Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-10


should be referred TO the committee.
Mr.. Springer said be would not Is
cuss the pending bill and the veto mes
sage OF the President thereon, exceptto
call attention to the fact that 1t was tue
first vetoed in the Pension Office IN
1882 by Commissioner Dudley. But
the gentlemen on the other side OF the
chamber had taken advantage OF the
discussion to attack the President ana
the Democratic party, and to charge
that they were opposed to granting pen
sions. Nothing could be farther from
the truth. During the entire eight
years Of General Grants Administration
only 542 private pensions were granted.
During the forty-seventh Congress-
which was Republican in both branches
only Isl private pension bills we're
passed. But during the last, or Forty
eighth Congress, which contained
majority Of Democrats in this House,
and when the gentleman from Indiana
lMatson) was chairman Of the Commit
tee on Invalid Pensions. there were 552
Of such bills passed and became laws,
and during this Congress, since Deem
Der last, Congress had passed 6G5 prl-
yete pension bills, Of which about j75
had either been signed by President
Cleveland or had become laws without
his action. lie had vetoed about ninety
private pension bills; but thirty-three
more bad passed and become laws du-
ring his Administration up to this time
than were passed during the eightyears
Of Grants Administration. General
Black, Commissioner Of Pensions, had
granted over 10000 certificates to
pensioners since he assumed the duties
OF his office, being 10 per cent. more
than had ever before been issued by any
Of his predecessors during the same
length Of time. The Treasury
Of the United States attested the effect
Of General Blacks increased efficiency
in the administration of the Pension
OGice. The payments to pensioners
during the fiscal year just ended ex-
cteded those Of the previous fiscal year
by $SGO,000. But, notwithstanding
this increase in pension payments, there
had been a net reduction Of eXpendl-
lures during the past fiscal year Of over
SIC, 900, 600 as compared with the fiscal
year Of 1885. Excluding pensions, the
reduction of ordinary expenditures for
1856. as compared with 1885, amounted
to S24,j00,000. This statement was
from the Treasury Department. Mr..
Springer asserted that the Pension Office
had been previous to General Blacks
administration run in the interest Of the
Republican party. During the last
presidential year the number of claims
Of applicants for pensions considered
by examining surgeons in certain States
was very significant. by that twould
be seen that in States where there were
great political contests during the last
presidential year, the business Of the
pension Office was concentrated, to the
neglect of worthy applicants, who hap
pened TO reside in States reliably
Republican, or hopelessly Democratic.
Mr.. Mstson, of Indiana, said that
the attempt at this time to pass the bill
without referring it to the Committee
on Pensions would result in a vote to
sustain the veto, because there were
gentlemen on the Democratic side who
were not satisfied to vote for the bill
without the veto message having been
considered by the committee. lie was
| in favor Of the bill he believed that 1t
was right; he believed that this man
ought 10 be pensienei, and he thought
the President was wrong, and when he
had made up his mind to that effect he
was not afraid to say so. lie assured
| the gentleman from Maryland NC
Comas) that the bill would receive the
early consideration Of the committee.
| The bill was referred.
This cleared the Speakers table Of
veto messages.
The House then resumed the conside-
ration Of the general deficiency bill, and
by vote Of l2i to sc confirmed the ac-
ton of the Committee Of the Whole in
agreeing to the amendment making an
appropriation to meet the Fox and Wis
consin river claims. A stormy scene
then ensued over the amendment grant
ing to the House and Senate employees
enc months extra pay. The House was
in great confusion, which was increased
when Mr.. Reagan charged that the
amendment had been tempered with and
made TO include the official reporters
and Capitol police. lie stated that the
amendment as agreed to in the commit
tee had not included these employees.
.1r. Hepburn, Of Iowa, who had
originally drafted the amendment,
stated that no change had been made in
| it, and Mr.. Reagan admitted that he
must have been mistaken. The oppo-
nerts Of the amendment failed TO secure
the yeas and nays on its passage, and
the amendment was agreed to. They,
however, secured q rOll.cau on mo-
ton TO reconsider and lay on the table.
The latter motion was agreed to-yess,
llG; nays, l04. So the amendment
remains in the bill.
| Pending further action the House
| took a recess until O'Clock, the eve
ming session to be for the consideration
Of pension bills.
The night session was not this eve.
mig the dull session which generally
characteIizes Friday night. 1t was
enliyened by sspeech from Mr.. Wallace,
Of Louisiana, in opposition to a private
pension bill. In the course of his re-
marks he several times refused to yield
to gentlemen who wished to ask ques-
tons, and they retorted by raising the
point that Mr.. Wallace was not speak
ing to the bill before the House. Ii
tho colloquy between himself and Mr.
Grain, of Texas, both gentlemen showet
a good deal of temper. Finally oil va
thrown upon the troubled water:
by the withdrawal of the bill, to which
objection had been made.
The Committee of the Whole thel
proceeded for half an hour withou
trouble, when another snag was struck
Mr.. Wallace raising the point Of n
quorum upon another private pensioI
bill. A call Of the committee and sub
sequently a call of the House were or
dered. After an hour and a half ha
been consumed in useless ll-Calls, tn