Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-12
WORK OF CONGRESS.
The Civil Service Debate
Closes Tamely.
Mr., SIMPSON HEARD FROM
He Says the Speaker"Is the Whole Thing
and Runs the House." Hawaiian
Annexation Bill Considered
In the Senate.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE civil
service debate which was inaugurated
in the House a week ago, ended today.
1t opened with row, but ended very
tameiy. There was not even vote on
The appropriation in the Legislative, tx
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill
for the commission, upon which the
Isbate was predicted. The Republicans
who are seeking ito modify or repeal the
law decided to let the debate come to
a close today, but it required the cast
ing vote Of the Speaker to do THIS.
There are conflicting statements as to
the situation in which the future con-
duct of the war against the civil SER
vice law is left. All the Republican rr-
ponents of the law agree that the tigh;
is to be kept up. and it is positively
stated by Mr.. Patterson. (Rep.) If
North Carolina, that assurances have
been received from those in authority
in the House that an opportunity Will
be given in the future for the coasid-
GRAFTON Of bill to modify the law. Bu.
from other sources the statement can
not be confirmed.
The debate was today quite iuIl rnt!l
the closing hour. when Mr.. Simpson,
the Kansas Populist, enlivened il with
some reference to the Ohio senlt ocial
election. Mr.. Bailey. the Democratic
leader, made a statement of the minor
ity position. which indicates that the
minority will vote to repeal but not
to modify the law The principal
speech of the day was made by Mr..
Broslus chairman of the civil service
committee, vino defended the law in a
TWO hours speech. He opened today S
debate with an elaborate defense OF the
merit system and an argument for sus-
taining the law.
Mr.. Pearson. Rep.) OF North Carroll
ma asked how the statement that the
civil service law was economical would
be reconciled with the tact that the
employees Of the government had al
most doubled since 1888
Mr.. Brosius denied that this was the
case. The advocates Of the spoils sys-
tenn. he said, had repeated this state
nent until they believed it. He pro-
duced figures from the report of the
commission to show that a number of
employees in the eight executive de-
partmentS in this city had decreased 3
per cent. while the number in the I'M
classified service had increased pc.
cent.
Mr. Mcguire, Dem.) OF California,
defended the last administration
against the charges of wholesale re
'rovahS and omnrended the efficiency
IF the service. especially i'll the public
printing office, which had been an es-
pecial point of assault from the other
side.
MIR. White, G1ep.) OF North Carolina,
me tHiS COFsEeQ -TneHlD" OF tne e,
spoke in favor Of the modification OF
he law. but If it could not be modified,
ne said he would Join the Democrats in
an effort TO repeal it.
After some remarks by Messrs. Bell,
rPop) of California. and Eddy. (Rep.)
of Minnesota MIR. Simpson. Pop.) of
Kansas. enivenad the closing hour of
| the debate by d reference to the sena-
toria contest in Ohio. He said the de-
bate had been prolonged while the
Republicans out in Ohio We're making
promises to the boys in the trenches
in the interest OF Senator Hanna.
at was all bluff,' said Mr.. Simpson.
Nothing was to be done. and now that
senator tHanna's election was secured
! the mask was thrown Off and vote
Was to be taken tonight on the bill.
Whether the House would have an op-
portunity la ter Il, consider a bill for the
modification Or repeal OF the law would
depend on the Speaker" said Mr. Snp-
son.
He is the whole thing" exclaimed
Mr.. Simpson. and runs the House"
lIJiughter.]
asked MIR. Quige.
No" replied Mr.. Simpson. he never
cunsulls me and l never consult him. y
Mr.. Allen, CDem.) OF mississippi, en-
tertalnt-d the House with one of his
short humorous speeches. He was not
heart to jump on the Republican party
in it's present straits and at this criti-
cal juncture. With mock solemnity he
offered 10 mediate between the divided
factions. fie pictured the divisions on
| the floor in Maryland and Ohio. He
said he felt especially sorry for MIR.
Gr"srennr, who was very busy leading
a bolt on the floor of this House and
cnercing hOit in Ohio.
The Ohio matter is adjusted" shout
ed a member.
MIR. Allen said he so understood, They
had LEARNED the lesson in Ohio which
a negro in Mississippi said was the Sc
cret OF success in life. The trouble
with the negro" a colored man was
represented as saying in Mr.. Aliens
story. "is that they didn't know how to
| transfer The white mas does. I give
produce with it from the commission
! man. he buys it from others. and 50 1t
goes. Everybody gets out OF it but me
and no ore pays but me-
Mr.. Allen applied the story by saying
+ eSf, !., Ia tie :srefet OF Senator Han
mas success. Several gentlemen had
learned how to transfer" - ~
MIR. Bailey. Oenl.) OF Texas. the lead
er of the minority, closed the debate
With some remarks defining the atti-
tude OF the Democrats. 1t was difficult,
he said to believe the sincerity OF the
| other side when IN one breath the Re
| publicans avOWed their adherence to the
| law and in the next demands its prac-
| teal destruction. If the law was good,
he said, it ought to be extended: il bad
| it should be repealed. The Democrats.
he said We're ready to wipe it off the
statute books They did not believe in
| life tenure. While the repeal of the
law might turn some OF their friends
ont If office they stood by their party
platform. With the conclusion of MIR.
Bailey's remarks. the time expired and
he bill was reported to the House. 1t
was then discovered that those who de-
sired to vote to strike out the apIro-
Driation for the civil service commits
SION mad neglected to make the motion
in committee of the whole. No vote,
therefore. could be taken, and the bill
was passed without division. The agri-
cultural and urgent deficiency appro-
prfation bills were reported to the
House and at $40 P. NJ. the House ad-
journed.
SENATE.