Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-18
LIVELY DEBATE IN HOUSE
Move to Drop Incompetent Employees
Causes Discussion.
GOES OUT ON POINT OF ORDER
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Appropriation Bill, Carrying
s32,33s,573 IL
Passed.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill,
one Of the large supply measures OF the
government, was passed by the house today
after several days discussion. The amount
carried by II Is practically as reported by
the committee-S32,3 1885, ,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
provisions went out on a point of order,
although new one was adopted declaring
the appropriation not available for the
compensation Of any persons incapacitated
for performing the service for which they
are employed. Mr. Tawney took occasion
to remark that the original provision Of the
bill was not directed at superannuated
clerks, but only at those who, regardless
of age, had become incapacitated.
Keifer Leads Debate.
When the provision for the removal or
reduction of incapacitated government en-
ployes was reached Mr.. Goulden of New
York made a point of order against It.
Mr.. Keifer Of Ohio charged that the pro-
vision was but another method of attempt
ing to do what was more directly proposed
at the last session of congress-"to pro-
vide by law for the dismissal of the old
soldiers in the departments He said he
would like to have civil service examina-
ton Of the old men of the departments
before they were mustered out ION the
word of some one person as to what con-
stitutes incapacity"
Coinciding with the view expressed by
Mr.. Gillette, Mr.. Tawney. chairman OF the
committee on appropriations, declared that
by the provision the committee had at
tempted to iberallze, and instead of leav-
ing 1t 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
approximation, which was but "a conven-
lent subject in this house with which men
may popularize themselves in the large
cities where a great many federal office
holders live and vote 1t was, he said, a
convenient medium for the newspapers of
Washington in their efforts to increase
their circulation among the 10000 persons
employed In the departments.
The chair sustained Mr.. Gouldens point
of order. The provision, accordingly. went
out of the bill, but Immediately afterwards
the house adopted the following provision
by way of substitutes:
The appropriations herein made for the
officers. clerks and persons employed In
the public service, shall not be available
for the compensation of any person in
capacitated for performing the service for
which such person has been employed.
Hitchcock Moves to RecOmmit.
The reading of the bill was concluded
and 1t was about to pass when Mr.. Hitch
cock of Nebraska moved to have 1t re-
committed with instructions to report it
back with an amendment requiring the
secretary of the Department 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." -,
A point OF order was raised by Mr.
Tawney and that led to a discussion Of
the parliamentary phase OF the question
Speaker Cannon sustained Mr. Tawney's
point of order, whereupon Mr.. Hitchcock
appealed from the decision. Mr.. Tawney
moved to lay the appeal on the table The
motion prevailed, 11s to los, and the bill
was passed.
Following the passage of the legislative
appropriation BILL the house resumed con-
sideratlon of the resolution to refer the
presidents annual message to congress to
the respective committees. General de-
bate was declared closed.