Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-08
WIT AT WASHINGTON
HOUSE DEBATE on crvrL-sERvIcE
LAW SOMEWHAT ENLIvExED.
TELLER ON 4 PRESS REPORT,
story That Rumored Resignation of
Gage Was Due TO Free-sIIver Con-
spiracy Denounced-Interna onal
Bime taIlfsm-Cubn.

| service debate continued throughout the
day In the House. All efforts to fix a
time for Its termination failed, and II is
certain now to run over into next week.
Interest In the discussion does not seem
TO be waning. The debate to-day was
without marked incident.
Mr.. Gillette Republican). Of Massachu-
sets. opened the debate in support Of the
bill. He maintained that the arguments
OF Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.. Lands against
the law were both in reality strong ar
fragments of the spells system. He de-
MED that the scope OF the Executive or
der Of May 6, 1896, was not understood
when the st. Louis platform was adopted.
Mr.. Gillette commented wittily on the
spectacle Of the white-haired veteran,
General Grosvenor, leading the young
Hotspurs Of the party in the battle of the
spoils, and said it recalled to his mind
the words Macaulay placed in the mouth
of Henry OF Nayarre, at the battle Of
Ivry:
'Press where you see my white plume
shine,
Amidst the ranks of war;
And be your orifiamme to-day,
The head Of Grcsvenor."
Mr.. Farrs RepubIican). of Indiana.
spoke In opposition to the law. He de-
clared that the Republican party was not
responsible for the civil-service law.
Mr.. Cummings Democrat of New
York, announced himself an implacable
foe of the whole system of civil-service
reform.
"The system is doomed" said he. land
one of the factors i'm its destruction is
Tammany Hail."
Mr.. Burton Republican,. Of Ohio. fol-
lowed in defence Of the merit system.
Mr.. Vandiver DemocraD, of Missouri
in the course of some remarks in opposi-
ton TO the law. referred to ex-President
Cleveland as "his fat-witted Excellency."
Mr.. Mahaney Republican), of New
York, said if he were not allowed to vote
for modification of the law, he was one
Of those who would vote for its repeal.
Mr.. Kerr Republican), of Ohio, favored
modification Of the law.
Mr.. Barthold Republican), of Missouri.
took occasion TO defend Carl Schurz from
what he termed the ISLANDERS heaped upon
that gentleman by Mr.. Grosvenor,
The other speakers were Messrs. briggs
and Bradley Democrats), of New York,
and Mr.. Fitzerald DemocraD, of Massa-
chusetts.
At ass the House adjourned.
CAGES ALLEGED RESIGNATION.
The feature of the Senate session to-
day was speech delivered by Mr.. Tel
Ter, of Colorado, regarding press reports
on the recent efforts TO make II appear
that Secretary Gage had rendered his
resignation as a member of the Cabinet
OF President Mckinley, to the effect that
they We're part Of a conspiracy OF silver
men to disrupt the Cabinet, and create
dissension between the President and his
advisers.
Mr.. Teller branded the publication as
an insult to the advocates of the free
coinage of silver.
At the opening OF the session the reply
of the Attorney-General to the Senate
resolution calling upon members Of the
Cabinet TO inform the Senate what, If
any, changes had been made in the ad-
ministration Of the civil-service law, was
read.
The Attorney-General recommended
that attorneys employed by the Depart
ment Of Justice and deputy United States
marshals ought TO be excepted from the
operation of the law.
Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska, offered a reso-
luton declaring that the United States
should, independently and without delay,
yer at the ratio Of 16 TO J.; that
such coinage should be supplemented
by a safe and sound national paper
money, to be issued by the government
without the Intervention Of banks, the
notes to be full legal tender and to be
issued in an amount sufficient to meet
the business demands of the county;
that any increase of the Understanding
debt should be prohibited, and that no
government bonds should be issued or
sold except by specific act Of Congress, /
and then only In case of absolute neces- |
sity. The government, in the discharge |
of its obligations, should use its option |
as to the kind Of lawful money in which |
they should be paid, and that option |
should never be surrendered,
Mr.. Allen spoke briefly in favor Of the |
adoption of the propositions set forth in |
his resolution. concluding with the state |
ment that he would at some subsequent |
time go more fully into the details as to
his reasons and the reasons Of the Popu-
list party in favor Of the plan he had set |
forth in the resolution.
THE TELLER PROTEST..
At the conclusion Of Mr. Aliens re-
marks Mr.. Teller, Of Colorado, rose. He |
said that he did not often give heed to
publications concerning himself or the |
convictions of those who believed as he |
upon financial or other ques-
lions. but he felt that a statement re-
Gently published-which is, in fact, now
going the rounds of the press-was a
gratuitous insult to those who believed
upon the financial question as he be-
lieved. This statement shows" said he,
that many of those who attempt TO
deal with this question have no proper
of 1t. They regard 1t as
a local matter, to be considered
and discussed from the standpoint Of
their own selfish or local interests"
Mr.. Teller then read from a newspaper
the article Of which he complained. In
this article IT is charged that Secretary
of the-Treasury Gage rendered his resign
alton as the result Of a conspiracy 10
create trouble between the President and
his Secretary of the Treasury, and per-
haps to disrupt the Cabinet.
II resent this charge" said Mr.. Teller,
with great emphasis. II do not believe
that IL comes from the Secretary of the
Treasury. or that he believes any such
thing. We, those who believe on the
financial questions as / do. differ from
the Secretary of the Treasury and the