Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-05
THE COUNTRYS LAWMAKERS.
What Was Done in the Federal House
Yesterday.

WAsHrNGToN, April 4.-There ""s no
session OF the Senate to-day.
House of Representative.
After the reading OF the Journal the
House proceeded TO the consideration OF
various private pension bills coming over
from last Friday nights session.
THE PENSION INQUIRY.
In speaking on one of these bills Mr..
Stone. of Missouri. declared that no people
Ind been 80 despoied and burdened under
the name Of patriotism ard under the
rulse of peneion-laws as had the people Of
The United States. He denounced the de
mands Of the Grand Army OF the Republic
and asserted that the presidency was put
up and sold TO the highest bidder. Ihank
God. there was one grand man who had
declined TO be a party to such sale.
Though he had fallen, he had fallen bear
inc the reputation of wise and incorrupti-
bio craftsmanship and enjoying the respect
of every honest citizen. Applause on the
Democratic side.
Speaking for himself. and speaking, he
knew. against the Judgment OF ms party
associates. he declared that he had gone
ms far in the direction Of pensions as he
intended TO GO, and he represented one OF
the large ex-UniOn soldier districts III the
country. lie favored liberal system Of
tl-lH
nrotret against the indefenSlble eNtrava-
rance in public expenditures. He favored
the granting of liberal pensions To true
and brave soldiers, but he was opposed TO
granting pensions to undesorving soldiers
or to bounty-iumpers.
TIE REPUBLICAN sIDT.
Mr.. Chapman, of Michigan, criticised and
denounced the speech made by the gentle
man from Missouri. 1t was not the time TO
talk of the cost of pensions. The gentle
man from Missouri Mr.. Stone cried halt,
INT tho time for a halt had not come, and
would not come until reasonable provision
was made for the needs Of every soldier OF
the country. The country needed service
pension. IL needed an increased pension
for the deaf and dumb; II needed pensions
for widows, and il needed law establish
ing rule of testimony in pension cases,
whereby the oath of private soldier
would receive as much credence az that OF
an officer. go,
The pension system must continue until
the last soldier who served the country IN
the war was dead and gathered TO his
fathers. IApplauseJ
WOULD SHUT ELS EYES TO THE COST.
Mr.. Dloliver, of Iowa, made an eloquent
appeal III favor of higher pensions. He
was not IN favor OF waiting 10 pension the
veterans of the late war until almost all
of those who were 10 be benefited had
paid the debt Of nature and gone to their
rcpose. They should pensiOned now, and
he would shut his eyes to the cost.
FOR TIE UNION SOLDIER AND THE PENSION
LIST.
Mr.. Flower, of New York, raised hls
voice in favor Of the Union soldier and OF
the pension list. When, in 1861, the SOL
diers went 20 the battlefield the Govern
ernment had promised 10 make their wives
and children wards OF the nation, and he
was in favor of fulfilling that promise.
The private pension bills, five IN NUMBER,
were then passed.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole on the privete calendar.
TIE BOWMAN ACT.
The bill for the allowance OF certain
claims for stores and supplies used by the
United States army under the provisions OF
the Bowman act was discussed at length,
mainly on points of order. III the course OF
which discussion Mr.. Allen, Of Mississippi
created merriment by his reference 70 the
Committee on Rules as body capable OF
DONG ANYTHING under Gods Heaven.
Pending action the committee rose. aha
the House at 5 O'Clock took a recess TIL .
o'clock, the evening session 10 be LOT lhe
consideration of private pension bills.
THE EVENING SESSION.
WASHINGTON. April 4.-The House ut IT'S
evening session passed thirty private pen
sion bills, and at 1880 adjourned unti To-
morrow.