The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
.B|G BILL PASSED
 ID PAY SALARIES House Sets Aside Millions for Government Expenses HOT DEBATES BY MEMBERS Proposals to Make an increase in Sal aries of Employees in Many De- partments Are Knocked by
 Decisive Vote.
HOT DEBATES BY MEMBERS


 the government, was passed by the House today after several days discussion. The amount carried by it is practically as re- ported by the committee, $32. .3S6,573.
 There was a lively debate over the pro vision giving discretion to heads of de- partments to remove or reduce incapaci- tated employees of the government. The provision went out on a point of order, although a new one was adopted in the declaring the appropriation not available for the compensation of any persons in- capacitated for performing the service for which they are employed. Mr Tawney made the remark that the original pro- vision of the bill was not directed at su- perannuated clerks or employees, but only at those who, regardless of age, had be- come incapacitated.
 MT. Macon of Arkansas continued his policy of attacking all increases in sal aries, and they were accordingly rejected on points of order made by him.
 Old Age Barrier.
 When the provision for the removal or reduction of incapacitated government
  New York made point of order against it. MT Gillette of Massachusetts argued that the provision really was a benefit to the employees rather than a hardship, because he said the present law gave the heads of departments no discretion except to remove incapacitated employees
 His view of the question was contro- verted by MT. Keller of Ohio, who charged that the provision was but an- other method of attempting to do what was directly proposed at the last session of Congress-"To provide by law for the dismissal of the old soldiers in the de- partments." He said he would like to have a civil service examination of the old men of the departments before they were mustered out, Ion the say of some one person as to what constitutes inca pacity.''
 Coinciding with the view expressed by Mir. Gillette, MT. Tawney, chairman of the committee on appropriations, de- clared that by the provision the commit tee had attempted to liberalize, and in- stead of leaving it mandatory, had given the head of a department the alternative of demoting rather than dismissing an employe. The provision, he said, had nothing to do with superannuation, which was but "a convenient ruse in this house by which men may gpopularize themselves In the large cities where a great many federal office heads live and vote.
 TaWney's Views.
 Mir. Tawney insisted that the ef- ficiency of the public service would be advanced by the adoption of the pro- vision.
 The chair sustained MT. Goulden's point of order. The provision accord ingly went out of the bill, but i'm mediately afterward the House adopted 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 employed"
 The chair ruled out as new legisla- tion an amendment by MT. chaney of Indiana, providing for the payment of pensions at 50 per cent of their sal aries to all persons discharged under the substitute provision adopted and an assessment of one-half of 1 per cent per annum on the salaries of .he employees retained to constitute a fund out of which pensions are to be paid MT. Langley of Kentucky created a stir when he offered an amendment ex- empting from the provisions of the law "employes who served in the army or navy of the United States during the war of the rebellion, or who, IS mem- bers of state militia organizations aided in suppressing the rebellion, and the widows of such persons"
 "You had better include the Confed- crates that are now serving in these offices" suggested MT. Livingston of Georgia.
 q think there also should be in- cluded." added MT. Burleson. amid laughter, soldiers of the Mexican war and the war of 1S12."
 And the Revolutionary war;" chimed in MT. Mann. amid more laughter. The amendment was lost by the chairs ruling that it was offered too late.
 Special Agents.
 The reading of the bill was con cluded and it was about to pass when MT. Hitchcock of Nebraska moved to have it recommitted with instructions to report 1t back with an amendment recurring the Secreldry ol lHS ucpdil- 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 retail
 point of order was raised by MT. Tawney and this led to a discussion of the parliamentary phrase of the ques- ton.
 Speaker Cannon sustained Mir. Taw- neys point of order, whereupon Mr. Hitchcock appealed from the decision. MT. Tawney moved to lay the appeal on the table.
 The motion passed, 11s to 10s, and the bill was passed
 Following the legislative appropriation bill the House resumed consideration of the resolution to send the annual mes sage to Congress to the respective com mittees. General debate was declared closed.
 The Big Five"