Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-07
55th CONGRESS.
Ant:.-CiyiI Servic, Reformers
Score a Victory.
Test Vote in Committee Of Whole
Kills the Appropriation.
Record Vote will Be Demanded In 0ouse b
Civil Services FsisNds.

Civil Services fsieNds.
Washington. Jan. 6.-The anti-civil
service reformers scored a victory in
the House. today. The legislative. ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill
was taken up for consideration and
when the appropriation for the civil
service was reached. Mr.. Evans. Rep.
KY. made motion to strike it out.
This motion has been made annually
for dozen years or more. but has in
variably failed. But. today. the Oppo-
nents of the law laid some stress upon
the fact that they could not get a di-
rect vote upon the proposition and
were therefore compelled to seek its
notification in this manner. Even
these appeals failed to bring out the
full strength of the opposition, though
the motion to strike out carried by
narrow majority. 67-61.
This was in committee of the whole.
where no record is made of the vote.
Mr.. Moody. Rep. Mass. gave notice
that he would demand a record vote In
the House. where the friends of the
civil service law expect to reverse the
decision.
Those who advocated the motion to
strike out were Messrs. Evans. Rep.
Ky; Grosvenor. Rep. Ohio: Hepburn.
Rep, Ia; Linney. Rep. N. c.: Brown.
Rep. Ohio: and Massey. Rep. Ills.
Its opponents were Messrs. Moody.
Rep, Mass; Hopkins. Rep. Ills;
Fleming, DEM, Ca: Brosius. Rep.
Pa; Henderson, Rep, Ia: and DOlli-
yer, Rep. la.
During general debate on The bill. Mr..
Swanson. DEM, Va. delivered a speech
on aEti-imperialism.
At the opening of the session Of the
House. Friday, Marsh. Rep. ILL.,. asked
unanimous consent for the considera-
ton of bill to grant to officers and
men of the volunteer army upon their
muster out, two months extra pay,sif
they have served beyond the limits 81
the United States. and one months
extra pay if they have only served
within the limits Of the United States.
This extra pay to be In lieu Of fur.
loughs or leave Of absence.
1t has been the practice to grant
these furloughs or leaves OF absence, so
that in reality the bill only sought to
do directly what has heretofore been
done indirectly. After this explanation
Mr. Bailey announced that he had no
objection to the measure. The bill was
passed.
The House then went into committee
of the whole and took up the consider
alton of the executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill. 1t was agreed to con-
fine the general debate to an hour on
each side.
Swanson. Dem, Va. delivered an
hours speech in criticism of the policy
Of expansion. The administration
which could hardly be driven into a
war for liberty. had within few
months become greedy for conquest.
The liberators Of the Cubans were to
become the dispoilers of the Filipinos.
He contended that it was unconstitu-
tional for the United States to UNDER
take colonial system. and cited the
bred Scott decision in support Of his
contention.
He declared that the main support of
the imperialistic policy came from those
who were seeking an offensive and defen-
sive alliance between the United States
and Great Britain. We were throwing
away great trade possibilities on our
Northern border by restrictive laws, and
yet we proposed to reach out to the ends
Of the earth for a trade which was ut
terly insignificant.
The majority did not consume the hour
allotted and at the conclusion of Swan
sons remarks the bill was read for
under the five-minute rule.
Hartman, Sill. Rep, Mont, offered an
to the paragraph allowing
each member and delegate in Congress
800 per month for clerk hire. which pro-
vided that if any member or delegate
should retain any portion of this allow
ance, he. should forfeit his seat in the
House. Mahon. Rep, Pa, made a point
If order against the amendment and 1t
was sustained.
Hartman then modified his amendment
so as to provide that any member who
sought to retain portion Of the allow
lnce for clerk hire should forfeit 1t. He
'aid he had no desire to make any
charges in connection with members of
he present House. but he had reliable
knowledge that in the past some Menu
'c.s had retained a portion of this allow
ion, and had put the money In their own
rockets. No man who would be guilty
# such an act. he said. is tit to hold
eat in this House.
Bingham made a point OF order against
he modified amendment and 1t was sus.
aimed.
Evans, Rep, Ky. moved to strike out
he appropriation for the civil service
commission. He reviewed briefly the
truggle against the extension Of the
ivil service law. 1t had outgrOwn Its
riginal bounds. he said. and he was
Killing to bring the question to test by
utting Off the appropriation for the COM
littee. He was not spokesman. He be-
eyed in merit and in the Improvement Of
he public service. but he was opposed to
fe tenure and TO the present conduct OF
ne law.
Moody, Rep. Mass, said he could not
elieve the gentleman from Kentucky
as serious In his desire to withdraw the
for the civil service com.
lission. Moody expressed the hope that
lie de3ate would not touch the merits OF
le law. but would be confined to the
Ierits Of the proposition to wipe out the
for 1.-The com mis- sion ~ ~.