The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-01-08
AFTER THE HOLIDAY RECESS
THE CIVIL sERv1CE LAWS,
rhey Are the subject ef Disepanien
In neth the senate AID Houae-
Hawaiian Annexation Treaty
The Census nm.

There was not very large attendance
in the house when il convened Wednesday
after the holiday recess. Without any
preliminary business the house went into
a committee OF the whole to resume con-
sideration of the legislative. judicial and
executing appropriation bill, All the fea-
lures of the bill had been disposed Of ex-
eept the appropriation for u civil service
commission, upon which by previous at
rangement there was to be general de
bate. 1t was proposed by Moody (rep.l
of Massachusetts, and DOckery tdem.l Of
Missouri to control the time for and
against, Hepburn (rep.) of Iowa suggest
ed that il was a three-eornered contest.
Moody of Massachusetts, made an elabo-
rate defense of the civil service system
Doekery (dem.l of Missouri opened the
opposition to the civil service law. He
made warm speech, in which he declared
that the law was odious to the American
people and should be repealed.
! There was only small attendance in
the senate. Allen of Nebraska spoke ON
the immigration bill and declared in favor
of consular inspection of immigrants Car
ter of Montana called up the bill to pro-
vide for taking the next census and ar.
gued against making the appointments
through the civil service commission, say
ing it was only preliminary measure and
provided only for j places. Coekrell OF
Missouri replied, declaring that the repub-
liean party was backing s4uarely down
from, ifs r.OSitso., m, tka ..;,,sI .,..
tion. Senator Davis chairman Of the
committee on foreign relations, gave no
tice in the senate that he would call uE
the Hawaiian annexation treaty in execu
tive session on Monday and ask the sen
ate to consider it each day thereafter un
til the treaty should be disposed Of. Thu
Davis announcement was preceded by
some active work on the part OF tn,
friends OF the treaty prior 10 the opening
of the senate, and also ON the floor aftel
the senate convened. They do not fee
absolutely sure Of securing the 81 vote
: necessary to ratify the treaty, but ar,
hopeful of getting that number
GrOsVeROr On Civn Service.
The house Thursday promptly resume,
debate on the civil service question, an,
GrOsvenor Of Ohio took the floor will
AN elaborate speech in objection to tn
law. He diselaimed any leadership OF III
anti-eivil service reform forces and an
purpose to speak for any officers OF tn
government, executive, legislative or ju
dieial. Mr.. johnson trep.l of Indiana, on
of the ardent defenders OF the law, fo
. lowed MIR GTOsvenor with an extended al
gument in support Of the merit system
, He took occasion to review the history c
> the civil service, pointing out that prs
vious to the time Of Jackson the spoil
system did not exist. Men were appoint
ed to office for fitness, vet never was part
feeling stronger than then. In Englan,
where the merit system prevailed. part
spirit was most vigorous. II was absur,
!, he cOntended, to say that party existenC
must be fed upon the bribe Of office.
While the senate was in session tw
;. hours, practically no business was tran
. acted beyond the passage Of few bill
! Among the measures which received 4
, voable consideration were the bills Or,
+. viding for a congress Of the representativ,
Of Indian tribes Of the United States,
. be held at Omaha during the progress
Y the international exposition this veal
bills providing for the erection Of publ
buildings at Fergus Falls, Mimi, an
n NewpOVt News, Va. and a measure
n protect the name and insignia Of the r,
= Cross Society.