The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-17
HOUSE AND ITS ANNUAL JOKE.
CIVIL SERVICE APPROPRIATION
CUT OUT OF THE BILL.

the Whole and Ii VIII he Restored
To-day senate Amendments to
Financial BiII Disagreed to, and
There VIII lie COnfcrence-Num-
erOus NOrthern Pension CIaims
Were Discussed.
Washington, Feb. 16.-The House today
INDUCED in its annual joke by striking
from the legislative appropriation bill all
provision for the Civil Service Commis-
sion.
This action is taken each year in Cons
mittee of the Whole, where the members
do not get on record, and the provision is
then Invariably restored when the bill
gets back in the House. where members
have to respond 20 their names upon a
roll call. The vote to-day to strike oue
was 7S to 81. Tomorrow the House will
reverse this action as usual on an aye
and no vote.
Most of the time of the House to-day.
beyond that occupied In the discussion Of
the civil service law, was devoted to at~
tacks upon the speech made by Mr. Sims,
Democrat, of Tennessee, on Wednesday.
in which he furnished some official figures
iments engaged In the Spanish war tn
show that the Northern soldiers wers
much more clamorous than the Southern-
ers. Considerable temper was exhibited in
the debate.
Currency Bill Conference.
At the opening the pasasge of the curs
rency bin by the Senate was announced
and by unanimous consent the Senata
amendments were disagreed to and the
House agreed to a conference The
speaker named Messrs. Diversified, Re-
publican of Indiana Brosius. Republicans
of Pennsylvania, and Cox, Democrat Of
Tennessee, conferees.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole and resumed the consideration
of the legislative appropriation bill
The friends of private claims attempted
10 defeat the motion, but were DEBATED. "a
to A.
When the provision relating to the Civil
Service Commission was reached Mr..
Pearre, Republican of Maryland, an
nounced his unequivocal opposition to the
law and also refererd to Mr.. Sims figures
Mr.. Fitzgerald defended the civil services
law. 1t has been grossly violated during
tIle tdSt cAlnpHlStl III OnlO, ne SAID
Mr.. Fitzgerald read figures to show the
death list OF Massachusetts volunteers.
denying allegations that they never smells
ed powder
What was the cause Of their death?s
asked Mr. Wachter Republican, OF Mary-
land.
Disease, contracted on account of this
inefficiency Of the government" replied
Mr.. Fitzgerald, hotly, amid applause.
Mr.. Hepburn, Republican, of Iowa, In q
caustie speech, criticised Mr.. Sims sta.
tistics
Northern Pension Claims.
MIR. Pearne contended that the main
point he had made (the immense prepon,
derance OF Northern over Southern pens
sion claims) was correct.
Mr.. Gaines, Democrat, OF Tennessee, de-
MED that the Democrats were opposed to
liberal pensions; they were hostile only to
unworthy claims.
Mr.. Mahon declared that justice would
be done TO the soldiers of the Spanish
war without sectionalism. Mr.. Norton,
Democrat, of Ohio declared That IL the
Commissioner OF Pensions prepared ths
tables included in Mr.. Sims remarks, no
should be removed
Mr.. Fitzgerald agreed with him; at tho
same time he rebuled Mr.. Sims for his
reflections on the Northern soldiers
Mr.. Talbert, Democrat, of South Car
oiina, extolled the courage of Mr.. Sims.
I II am glad he has placed the facts bes
fore u.s." said he. He has opened tho
eyes OF the House and the country"
Mr.. Hepburn offered an amendment pros
viding that all employees of the departs
ments shall be divided into four classes,
the tenure of members OF one class to ex-
pire at the end of each fiscal year, reap-
pointive for five years, but no longer
MIR. Gillett, Republican, OF Massachu-
setts. made a point of order against tho
amendment, and the point was sustained.
Ciyil Service Cut Out.
Mr. Mudd, Republican, of Maryland them
moved to strike out the civil service pro-
vision.
Mr.. Sherman. Republican of New York;
who was in the chair, ruled that debate
was not in order. The motion to strike Out
prevailed rs 10 g.
Mr.. Cannon gave notice that he would
demand yea and nay vote In the House.
The committee then rose.
The night session for pensions was post
poned until Monday night. At 8 o'clock
the House adjourned.