The Portland daily press., 1899-01-07
BLOW At CIVIL SERVICE.
House Votes To Strike Out Usual Ap-
preparation.
VOTE TAKEN IN COMMITTEE OF
WHOLE AND NJT RECORDED.

Taken Where Friends of Civil
Service Reform Expect To Reverse
Decision OF Housc--Erpsnsion the
| Theme In the Session.
| Washington, January 6-The anti
civil service reformers scored victory In
the House to-day, The legislative, exc.
outive and judicial appropriation bill was
taken up for consideration and when the
appropriation for the OWL service commits
sion was reached. Mr.. Evans, Republican
OF Kentucky made n motion to strike II
out This motion has been made anna
ally for dozen years or more, but has
Invariably failed. But today the oppon-
fact that they could not get direct vote
upon the pi oposition and were therefore
compelled to seek Its nulhncation In this
manner. Even these appeals failed to
bring out the full strength OF the oppo-
sition, though the motion TO strike out
carried by narrow majority, 57-oi. This
was In committee of the whole whore no
record Is made of the vote
| Mr.. Moody, Republican of Massschu-
setts gave notice that he would demand
record vote In the House where the
friends of the civil service law expect to
reverse the decision Those who advo-
Gated the motion to strike out were
Messrs Evans. Republican of Kentucky;
irosvenor. Republican of Ohio; Hep
burn, Republioan Of Iowa; LinDey, He
publican OF Moth Carolina; Brown, Re-
publican of Ohio; and Massey, Republican
OF Illinois Its opponents were Msssrs.
Moody, Republi AN of Massachusetts,;
Hopkins, Republican OF Illinois, Flem-
ing. Democrat OF Georgia; brosius, Re-
publican of Pennsylvania Henderson,
Republican of Iowa, and Dolliver, Re-
publican of Iowa.
During the general debate on the bill
Mr. Swanson, Democrat of Virginia,
delivered speech on anti-lmperialisn.
AT the opening session of the House
Mr.. Marsh asked request for the consid
Grafton of bill TO grant officers and men
of the volunteer army upon their muster
out two months extra pay IL they have
gone beyond the limits OF the United
States ana one months pay II they have
only remained within the limits of the
United States this extra pay 70 lie in
lieu OF furloughs and leave of absence.
1t has been the practice to grant these
leaves of absence or furloughs so that In
reality the bill sought 30 do directly what
has heretofore been done indirectly.
Mr.. Bailey announced that he had no
objection to the bill.
1he bill was passed.
The House then vent into committee
OF the whole and took up the considers-
tior of the executive and judicial appro-
pristion bill IL was agreed to confine the
general debate to one hour on each side.
Mr. Swanson, Democrat Of Virginia, de-
Hvar
the policy of expansion. The admins
tration which could be hardly driven IN
to war for liberty, had within few
months become greedy for conquest. The
liberators of the Cubans were to become
the despoilers OF the Filipinos He con-
tended that IL Was unconstitutional for
the y nitsd States TO undertake colonial
system and cited the Dred Scott decision
in support OF his contention.
He declared that the main support OF
the imperiaiistio policy came from those
who were seeking an offensive and defen-
sive alliance between the United states
and Great Britain. We were thro ing
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 trade whiLh was utterly
Insignificant
Ihs majority did not consume the hour
allotted and at the conclusion OF MIR.
Swanson's remarks the bill was read for
amendment after the tive minute rule.
MIR Hartman, Silver Republican, OF
Montana, offered an amendment to the
paragraph allowing each member ana
clerk hire which provided that II any
member or delegate should retain any
portion Of his allowance he should forfeit
his seat In the House.
Mr.. Mahon, Republican of PennSl-
vania, made point Of order against the
nd tf Fain nad
Hartman then modified his amendment
TO provide that any member who sought
to retain portion OF the allowance for
clerk hire should forfeit 1t. He said Q
had no desire TO make any charges IN
connection with members of the pr, sen
House but he had reliable information
that In the past some members hac re-
tanned portion of this allowance. In
some allowances the major portion, and
put 1t in their own pockets.
No man who would be guilty of such
an act, he said, Is tit TO hold II seat In this
House.
Mr.. Bingham made point of order
against the modified amendment and was
sustained.
Mr.. Evans of Kentucky moved to strike
out the appropriation for the civil service
commission. de reviewed prieiy ths
struggle against the sxten sion of the civil
law. 1t had outgrown its originai
grounds, he said, and he was willing 10
bring the question to test by cutting on
the appropriation for the committee
He was not spokesman. He believed In
merit and In the improvement of the pub
lie service. but he was opposed TO lie
tenure and to the present conduct OF the
law.
MIR. Moody of Massachusetts, said he
could not believe the gentleman from
Kentucky was serious in his desire TO
| withdraw the appropriation for the civil
| service commission.
| Mr.. Moody hoped the debate would nor
touch the merits of the law but wouid
be confined TO the merits of the propo-
siIion 10 wipe out the appropriation Ioi
| the commission II the law Itself wac
vicious IL should be attsc ked directly an
mapfully. 10 cut of the appropriation
| would be a reproaoh to congress. lt wa
mere boys play. -,
Mir. Dockerty said any attempt to multi
| fly the law by declining to appropriate 10
| the commission would iAtl. III migh
embarrass the commission, but the com
| mission could go into the courts ana @ SUI
| for their salaries under the law. iot
/ xrb.,fa ,,-rnnaa ~ this anandmpQt TO-DAY