the cradle. It had hardly begun to breathe,

 when it came to violent death. It lived but

 about one year. The act was passed Febru-

 ary, 1901, and repealed in March. 1902. No

 opportunity was afforded to test its efficiency,

 its competency, to meet the exigencies for which it professed to provide. And why was it repealed? It is painful to a!lude to it. l

 would not do it. had it not become necessary. from the use which has been made of 1t iD this debate; for I hope no considerations connected with former or present parties will be urged. either by the friends or enemies of this bill. ltinvolves no party questions. It affects no party interests. Was the act of

 1901 repealed because the people had found. by trial of it. that it was injurious to the country! Far from it. We all know no also, that the repeal took place soon after the commencement of new adminisiratiOn-at period of high party excitement; and be- cause it was believed to have been enacted to provide permanent offices for the political friends of the administration which had just ceased to exist. and who were ihe political enemies Of the one which succeeded it, Whether this belief was well founded, and whether tt justified the repeal, io no, in- qulre. advert to the time and the causes of the repeal merely to rrpel the assertion. that any thing in the nature of an experiment was made 0f the utility of the system. And. if any further light lee necessary tO view the scene which was exhihited when that system was repealed. distinguished member from Pennsylvania near me, (Aar. HemPhiI.) wRo