The age-herald., 1899-02-10

of the pending bill were disposed of before the senate went into executive session for the remainder of the day. ' At the opening of the session the follow ing bills were passed. Authorizing the Sioux City and Omaha Railway company to construct and operate a railway through the Omaha and Winnebago reservation in Thurston county, Nebraska; to restore to their original status as to promotion off, cers of the navy and marine corps who lost numbers by reason of the advance ment of other officers for exceptional and meritorious service during the war with Spain; authorizing the Aransas Harbor Terminal Railway company to construct bridge across the Corpus Christi Channel in Texas; and for the purchase or con- struction of a launch for the customs ser vice at Astoria Ore, to cost not more than $2,500.
 Appropriations Bill
 The legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill was taken up and con- sideration of 1t resumed. The paragraph relating to the deposit of copyright works in the National Library was stricken out with the intention of revising 1t in confer ence.
 A brief but lively civil service debate was precipitated by an inquiry of MT. Cockrell, Of Missouri, concerning the expenditure of money for the office of the supervising architect. He maintained that the work of the supervising architects office was done slowly, if not badly The construction of public buildings dragged through year after year. Were the same buildings being erected by private individuals they would be completed in one season. MT. Cockrell placed the blame for the situation of af- fairs upon the executive, who, he said, had ample authority to remedy it. The civil service law, he said, had been carried to a most 0jSa aStrOuS extent. that if had ed disgraceful feature.
 In a speech opposing the civil service law, MT. Stewart, of Nevada, declared the law would be an injury to the government so long as it remained on the statute books.
 MT. Allen, of Nebraska, commented upon the paragraph making appropriations for odds and ends officers.
 Many of them, he thought were suspi- cious. Turning from this subject, he in- quired why there was no mastering out of major generals, brigadier generals, adju- tant generals and paymasters, who had been appointed for the war with Spain, and who were now sitting around Washing ton toasting their feet, eating, drinking and being merry at the expense of the gov ernment.
 Provided Only for Civilians
 MT. Allison replied: "I have no special knowledge of the utility of major-generals and other officers to whom the senator re- fers, but I take 1t they are engaged in ths work laid out for them about year ago. When the army bill is reached, then the senator can make his point. This bill pro- vides only for the civilian employees of the government in Washington" Mr. Allen declared that the number of these employees could be largely decreased. ''There are 10 00O persons in the employment of the government in this city who are not rendering an hours service to the govern- ment a year." He declared that the farm CTS and working people of the country were paying taxes Ito support these worthless creatures"
 MT. Chandler, in replying to MT. Allen, said there were doubtless extravagances in the government service and perhaps too many employees, but the charge of the Me- braska was altogether too general to have any effect either in the senate or in the l country.
 ."The senator" said MT. Chandler, "has been here almost six years, and in all that | time has not made a proposition for single | specific economy"
 MT Allen explained that not having had | the ear of the appropriations committee he l had never had the opportunity | Mr. Chandler then declared that MT. AL | lens periodical "diatribes' had been gen. eral in their terms and not SC. direct as to be useful.
 | The pending bill was then laid aside for l the day. and at 3:15 the senate went into | executive session. At 5:35 p. m the senate adjourned.