Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-01-13
SENSE OF HOUSE TO BE SHOWN
ON CIVIL SERVICE.
MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE
Friends of Law Want Speeches Shut
on-Senate Decides to Debate Ha-
wailan Treaty in Public Secre-
tarles Gary and Bliss on Civil Ser
vice Exemptions.

! Washington, Jan, 1.-THE oppon-
ents of the civil service law had much
the best of the debate in the house
so far as the number OF those engag-
Ing in 1t were concerned. Eleven
speakers supported the opposition
The friends of the law are very anxious
to shut OF further debate and in this
viii have the cooperation of Speaker
Reed and the rules committee.
Mr.. Moody, who has charge of the
till, 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 ell its
ranks to be on hand and says 1t will
have no difficulty in defeating the
motion. Those who participated In
the debate We're In opposition to the
law. Messrs. Coney dem, Mo. J.
Door rep. w. va, Cox (dem.
Tenn.), Little dem, Ark) Brumm
(rep,, Pa, Cowherd dem, Mo-,
Sulloway trep.. n. HI, Low (rep.
n. G.), and in defense of the law
Nessrs. 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
wcat 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 II,
II is the best evidence of his beng I'M
worthy of political privileges He
was ready to vote for the repeal OF
the law.
SENATE.
Washington, Jan. II 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, and others, the principal
portion Of the debate for the first two
hours of the session being upon that
motion. 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-
empt from civil service. He says: in
my judgment the following positions
should be excepted from the rules gov
erning the classified civil ser, ice, in
and confidential clerks to postmasters
and unskilled laborers now exempt:
Chief clerk Of the Iyostofiicc DEPART
ment; discussing 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 postoflce de-
partmeut; confidential clerk to the
chief postotlice Inspector; postal card
agents, postage stamp agent; stamped
envelope agent; five postoiiice inspee-
tors; watcnmen; flremen, assistant
messengers, pages; laborers OF all
kinds and chairwomen. In postofces
throughout the country, ! would rec
ommend the following exceptions.
Superintendent or clel ks in charge OF
carrier stations; assistant cashiers;
private secretaries and stenographers
TO postmasters in larger office, mcssen-
gers, porters, cleaners janitors, watch
men and laborers.
Secretary Bliss also submitted re-
poit in which he stated that number
OF positions in his department now un-
der civil service regulations should be
TIA on ont