The Portland daily press., 1890-07-16
DEMOCRATS RAISE A CRY OF FRAUD.
The Pension Bureau the subject of
Some Sharp Words.
How Pan-Americans Desire to Com
memorate the Conference.
Even Democrats Sometimes Smile
While Speaker Reeds Counting.

consideration of the bill appropriating
$6361S9 for additional clerical force of 636
to carry into effect the provisions of the
dependent pension act. Mr.. Dockery Of
Missouri criticised the majority of the com.
mittee on appropriations for not reporting a
bill making appropriations to pay the pen
sions which would be granted under the de-
pendent pension bill. He intimated that the
failure was attributable to political reasons
The appropriations would not be made be-
fore the November election.
Mr.. Cannon said the money would be ap.
propriated and paid just as rapidly as the
pension certificates were issued.
Mr.. Dockery charged that the majority
were atfrighted by the startling appr0pria-
tionS made at the present session, and was
running away from the provisions of the
pension laws, refusing to appropriate the
necessary money until after the elections.
whether the gentleman had any doubt that
the appropriations already made would cov-
er all the pension claims which might be ad-
Indicated before the next session of Con.
gress.
Mr.. Dockery replied that he was moi
called upon to pass on that question. Con-
gress appropriated for the ensuing fiscal year
which ended on the Both Of June. He was
insisting that the rule should not be depart
ed from, albeit the appropriations this ses-
sion were mounting up.
Mr. Sayers Of Texas predicted that the
next session of Congress would be called
upon to appropriate no less than $40, ,000, ,o0C
to supply deficiencies in the appropriations
for the payment of pensions.
Mr.. Enloe of Tennessee thought that be-
fore any increase in the force was granted
the pension bureau. it should be ascertained
whether the charges brought against the
present commissioner were true. 1t bad
been alleged, in resolution offered by Mr..
Cooper of Indiana, that the commissioner
had changed a ruling of the department in
the interest of a pension attorney of this
city. This had taken hundreds of thous-
ands OF dollars OF the peoples money and
paid 1t to claimants not entitled to anything.
1t had been alleged that the pension Office
was corrupt from bottom to top. He, him
self, believed the office reeking with corrup-
tion in every department.
Mr.. j. d. Taylor of Ohio didn't believe
any member had the right to make such an
Infamous charge against an executive officer.
Mr.. Enloe declared that every other de-
partment bureau of the government, except
the pension bureau, was conducted ON bust
ness principles, and was open to investiga-
tion. About that bureau there appeared to
be something sacred or something rotten In
not been investigated was because of the
rottennesS known TO be concealed in it,
Mr.. Cooper of Indiana, said that facts had
come to his knowledge which substantiated
rumors circulated in the newspapers respect
ing the commissioner of pensions. He was
ready to prove before acompetent committee
that the charges were true. He expected to
prove that the commissioner of pensions had
outrageously sold out ruling in behalf of a
rm . OF pension attorneys 1;yyi in washington Vas
while in power would appropriate money to
pay the debts of the government, including
the pension debt. As to the statements
made by the gentleman from Indiana, he
had not known until Friday that Mr.. Cooper
introduced the investigation resolution. If
he Mr.. Cannonl had introduced such a reso-
luton and hearing was in progress he
would wait until the hearing was completed.
1t might be the administration of the pension
bureau was corrupt. If so the name of no
witness had been mentioned to show it. If
it be corrupt let it be shown. From an ac
quaintance of years with Green B. Raum,
from his honorable career, the responsible
position held by him for years in the treas
ury and his uniform good character, he
last days he had fallen under temptation it
was a rare case. For one, he would not con-
demn him until proof was shown.
Mr.. Cheadle of Indiana, remarked that
the present administration of the pension
bureau was the best that 1t had ever had
since its organization.
Mr.. Evans of Tennessee, declared that the
apportionment of government employees to
the varions states was unfair, and alluded to
the civil service law as great national lot
terry.
Mr.. Peters stated as reason why no ad-
ditional appropriation was made to carry out
the provisions of the dependent pension bill
the course of a pension claim filed under
that act 1t was first numbered and docketed.
Then a call was made on the record division
of the War Department, and on the second
inf OF
an order for medical examination, followed
by the reference of this examination to the
medical referees of the pension bureau. The
next step was the adjudication of the case by
the adjudicating division and the next, the
reference to the board of review. The claim
was then sent to the certificate division and
the operation ended by sending the certifi-
cate to the pension agent. All this required
time. Few, If any, of the cases could be ad-
Indicated before the first of January, at
which time Congress would be in session,
ready to make the necessary agprOp rlatlons.
A little colloquy in regard to the civil ser
vice law arose between Messrs. Cannon and
Houk, and some warmth was shown in the
dialogue growing out of a remark of Mr..
Cannon to the effect that Mr.. Houk saw in
the bill an increase in the clerical force and
not the benefit of the old soldiers.
Mr.. Houk resented any such imputati0n
being cast npon him and denied the right of
the gentleman to criticize his motives.
Mr.. Cannon referred to the gentleman
having been in the war and having been
magnificent soldier Since the war. in sea-
son and out OF season, the gentleman
had not hesitated to say SO.
Mr.. Houk said he had never spoken of it
in his life. Nobody ever heard Of the gem
tleman playing soldier because he had taken
care not to do it.
Mr.. Cannon said he had right to discuss
proposed legislation.
Mr.. Houk-"Y ou have no right to m AXE
personal reflections"
Mr.. Cannon" There is one thing l have
no right to do, and that is to make a COM
mon nuisance of myself"
Mr.. Houk-"Then you have done what
you had no right to do, because you have DEM
onstrated now that you are a nuisance"
The committee then rose and the bill
passed. The House at $40 adjoured