The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-16
THE FlFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
ORIZICTSING THE ADMINISTRH TION or
THE PENSION BUREAU.

Mr. Cannon OF Illinois moved that the Hous
10 into Committee Of the Whole for tho consld
GRAFTON OF the ill appropriating fG36, 1870 for nj
additional clerical force to curry into effect tn
provisions of the Dependent Pension act Tn
additional force provided for Is 03G Pendlnt
this motion he moved that the general debut
be limited to two hours. Agreed to-ycas. ia
Maya. GO. Ono hundred and twenty-five mem
bers we're announced as paired on this vote
The previous motion was then agreed to--ye
1875: nays. 37-and accordingly the House won
into committee on the bill. Mr.. Burrows o
Michigan In the chair.
Mr.. Dockcry OF Missouri, criticised the ma
iorty OF the Committee on Appropriations FOL
not reporting bill making an appropriation
20 pay the pensions which would I've granted
under the Dependent Pension bill, and charged
that the majority, afTrighted by tho startling
appropriations which had been made at the
present session. was running away from the
provisions OF the pension laws and refusing
TO appropriate the necessary money until after
The elections.
Mr. Cutcheon suggested that It was n time.
honured custom to bring In deficiency bill.
MIR. Dockery was glud that tho gentleman
had acknowledged that 1t was the intention Of
tho majority to bring in an enormous de.
ficiency bill. after the election.
session OF Congress would be called upon 10
appropriate no less than $40 200. 600 to supply
deficiencies In tho appro priations for the pay
ment OF pensions.
Mr., Enloe Of Tennessee thought that before
any increase OF iorco was granted the Pension
Bureau 1t should DO ascertained whether tho
charges brought against tho present Commits
soner were true. 1t had been alleged In O
resolution offered by Mr.. Cooper OF Indiana
TINT the Commissioner had changed the ruling
OF the department In the interest OF a pension
attorney in this city. This had taken hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars Of the peoples money
aud paid 1t to claimants who were not entitled
10 anything. 1t had been alleged that the Pen
sion Office was corrupt from bottom TO toy.
He himself believed that the office was reek-
ing with corruption in every department.
Sir. !. j. Tavlor of ohio did not believe that
any inembe" had right to make such infa-
nous charges against nm executive officer II
he were man OF courage he would make an
Mr. Enloe rctorted that II the gentleman
wanted TO find out whether he tEnloel was
man OF courage all he had to do was TO investi
gate tho matter personailY.
Mr.. Cannon gooi Daturedly offered to play
second to, either or both of the parties.
MIR. EnlOe declared that every other depart
ment bureau OF theGovetnment except tho l'en-
zion Bureau was cond Uctea on business princ-
Piles and was cpen 10 investigaton. About that
or something rotten. and In his opinion the
reason that bureau had not been investigated
was because of the rottenness which WAS known
TO be concealed.
Mr.. Cooper of Indiana said that facts Ind
some to b EnGwr nG %hSh sTnsSn"Sd
newspapers respecting the Commissioner OF
Pensions. He was ready to prove before
true. He expected to prove that the Commits
gioner OF Pensions has outrngeously sold out
in Washington: lie did not desire to be mis-.
understood. Iie was favorable 10 the anpro-
Priation made ly the PHI; but he believed that
the time Tor which the Government paid him
TO the discharge OF the duties Of his bureau In
stoad Of becoming President and chief man
ager OF n refrgerating institution based pos
sibly on no substantial foundation. there would
Of OF clerk lie The bureau should be admlnlst@red
honestly. and he charged before the country
that this was not the case at this day. and in
vestiGhton would show it.
Mr.. Cannon of 1llinois said that his party
whiTe In lower would appropriate money TO
flis-the greatest eduity-the pension debt.
AS TO the statements made by the gentleman
day hat Mr.. Cooper had introduced the nves-
tigation resolution. II he iCannOn) had intro
duced such n resolution and hearing wa. in
progress he would wait until the hearing was
completed.
Mir. Cooper replied that the Committee on
Journed to meet last Monday. But it did not
meet to pursue the INJURY. because the gem
tIemqn from Illinois Clannonl and other mem
:. MIR, Cannon said that, he hpd been absent on
Monday for the first time in eighteen years.
chow an anxiety TO figure in the newspapers.
It might 10 that the admlniGtrauoG OF the
OF no witness had been mentioned to show it,
From an acquaintance OF twenty years with
Green b. Raum ne would say that If 1t should
under temptation 1t was rare case aud for !
ono he would not condemn him until the proof |
Mr. Mckinley OF Ohio said that owing to
serious illness in his family he had not been
present ut the meetngo! the Committee on
Rules to which the gentleman from Indiana |
mir. Cooper had alluded SO far as any iuves- !
tgaticn oil Gen; ,Raum was concerned, 4 any |
irregularities or corruption or dishonesty or |
unfair dealing on the part oithe Commissioner |
his vote ior an investigation. II any genrle-
man on the floor made charges against any |
executive officer he would vote for an investi-
Mr.. Rogers OF Arkansas asked why 1t was,
this being so tho Commlttee on EuIes had not |
Federal o GERS In OK lahoma.
Mr.. Mchinley said that he Ola not know such
Brought to lis attention by the Chairman a mot Of
The committee.
:, Mr.. ioge thought it ,opportune to note that
the gentleman from Ohio was not kept IN
formed us 10 tho business OF the Committee on
Rules by the Cnairna".
MIR. Cannon said That charge on the part Of |
3 mentor OF "nErcss, who frequently did not
weigh his words. Of malHdmini-tratiOn against
Nh executive ollcer WHH not Sulllcl"nt 10 nu-
LhoriHe tho House 10 order an investigations
II mus. be n Specific charge. for which the Rep
made himself IeSpOnsble
little coHoQuv III regard 70 tho civil service
law arose hetweon MeSsrS. Cannon ani liouk
which afforded the Democratic side of the
1ou-e much amusement There was some
warmth shown IN the dialogue. q owing out Of
D remark by Mr.. Cannon TO the effect that Mr.
louk saw In the bill! only the increase in the
,lerca force AID not tho benefit OF the old
soldiers.
Mr.. Iiouk resented any such imputation be-
ne cast upon him. and denied the right OF the
gentleman t. critlcso his motives.
Mr.. annon referred to the gentleman having
been in the war and having been n mHgnincent
soldier. since the war, in sonsUn AMI out OF
season, the gentleman had not hesitated to
sAy so.
Mr.. Houk said that no had never spoken OF II
n his fe Nobody had over heard OF the gen
lemens playing holdier because he had taken
faro not to do II.
MrCannon said thathe had right to discuss
proposed legislation.
Mr., Hopk-,Ycu have no right to make per-
MIR Cannon There is one thing l have no
light to do and that Is. make common nui-
Mr. Houk Then you have done what you
lad no right TO do. because you have demon
SttAtcd now thai yon arc n nuisance.
The committee thon rose, the bill WAS passed |
md the house adjourned.