The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-09-09

I'd. That .s bill was introduced
On April 1Ith--- that is the pension ap-
preparation bill. The proceedings are
in the Record Of the 10Th. On
that very day, and before there was any
discussion at all upon the pension ap-
bill, had reported to the
House, from the Committee on payment
Of pensions, bounty and back pay, the
bill which |, at the time gave notice /
should Gallup on. the first occasion when
it would be in order for the committee l
TO move a suspension of the
rules and pass the bill. That notice will
also be found in the Record OF the 18th.
Who did propose amendments to the
bill? / find three amend
ments proposed. One OF them was by
the committee itself-that is, the COM
mittee on appropriations moved to
amend the law respecting the payment
of fees to claim agents. Another was
offered by Mr.. Goff, OF West Virginia,
relating to the evidence now required
under the law of prior soundness OF the
soldier who makes application for a
pension. Another, by Mr.. White, relat-
ing to dependent parents, and they were
all the amendments that were proposed
TO that bill. OF course the amendments
to an appropriation bill Of that kind un-
less proposed by committee we're not
in order, aud would be ruled out if the
point of order was made
by any member OF the House. The
point Of order was made. Mr.. Rogers,
of Arkansas, q member OF the committee
of which / am chairman gave notice thai
he should move to strike ont the pro
posed amendments Of the committee, re-
lating to the payment OF fees to claim
agents, for the reason that The committet
of which he was member, and of which
I was the chairman, had with the Com
missioner OF Pensions carefully gont
over the question. and had framed sucf
bill as all thought ought to be passed
We had heard the Commissioners fol
hours upon the subject.
received also letter from the Secre
tary of the Interior calling the attention
of Congress TO the necessity OF SOM
modification in the pension laws respect
ing claim agents. The committee hat
not finished that bill at its last sittinl
just prior to the introduction of the ap
preparation bill in thu House. The com
mittee, however, met on the following
Monday, and Mr.. Rogers, member o
the committee, was instructed by tn
committee to offer the bill which he ha'
matured as an amendment to the appro
priation bill then pending. After som
discussion it was adopted and IS now
law, because it went through the Senat
on the same appropriation bill. Further
more, did say, as Mr.. Rogers, an
other members of the committee sal
when called upon, and when question
were asked, that the committee had al
ready reported q bill covering all til
proposed amendments to the bill MI
TAYLOR refers to. and that that bill wa
on the calendar under notice that
would he called up and passed, If ther
were votes enough in the House to pas
it. On the next Monday, when the con
mittee on payment of pensions, bount
| and back pay was reached, it was take
up and passed.
think it is due 10 the committee o
the payment OF pensions and back pay
| to say that, in reference to the class
cases which are now on the books OF th
committee charged with the consideratio
OF these subjects, that it has devote
more time TO this than to all other sui
jeets.
Mr.. Matson also gave notice that b
would move to amend. and l hold in m
hands the gentlsman's proposed ament
ment. Mr.. Mateop is the Democrat
Chairman of the C0mmittes on Invali
i Pensions. Mr.. Randall insisted on tt
point OF order, but iad in the meantim
4 explained the matter. said that bill
now upon the calendar. and have give
| notice, under the instructions OF the con
mittee, that will call it up for consider,
tion on Monday next, after that commi
tee is reached under the call, and az
the House for Its passage. proposed
have 1t incorporated in this appropriate
| bill. but it was ruled out, and general
such legislation did not 20 into appropr
alton bills.
| We now pass on to the Record OF Apr
| 22d, recording the proceedings of Il
2lst. The Record shows that there W,
introduced an amendment relating to d.
pendent parents. Gov. Curtin, who hs
been consulted In regard to the bill
had introduced, when q leading Reppbl
can inquired about this bill, called on n
to know il the bill then on the calend
covered the points that were raised
the amendments offered to the appropl
alton bill Ireplied to him that we hf
bill then on the calendar covering the
points, "and the committee has instruC
! ed the chairman to call the same up {
! Monday Tor passage under suspensil
| OF the rules" On Monday the commi
tee was called and the bill was put ppe
| IFS passage, and was passed by larl
| majority. That bill contained all Il
| provisions sought to be incorporated in
the appropriation bill.
1 A little further on ! will explain mo
| fully the contents Of the .enti
bill which that committee m
tured and reported to the Hous
| this part OF which was passs
on the day referred to. Therefore, il
stead of reporting bill some tin
| after-as Mr.. Taylor says-the b
was on the calendar, at the tim
under the fullest notice to Mr.. Tayl
| that it would be called up, and Mr.. Ke
fer and Mr.. Kasson, who had examint
the bill, said they were glad to kno
that the committee had reported a b
which met these requirements. whil
were the only things at that time cor
| planned of on the Republican side of II
/ House, and the Record does not sho
4 that Mr.. Taylor offered any amendmen
or said a word about the pension law
except when, on the 18th, Mr.. Roger
my colleague on the committee. yield'