The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-03
cIvIL-sERvIcE PYRoTEcHNIcs.
Opposition to the Law VIII Start the
Fireworks Thia Week.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-The time of the
House this week, after it meets on Wednes-
day, will probably be entirely devoted to
the debate on the civil-service question.
By general consent the appropriation in
the legislative, executive and judicial bill
for the maintenance of the commission, on
which the debate will be based. went over
until after the holidays. 1t is intended by
the opponents of the civil-service law that
the debate shall cover the whole question,
and they expect to develop and exploit
some very interesting facts. The defenders
of the law have made elaborate prepara-
lions to meet these assaults, and some high
ly interesting, if not sensational, incidents
are anticipated The records of individuals
are likely to be very much in evidence. 1t
is not expected that the debate will lie con-
cluded this week, as Saturday has been set
aside for paying tribute to the memory of
the late Representative Wright, of Massa-
chusetts. General Grosvenor, of Ohio, who
has been one of the mainstays of the orpo-
siton to the law, is very DESTROYS of par
ticipating in the debate, but, owing to the
senatorial fight now in progress in Ohio
he will probably not be able to return until
next week. 1t is not believed that there
will be any attempt to close the debate
before he has had an opportunity to make
the elaborate speech which he has prepared
No one seriously believes, however that
the upshot of the present debate will be
the striking out of the appropriation for
the commission. The proposition cannot by
any means command the full strength of
the opposition, the leaders of which think
direct legislation should be enacted to re-
peal or radically amend the law. The de-
bate, therefore, VIII be simply in the ma
ture of a general airing of the views OF the
members of the House. the only practical
effect of which will be to place them on
record for the future.
The prevailing opinion among senators
is that very little legislation will be at
tempted during the present week. The fact
that Congress will not rec0nvene until
Wednesday will probably be taken by the
absentees to mean that nothing viii be at
tempted until the following week and as
consequence it is doubtful whether there
will be a quorum present in the Senate on
Wednesday, in which event there will prob
ably be an early adjournment until the fol-
lowing day and then an adjournment until
Monday. In any event it is not probable
that any important questions will be raised
during the present week, The general I'M
derstanding is, however, that the work of
the session will begin in real earnest after
this week. and that henceforth there will be
no justification of the complaint of dullneSs
of the proceedings. Among the questions
Hawaiian annexation question, the claim
Of Mr.. Corbett to a seat in the Senate from
Oregon, the immigration bill and the finan-
cial question. In all probability the COM
nittee on privileges and elections will meet
during the present week. and the chances
are that an early report on the Corbett
case will be ordered. even though ii may
not be favorable. The Republican side of
the chamber will not be a unit in Mr.. Cor
belts interests. Senator Burrows OF the
committee which has charge of the case
is preparing an exhaustive speech antag-
onistic TO Mr.. Corbett and the opposition
is counting on the assistance Of still 9TH
ers from that side of the chamber Tt is
not believed that there will be any serious
antagonism to the immigration bill. but
there may be considerable time consumed
in speeches on the subject.
1t IS probable that Senator Davis, chair
man of the committee on foreign relations,
will make an effort during the present week
TO get day fixed Tor taking up the annex
alton treaty, and there is no apprehension
of any objection to naming a day In the
early future. The plan of the supporters
of the treaty is to take the question up in
executive session on a resolution of ratitica-
ton, and TO debate the treaty for a few
days in executive session, pursuing this
course long enough to determine their
strength and commit those who profess TO
be with them. If they find that they have
ton they win press on to the end, but IL
they discover themselves 10 be deficient Ia
voting strength they will change their
policy and take up the question OF annexa-
ton on Senator MoTgan's resolution to that