The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-14

Washin.ton's Supply of Water-The
House Continues the Civil Service De.
bate-A Test Vote on the Question to BE
Taken Today.
SENATE.
Washington, January 10.-Rev. Bish-
op Merrill, D. D., of Chicago, delivered
the invocation at the opening of the
senate today. .
A bill was favorably reported from
the Indian committee prohibiting rail-
road companies from charging more
than 3 cents a mile for passengers
through the Indian Territory.
A resolution looking to the filtration
of the water used in the city Of Wash
ington having been offered and referred
to the District of Columbia committee,
Senator Hale, of Maine, said that in no
part of the United States was there a
city whose citizens are imposed upon
and abused as to the water supply as
are the citizens of Washington. we
are confronted with bad, foul water"
said he-''so filthy indeed, as to max
it dangerous to drink and irksome
even 90 take a bath"
Senator Gallinger, Of New Hamp-
shire, a member of the District of Co
lumbia committee, said that the COM
mittee was mindful of the condition Of
the water of this city, but he was salts
fled that it was not impure or hurtful
to any great extent. He thought a
system of filtration would be very eX-
penSive, but he assured the senate that
fhn on, p - would do nxynpyvthin r IN
it's power to remedy the wi aimed at
it by the resolution.
At 1880 O'Clock p. m, on motion of
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, chairman
Of the committee on foreign relations,
the senate went into executive session
to consider the Hawaiian annexation
treaty.
The senate at 3:45 O'Clock p. M, ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The opponents of the civil service law
nae much the best of the debate in the
house today, SO far as the number of
those engaged in it were concerned.
Eight of the ten speakers were of the
oppositions. The friends of the law are
very anxious TO shut off further debate,
and in this will have the cooperation
of Speaker Reed and the rules COM
mittee.
Mr.. Moody, who has charge of the
bill, gave notice that he would test the
sense of the house tomorrow on a mo-
ton to close debate. The opposition
Immediately sent word to all in their
ranks ito be on hand and they say they
will have no difficulty in defeating the
motion.
Mr.. Cooney, democrat of Missouri,
W. the first speaker. He opposed the
Y de civil service reform idea, which
he denounced as a cheat and a swindle.
A civil pension list and office-holding
class, he argued, were logical and inev-
liable if it was to continue. .
Mr.. Dorr, republican of West Vir-
ginia, followed with a set speech in OPP
position to the law.
Mr.. Cox, democrat of Tennessee,
said he was Sc utterly opposed to civil
service reform that he would vote to
strike cut the appropriation for the
commission and for the repeal of the
law.
Mr.. Little. democrat of Arkansas, an
tagonized the principle, theory and
practice of the law.
Mr.. Brumm, republican, of Pennsyl-
vania, also opposed the reform" sys-
tenn He doubted, he said, whethe the
president of the United States, men,
bers of the supreme court, senate or
lIouSC, SoulO pass SoiAlC u III civil SCl-
vice examinations. He defended what
was known as the political pull
which, he said, ought to be cultivated.
He was ready to vote for the repeal of
the law.
Mr.. Mccall, republican, of Massachu-
setts, was the first speaker today to
defend the merit system. In replying
to the criticisms of some of the OppO-
nents of the system he raised a laugh
at the expense of Mr.. Grosvenor who,
according to his (McCalrs) calcula-
lions wanted over lis per cent. of the
offices exempted from the operations Of
the civil service law.
Mr.. Cowherd, democrat, of Missouri,
called attention to some alleged viola
tions of the civil service law in his dis
trict. He said it was inconsistent for
the president to play to the grand stand
with grandiloquent support of the law
while his SubOrdinates were entertain
ing bleachers by turning the rascals
out"
Mr.. Sulloway, republican, of New
Hampshire, proudly proclaimed him.
self a spokesman without any mental
reservation. The civil service law, he
said, had been conceived in %iniquity,
born in infamy and administered in
cowardice and by democrats. He be-
lieved the government belonged to it's
friends. His remarks were very pictur-
eSQue and kept the anti-reformerS in
a continuous roar of approval.
After some further remarks by Mr..
Parker, republican of New Jersey, in
defense of the law, and of Mr.. Low, of
New York, in favor of modification of
the law, the debate closed for the day.
At 5 O'Clock the house adjourned.