The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-18
Legis1ativeAppropriation Measure Goes Through
SHARP DEBATE PRECEDED IT
House InduIges tn Jokes and Much
 Laughter.
rhe Provfsion in Bm for Removal or msauetion of Iseap.citated Gov er.msat Empioyes was
 stricken Out.

washington, Feb. 17.--The nnal stages of the passage of the legislative, executive and Judicial appropriation bill were entered upon in. the House of Representatives today when the measure was taken up for cons.dera- tion. Mir. Macon (Ark.), continued ms policy of attacking ali increases in sala ries. and they were ac 3rdingly re- fected on points of order made by him.
 when the provision for the removal or reduction of incapacitated Govern nents employees was reacheds MT. Goui- den (N. Y.), made a point of order against it. Mfr. Gillette tMass.), argued that the provision really was benent to the employees, rather than hard chip, because. he said. the present lew gave the h eads of departments no dis cretion except to remove incapseitated employees.
 HIS view of the question was contro- verted by Mir. Kiefer (O), who charged that the provision was but another method of attempting to do what is directly proposed at the last sessson 6f Congress, .'to provide by law for the dismissal of the old soldiers In the aepaPtrnents He said he would Ike 10 have d civil service examination of Inc old men of the departments before they were mustered out, Ion the say of some one person as to whae eons stitutes incapacity."
 Coinofd.ng with the view expressed by MT. Gillette, MT. Tawney.. Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, declared that by the provision, the 7 coYamittee had attempted to sliberaltze, and instead of ieaNapg it mandatory. had given the head of department the alternative of demctfng fatner tnA1 d.sniaaing an employe. The provision. he said. had nothing to do with su- nerannuatton, which was but "a eon- venient ruse in thts House by which men may popularize themselves in the large cities where a great many Fed- erai oficehoiders five and vote.
 Efaefemey of Service
 Nc Tawrsew ineisked that the efii- e.anev Of the public nervies would De !. advanced by tho adoption Of the pre- SrS TSe chasr sustained sGE douldenIa noirt Of order. The provision arcoro- inrIy went out of the bill, but tmfne- diately afterward the House adepted the following provision by way of sub stitution:
 "The appropriations here made for officers. clerks and persons employed in the public service shall not be avail able for the compensation of any per- son incapacitated for performing the service for which such person has been
 The chair ruled out as new legisla tion an amendment by MT. Clancy of Indiana providing for the payment of pensions at 50 per cent of their sala- raes to all persons discharged under the substitute provision adopted and an assessment of one-half of per cent her annum on the salaries of employees rettained to constitute fund out of which pensions are to be paid~
 Mir Langley of Kentucky, created a stir when he offered an amendment ex- empting from the provisions of the law , "erllployes who served in the army or navy of the United states durlng tne war of the rebellion or who as mem bers of State militia organizations aided in expressing the rebellion. and tthe widows of such persons"
 You had better include the Confed- crates that are now serving in these ofices," suggested Mir. Livingstone of Georgia, T think they should be in- cluded," added Mir. Burlespn, amid laughter, soldiers of the Mexican war and the war of 1Sl2."
 sAnd the revolutionary war;" chimed in Mir. Mann, amid more laughter.
 The amendment was lost by the chairs ruling that 1t was offered too late.
 The reading of the bill was concluded and it was about to pass when Mir. Hitchcock of Nebraska, moved to have if re-committed with instructions to report it back with an amendment re- quiring the Secretary of the Depart ment of Commerce and Labor to cause to be included in the reports of special agents Investigating trade conditions abroad information showing the prices at which American-made goods are sold abroad to merchants and at re- tall"
 A point of order was raised by MT. Tawney and then led to a discussion rlf rV ha nf ta
 Sneaker Cannon sustained Mir. Taw- ney's point of order, whereupon MT. Hitchcock appealed from the decision. Mir. Tawney moved to lay the apeal on the table.
 Riu Is Passed.
 The motion prevailed, 119 to 10S and the bill was passed.
 Following the passage of the legfs- Tative appropriation bill. the House resumed consideration of the resolu- tion to refer the Presidents annual message to Congress to the respective committees. General debate was declar- ed closed.
 Much amusement was caused by MT. Hughes (New Jersey) who offered an amendment to refer so much of the message as related to new Legislation "to the big five of the House."
 ''Point of order" shouted MT. Payne,
 .TJpon what ground?' inquired Mir williams, the minority leader. Be cause 1t is new legislation7"
 "Because," replied Mir, Payne. laugh {rvIv "there Is no suclA-committee in ths House, except as 1t exists in the ex- 2 ,,berant spirits of my friend from Mis- souri, referring to Hon. Champ CIsrlT,s characterization of certain Re- ,1,,hIican members of the House. The rhsir sustained the point of order.
 The resolution was passed after MT. Payne had agreed to report at an early date another one similarly referring to the Presidents recent special message to Congress.