The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-06
THE HOUSE.
The Pension Appropriation Bill Passed With
an Amendment

The Pension Appropriation Bill Passed With
an Amendment.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-In the House TO-
day Cutcheon of Michigan called up the
Senate joint resolution authorizing the Sec
retary of War to issue 1000 stand of arms
each 10 the States of North and South Da-
kota, Wyoming and Nebraska.
On motion of Garter of Montana Montana
was included in the provisions of the joint
resolution, which as then passed.
Representative HanSbrough of North Da-
kota introduced bill providing for the dis
armament of the Indians, and making it a
punishable otfense for any person to sell
arms or ammunition to them.
On motion of Morrow of California, the
House-ayes 13S, noes 7l-went into COM
mittee of the Whole ON the Pension Appro-
pration Bill.
Cultivate of Ohio referred to yesterdays
talk about the Commissioner of Pensions
and criticized the conduct Of that officer in
the recent campaign.
Cutcheon suggested that Commissioner
Black had taken part in Congressional elec-
ton.
Cultivate replied that if Black had done
such things as Raum had done he should
have been brought to justice for it. He
then proceeded to reproach the Republican
House with sbirking its duty, arguing that
the pending bill would show deficiency of
over 2,000, 600.
Dockery said few months ago he stood
on this floor and declared that the RepubIi-
cans were refusing, for party purposes, to
appropriate within $40, 900, 900 of the amount
required for pensions under the existing
law. This declaration was almost Substan-
tiated by the fact that the Commissioner
now came asking for deficiency Of S34,-
100000. Dockery then branched out into
discussion Of the financial condition of the
country, presenting tables to show that there
will be deficiency July /, 1892, of over
S37, coo, and said this did not include any
deficiency for the fiscal years of 1891 or 1892
except the pension deficiency.
breckenridge OF Kentucky said the
question was not as to whether the present
Commissioner had taken part in the recent
campaign or whether former Commissioner
was guilty of the charges made against him.
The point was that the probabilities are
that within seven years there will be ,O00, 900
pensioners on the rolls who will be paid
Sl70,000.000 annually. The first necessity
was to meet the question frankly by ade-
Quate appropriations; the second TO raise a
committee TO investigate the bureau thor
oughly, have the list revised and strike off
unworthy pensioners; third, to transfer the
bureau to the War Department, and take
it out Of the domain Of politics. Here were
people staggering under burdens that had so
distressed them that they were ing new
alliances. Let Congress meet the matter
frankly.
Peters of Kansas made an exhaustive
argument to show the Appropriation Bill
was amply sufficient. The Democratic party
was always flooded with tears in behalf of
the soldier when it was out of power, but
when it was in power 1t was quite differ
ent thing. The Democratic party was en-
deavorlng to embrace the Farmers Alliance
movement. He conceded that the Repubii-
can party in Kansas had run against this
movement and received a black eye. But
the time was coming when cyclone would
strike the Democratic States. The Repub-
lican party would revive because " truth
crushed to earth will rise again." He
wanted the Filty-second Congress to pass
Sub Treasury Bill, Free Coinage Bill and
Service Pension Bill, and unless his Demo-
cratic friends would do all that they would
find the Farmers Alliance wave would wipe
them from the face of the earth.
Biggs of California made brief and
humorous speech in the interest of an in-
creased appropriation, which would prevent
deficiency being thrown upon the Demo-
cratic House. He created hearty laughter
when, in conclusion, he calculated: ASK
the people of California who stands fore
most among them, ". w. Morrow or Marion
Biggs, and the answer will be, 'Biggs by
$4,000 majority"
In concluding the debate. Morrow argued
that the amount carried by the bill was all,
II not more than all, that would be required
by the Pension Bureau during the coming
year.
On motion of Dockery, an amendment was
adopted providing that no agent or attorney
shall demand, receive or be allowed any
compensation or any claim for increase Of
pension on account Of increase of disability
1t is estimated this will save $1,000, 900 to
pensioners within the next three years.
Springer offered an amendment increas-
ing the appropriation to $15o,00O. 600. There
was no excuse, he said, for Republican
House to make an inadequate appropriation,
and throw deficiency on Democratic
House. The amendment was lost, 65 to 129.
After further debate the committee arose,
the bill was passed and the House ad-
joarned.