dly
as their advancement and location will permit, with the protecting and
ennobling prerogatives of such friendship."

In support of his resolution, proposing to admit as a Senator from
Louisiana P. B. S. Pinchback, Mr. Bruce spoke out, cogently presenting
the facts as he saw them, contending that the gentleman had been
regularly elected and that the National Government would, by declaring
his election irregular and not expressive of the will of the people,
repudiate the very government that it had recognized.[108] Pinchback
was not seated, but the records show that his title was as sound as
that of scores of senators whose right has never been questioned.

B. K. Bruce had another good claim to statesmanship. During his
incumbency in Congress the question of the improvement of the
navigation of the Mississippi and the protection of life and property
from the periodical inundations of that stream was of much concern to
the whole country. As a spokesman for the State of Mississippi and a
statesman seeking to provide facilities for interstate and foreign
commerce, B. K. Bruce fearlessly advocated that the Federal Government
should appropriate funds to undertake this improvement. He repeatedly
offered bills and amendments to this end and endeavored to secure the
support of the leaders of Congress to pilot these measures through
that body. While the results which Senator Bruce obtained were not
proportionate to the effort which he made, he paved the way for other
promoters of this enterprise, who have been more successful.
Subsequent history shows the importance of this national task and
demonstrates the statesmanlike foresight of Senator Bruce in
championing its cause.[109]

General remarks by James E. O'Hara comprehended discussion of the
bills on oleomargarine and the payment of pensions.[110] Towards the
former he was opposed, while in the latter he urged that white persons
and Negroes be paid according to the same standard. George H. White
sought to amend the bill to provide a government for Hawaii.[111] He
gave some attention also to the debate on the civil service law.[112]
Concerning it he held that the administration of the law had been
subversive of the principles of appointment by merit. Indeed, in his
opinion, its failure warranted either a return to the spoils system or
the adoption of a new policy, by which there would be established in
each department of the government a bureau with the duty of
determinin