The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-16
oUARRELINo REPRESENTATIVES,.
Cooper Wants to Have the Pension Com
missioner Investigated.

OUARRELiNC REPRESENTATIVE
Cooper Wants tn Have the Pension Com
missioner Investigated.
WASHINGTON, July l5.-In the house to-
day Cannon moved the house GO into
committee Of the whole on the approprat-
ing Of SssB,ls9 for an additional clerical
force Ia carry into effect the provisions of
the dependent pension act. Pending this
motion he moved the general debate he
limited tn two hours. Agreed to: yeas
ia, nays 40. The previous question was
then agreed to yeas 13l, nays b. and the
house went into committee of the whole.
Dockery of Missouri criticized the ma
jority Of the committee ON appropriations
for not reporting the bill making the APP
preparation to pay the pensions which
would he granted under the dependent
pension bill aud intimated that the fail
ure was attributable to political reasons.
The appropriation would not be made be-
fore the elections.
Cannon said the money would he APP
propriated and paid just as certainly as
the pension certificates were issued.
Dockery charged the majority was
frightened by the startling appropriation
made at the present session for pensions
and that IL was the intention OF the ma
joriiy tn bring In an enormous deficiency
bill after the election.
Sayers, of Texas, predicted that next
session congress would be called upon To
appropriate no less than si0OD,UO to
supply deficiencies In the appropriations
for pensions.
Enloe of Tennessee, thought before any
increase IN the force was granted the pen
sion bureau il should he ascertained
whether the charges brought against the
present commissioner in the resolution
offered 10y Cooper Of Indiana, were true
or not.
Cooper of Indiana. said he was ready To
prove before a competent committee tnat
the commissioner of pensions outrage
o,Isly sold out ruling ON behalf OF n firm
of pension attorneys in Washington. IL
| the commissioner of pensions would de-
vote his time to the discharge of the duties
of his bureau instead Of becoming
president and chief manager OF a refrig-
| Grating institution. based, possibly, ON no
| substantial foundation, there would be no
necessity for "a considerable number OF
| clerks.
Cannon said that he did not know until
last Friday that Cooper had introduced an
investigating resolution, III he Cannon
| had introduced such "a resolution, aud the
| hearing was in progress he would wait
until the hearing was completed.
| Cooper replied that the committee on
rules. after hearing his statement, adj
| iourncd Ia meet last Monday. But IL did
not meet To pursue the inquiry. because
| the gentleman from Illinois Cannon
| and other members absented themselves.
| Cannon said he had been absent Mou-
| day for the first time in IL years. The
gcntleman's eagerness would seem to
show anxiety To figure in the newspapers.
Ii might be that the administration OF the
pension bureau was corrupt. III IL
he corrupt, let il he shown. From an ac-
| quaintance of ~ years with Green Is.
| Raum, from his honorable career, ,respon-
siblc position held 10y him Tor years in the
treasury, aud his uniform good char
ae,eI. from all these things lie would say
| II II should be true that in thc5e iuetodys
he had fallen under temptation, IL was a
rare case, aud for one he would not con
denim him until the proof was shown.
Mckinley said that owing To serious i'll
ness in his family he had not been present
at the meeting OF the committee on rules
| Ia which Cooper alluded. SO Tar as the
investigation was concerned. N any gen
tleman would rise and charge irregulari
ties or corruption or dishonesty or unfair
dealing on the part of the commissioner
that would he "A sufficient reason for the
investigation.
Cannon said he did not go so far as tho
gentleman from Ohio. The charge on
the part Of a member of congress lwho
frequently did not weigh his words oi
INSTRUMENTATION against AN executive
officer, was not sufficient To authorize thu
house to order an investigation. IL mus
be "A specific charge. for which the repre-
sentative made himself responsible. II,
must state such facts and circumstances
as would satisfy the house that an invcs
tigation ought Ia he made.
Houk Of cnnessee offered AN amend
mcnt providing that persons employed
under this bill he apportioned among th'
congressional districts Of the scvera
states aud territories not now having thei
quota Of employees under the existing law
Ru ed out on a point of order.
During the colloquy between Cannon
and Houk. concerning the civil law, ther,
was considerable warmth of expression
Finally the committee rose and the hous
adjourned.