The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-12
But Simpson Made it Very
a Little Amusing.
FIGHT TO BE KEPT UP.
PEARSON PUTS A QUESTION TO
MIR. BROSIUS.
Mr.. 8AILEYS CLEAR STATEMENT
Mr Alien Entertaias The House With Short,
Witty Speeches MIR. Woocott TO Ad-
dress The Senate on the Work of
}ra Mo,atary Horor,,ceion
the Monetary Commission.

dress The Senate on the Work of
the Monetary Commission.
Washington, d. c., Jan. 1.-THE civil
service debate which was inauguratedI
in the House a week ago, ended today.
1t opened with a row, but ended very
tamely. There was not even vote on
the appropriation in the legislative, exc
cuaiye and judicial appropriation bill for
the commission, upon which the debate
was predicted. The Republicans who
are seeking to modify or repeal the law
decided to let the debate come to a close
today, but it required the casting vote
of the speaker to accomplish this. There
are conflicting statements as to the St
uation in which the future conduct of
the war against the civil service law is
left. All the Republican opponents of
the law agree that the fight is TO be kept
up, and it is positively stated by Mr..
Pearson, (Republican, North Cardinal,
that assurance have been received from
those in authority in the House that an
opportunity will be given in the future
for the consideration of bill to modify
the law. But from other sources the
statement cannot be confirmed.
The debate today was quite duh until
the closing hour when Mr.. Simpson, the
Kansas Populist, enlivened it with some
references to the Ohio Senatorial elec-
tOn. Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader,
made a clear statement of the minority
position Which indicates that the min
GRITTY will vote to repeal, but not to
modify the law. The principal speech of
the day was made by Mr., Brosius, chair
man of the Civil Service Committee,
who defended the law in a two hour
speech.
Mr.. Brosius, the chairman of the Com
mittee on Civil Service, opened today's
debate with an elaborate defense of the
merit system, and an argument for sus-
tanning the law.
Mr.. Pearson, (Republican, North Caro-
lina), asked how the statement that the
Civil Service law was economical, would
be reconciled with the fact that the en-
ployes of the government had almost
doubled since 1883.
Mr.. BrOsius denied that this was true.
The advocates Of the spoils system, he
said, had repeated}this statement until
they believed it. He produced figures
from the report of the commission to
show that the number Of employees in
the classified service in the eight exc
cutive departments in this city had de-
creased 8 per cent, while the number
in the un-classifed service had increased
GO per cent.
Mr.. Mcguire, Democrat, California;,
defended the last administration against
the charges Of wholesale removals, and
commended the efficiency of the SER
vice, especially in the public printing
office, which had been an especial point
of assault from the other side
Mr. White, Republican, North Caro-
lina), the only colored member of the
House, spoke in favor of the modifica-
ton of the law, but if it could not be
modified, he said he would join the
Democrats in an effort to repeal it.
After some remarks by Messrs. Bell
Pop, Colo.), and Mr.. Eddy (Rep.,
Mimi, Mr.. Simpson pop, Kan.) enliv-
ened the closing hour of the debate by a
reference to the Senatorial contest in
Ohio. He said the debate had been pro-
longed while the Republicans out in Ohio
were making promises to the boys I'M
the trenches in the interest of Senator
4Adnna.
1t was bluff, said Mr.. Simpson. Moth
ing was to be done, and now that Sen
ator Hannas election was secured the
mask was thrown off and vote was to
be taken tonight on this bill. Whether
the House would have an opportunity to
consider a bill for the modification or
repeal Of the law would depend on the
Speaker, said Mr.. Simpson. ''He is the
whole thing" exclaimed Mr.. Simpson.
"and runs the House." Naughter.)
"Have you consulted the Speaker?'
asked Mr.. Quigg.
No" replied Mr.. Simpsoa. 'He never
consults me and l never consult him.
Mr. Allen Dem, Miss) entertained
the House with one of his short humor-
Gus speeches He was not a brute. he
said, and he had not the heart to iump
on the Republican party in its present
straits, and at this critical juncture. with
mock solemnity he offered to mediate be-
tween the divided factions. He pictured
the divisions on the floor, in Maryland
and in Ohio He said he felt especially
sorry for Mr.. Grosvenor who was very
busy leading a bolt ON the floor OF this
House and coercing a bolt in Ohio.
"The Ohio matter is adjusted" shout
ed a member.
Mr.. Allen said ne so understood. They
had learned the lesson in Ohio which a
negro in Mississippi said was the secret
of success in life.
]. trouble with the negro a col
ored man was represented as saying in
Mr. Aliens story, ''is that they don't
know how to transfer. The white man
does give my note to a merchant. He
buys produce with it from the commits
sion man. he buys with it from others.
and SO it goes. Everybody gets out of it
but me and no one pays it but me"