Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-08
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Both Houses Of Congress Have a De-
bate on the Perplexing Subject
Bulls for Special Tar on Mixed Flour and
for Making the Gold Dollar tho
sole Unit of vaiue-sii-
YER Resol ution.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The presenta-
ton of replies OF members Of the cabi-
net to the resolution calling for infor-
nation as to the application Of the
civil service law to the various depart
ments Of the government, together
with the consideration Of the bill es-
tablishing q bureau for the 12th cen
sus, precipitated sharp civil service
debate in the senate yesterday. Sena-
tor Cullom. Of Illinois, the author OF
the resolution, thought that modifica-
ton OF the law ought 10 be made, rs
the authorities had drifted far away
from the original intention OF the au.
thors OF the civil service law. Senator
Allen, of Nebraska, charged that the
law was openly and daily violated, and
said 1t was hiss and by-word among
the people. Senator Cockrell, Of Mis-
souri,, declared 1t was presumptuous in
Secretary Sherman to make recon-
mendations to congress that certain
positions in his department should be
excepted from the classified service
when the president had full power to
make the exceptions he recommended.
He thought an effort was being made
to tic the presidents hands.
Senator Davis, chairman OF the com.
mittee on foreign relations, gave no.
tice that he would next Monday and
daily thereafter move that the senate
consider in executive session the Ha-
waiian annexation treaty until 1t was
disposed of finally. The advocates OF
the treaty announce their intention to
make few speeches, but they expect
stubborn resistance from Senators
White, Pettigrew, Gray and others.
Senator Teller introd uced q concur
rent resolution declaring the bonds OF
the United States payable in silver
dollars, and asserting that ito restore
to their coinage such silver coins as a
legal tender in payment Of such bonds,
principal and interest, Is not in viola
ton of the public faith nor in deroga-
ton of the rights Of the public cred.
itor." The resolution was referred to
the finance committee.
Senator Mason introduced bill FIX
ing q special tax upon the manufac-
ture of mixed -four, manufacturers
being required to pay 500. Mixed
flour is defined by the bill to be the
food product made from wheat and
mixed with ground corn or other
foreign substances. A fine Of $1,000 is
imposed for the manufacture Of this
product without paying the tax, and
like heavy fines are provided for other
violations. An internal revenue tax
Of four cents for each ten pound pack
age, in addition to the customs duty,
is imposed upon imported mixed -four.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The civil
service debate began in the house yes
terday, based on the item in the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill for the maintenance OF the
commission. 1t promises to continue
at least until the end of this week,
with O possibility that it may run
longer. But it is generally admitted
on both sides that the appropriation
in the bill will stand, as the anti-civil
service reformers do not seriously con-
template an attempt to strike 1t out
The debate, therefore, Is only prelim-
mary to any programme which the
enemies of the law may agree upon.
The members OF the house are divided
into three camps on this question
those who stand by the law,
those who advocate its entire repeal
and those who desire its modification.
These divisions were apparent in the
debate yesterday, the nature Of which
was not as stirring US had been antici-
pated. Messrs. Moody, republican, OF
Massachusetts,; Grow, republican, Of
Pennsylvania, and Greene, populist, Of
Nebraska, defended the law; Messrs.
Dockery, democrat, Of Missouri; Robb,
democrat, of Missouri, and Pearson,
republican, of North Carolina, opposed
1t outright, while Mr.. Lands, repub-
lican, of Indiana, favored notifications
OF the law.
Mr.. Clark, of Iowa, introduced bill
making the gold dollarthe sole unit OF
value; directing every national bank to
redeem its notes in dollars OF such
value; restricting the denominations
Of treasury or national bank notes to
$40 or its multiples; those outstanding
of less denominations being called in
and standard silver dollars given In
exchange and certificates destroyed,
while, after July 1, 1900. the treasury
is TO refuse all such certificates as pay
ment for public dues. The national
bank acts also are amended to charter
banks with paid up capital stock of
$40, 900, which may issue currency to
the amount Of the face of the securities
they deposit with the government, the
tax ON circulation to be one-half OF one
per cent, payable annually, in Janu-
airy.
Mr.. johnson, of North Dakota, in
troduced q bill to repeal the law which
has Just gone into effect relative to
pelagic sealing and the importation OF
scalslxins taken by pelagic sealers.
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Two More bogus Hills Found.
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