Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-12-18
56TH CONGRESS.
House Passes Bill in Favor
Of Capt. BouteI|e.
Attempt to Give Spanish War veter-
ans Preference Fails.
Tina Senate Sill at Nicarasuan Canal Matters
in Secret Ses:ior.

w NdSillIlSlDil. Zee. IL rter SUSDeH-
sion of the rules the House, today,
passed bills to divide kentucky and
West Virginia into two judicial dis
trict judge in the northern district of
Ohio and to refer to the secretary of
the interior for investigation, the claim
of the state of Texas for moneys ex-
pended on public improvements in
Greer county before the decision of the
supreme court placed it within the
jurisdiction of Oklahoma.
An attempt was made to pass bill to
give soldiers ana sailors of the Civil
War, the Spanish war and the war in
the Philippines preference in the mat
ter of appointment and TO retention in
positions in the executive departments
of the government, but it aroused op-
position OH the ground that it would
practically shut out of the government
employ for years to come all civilians
and was overwhelmingly defeated.
one hundred and two private pension
bills were passed.
Just before the House adjourned
fine tribute was paid to Representative
Charles \. Boutelle of Maine. who
served IS years in Congress and VINO
HAS DttI Lt-titClCu 10 lilt D.Ln t-Dil-
gress. Mr.. Littlefeld of Maine. asked
unanimous consent for the considera-
ton of q bill to place him on the re-
tired list as a captain in the navy Mr..
Boutelle having been 4 captain in the
navy during the Civil War. Littlefield
stated that Mr.. Boutelle's condition
was such that he undoubtedly would
resign. The condition of the Maine
representative was well known to rep
resentatives and although some of them
We're inclined to protest against the
proposed legislation as establishing q
dangerous precedent. no objection was
made and the bill was passed.
This was individual suspension day
in the House. The Speaker first recog-
nized Bromwell. Ohio, who moved 10
suspend the rules and pass the bill re-
ported by the failure Of the commits
sioner to give the preference in the
executive departments OF the govern
nient to honorably discharge soldiers
OF the Civil War and next to those Of
the Spanish war ana the war Of the
Philippines both in appointment to Of
flee and retention therein; ana that loss
of limbs or other physical impairment
which does not incapacltate shall not
disqualify them.
Richardson, Tenn. demanded sec
ond which was ordered on u vote Of
81 to "a.
Hepburn. Iowa. asked if ii would BE-
in order to move an amendment to
strike out that portion Of the bill pro
viding that persons thus preferred
shall not be removed except for cause.
upon charges and after a hearing"
The Speaker replied that it would
not Bromwell explained that the bill
as originally introduced was the bill
prepared by the G. \. Il. II simply
the provisions OF the existing
law giving preference to honorably
discharged soldiers and sailors of the
Civil War mained or suffering physi-
cal impairment TO all soldiers honor
ably discharged. The committee had
further extended it to veterans Of the
war with Spain ana of the war III the
Mr.. Richardson asked
why the soldiers Of the Mexican war
We're not included Mr Richardson re-
piled that there was less reason for
including the soldiers Of the Mexican
war now than when the original law
was passed.
Clayton. y. Y. said that substar-
TALLY the provisions Of the bill were in
effect in New York state and that the
law had worked satisfactorily.
Gillett, Mass. the chairman of the
civil service committee. protested
against the bill. He de-
clared that the bill was improperly be
fore the House.
Speaking directly to the merits Of the
bill. he said that it was vicious al
though drawn. doubtless. with good in
tentions. 1t would. he declared. give
preference 70 350.00d men ana would
practically put civilians out Of the
government service for years.
Hepburn. Iowa. also opposed the bill !
m the ground that it made an appoint !
llenr 4 vested right.
Grosyenor. Ohio. took the same posi- |
ton and asked Mr.. BromweIl to with !
draw the bill
Sulzer, y. Y, supported the measure.
which he said. had been asked for by /
every Grand Army Post in the country. I
Continued on mage 81