Evening star., 1899-02-10
SENATOR ALLEN COMPLAINS
Says There Are Ten Thousand Idle Govern
ment Employees in Washington.
Corrected by senator ChnndIcr-Con~
alteration of the EwSrt NomI-
nation Resumed

A duel OF words between SENATORS Auen
and Chandler occurred in Tin, Senate late
yesterday afternoon. when the legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation bin
was under consideration
Mr.. Allen tNebD commented upon IN.
paragraph making appropriations for odds
and ends of Office needs. Many Of thenn b.,
thought. were suspicious. Turning from
this subject he inquired why there was no
mastering out Of major generals. brigadfer
generals, adiutant generals and paymasters
who had been appointed for the war with
Spain and who were now sitting around
Washington. toasting their feet eating.
drinking and being merry al the expense OF
the government"
Mr.. Allison. chairman of the aDproDrta-
tlons committee. replied: Il have no spe-
cla1 knowledge OF the utility of ma ior gen
erals and other officers to whom the senator
refers. but I take IL they are engaged I'm
the work laid out for them about year
ago. When the army bill is reached then
the senator can make his point This bill
provides only for the civilian emplnVes Of
the government In Washington"
Mr.. Allen declared that the number OF
these employees could be largely decreased.
There are 10000 persons in the employ
ment of the government in this city who
are not rendering an hours service 60 the
government in year"
Government Employees I'm washing
ton.
Mr.. Allison-"I do not think there are 50
many employees in Washington as that"
Mr.. Aren-"I should think there are about
10000
Mr.. Chandler-"There are just about
10000"
Mr.. Alien, continuing his criticism. de
clared that the farmers and working people
of the country were paying taxes ITO sup
these b1eeG
Mr.. Chandler. in replying to Mr.. Allen.
said there were doubtless eNtraVagances in
the government service. and perhaps too
many employees, but the charge Of the Ne
braska senator was altogether too general
to have any effect either i'm the Senate or
in the country. The senator" said Nj
Chandler. has been here almost six years
and In all that time has not made a Dra,,,-
sitfon for "A single specific economy
Mr.. Allen explained that not having had
the ear OF the appropriations committee he
had never had the opportunity.
Mr.. Chandler have heard that the
senator was modest man. but never dis
covered It except in his own utterarces."
Mr.. Chandler then declared that Mr.. Al
lens periodical "dlatribes' had been gen
eral in their terms and not so direct as To
be useful.
Mr., Allen-"I hope the senator will with
draw that word 'datrilcs
Mr.. Chandler-'I Will. And / will sub
stitute for it the term periodical admon.-
ticns.' " U-aughterD
Inc pendlng bll was then laiI aside Tor
the day. and al 3:l5 p m. on motion Of Mr..
Hoar, the Senate went into executive ses-
sion.
The Nomination of Ewsrt.
The Senate continued the consideration OF
the nomination Of H. G. Ewart, 10 he judge
Of the western district Of North Carolina. IN
executive session. but no action was taken.
Senators Spoouer and Teller OF the judiciary
committee spoke in opposition to confirma-
ton. and Senator Lindsay OF the same
committee In support of the nomination.
Senator Lindsay said there We're miugat-
ing circumstances in connection with all
the transactions charged against Mr.. Ewart
and that no wrong intent had feen proved
against him. Senator Teller said his first
impressions had been fBVora5le to Mr..
Ewart because the latter like himself had
broken away from his party to vote against
the force bill, but after hearing the tes-
timony against him. he agreed with Sena-
tor SpOoner that the mans record was such
as to unfit him for a position on the bench.
A Z 90 h. .rsTf.h