and confidential clerks to post1nasters
and unskilled laborers now exempt
Chief clerk of the postoffice depart
ment; disbursing clerk; appointment
clerk; private secretary and chief
clerk to each of the four assistant
postmaster generals; private secretary
and confidential clerk to the assistant
attorney general for the postoffice de-
partment; confidential clerk to the
chief postoffce inspector; postal card
agents; postage stamp agent; stamped
envelope agent; five postoffice inspec-
tors; wetcnmen; iremen; assistant
No passengers; pages; laboreTs of all
kinds and chairWomen. In pOstoffices
throughout the country, / would rec
Ommend the following exceptions:
Superintendent or clerks in charge of
carrier stations; assistant cashiers;
private secretaries and stenographers
to postmasters in larger Office messen-
gers, porters, cleaners, janitors, watch
men and labOrers.
Secretary Bliss also submitted re-
port in which he stated that number
of positions in his department now I'm
der civil service regulations should be
taken out