Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-10
AT THE CAPITAL.
Senatorial Spoilsmen Show
Their Hand.
Two New Pension Offices to Be
Created.
The Tariff Debate Continued in the
Lower House.
A Pension Voted to Mrs. Della Parnell.
The Senate Silver Caucus-Chi-
nese Exclusion, Etc.
Associated Press Dispatches. !

WASHINGTON, May 9.-In the senate
today a communication was received
from the treasury department, with re-
ports from the special agents as to the
evasion of the laws against the entrance
of Cinnamon coming from Canada. Re-
ferred to the committee on immigration.
The annual pension appropriation bill
was taken up. the question being on the
amendment increasing the number Of
pension agents SALARY, $4,000 from
eighteen to twenty. Agreed to-yeas,
25; nays, ia party vote, except that
Payne voted aye, and Allison, ingalls,,
Platt and Teller, no.
The bill having been reported back
from the comittee of the whole to the
senate the question on the amendment
came up again for action.
Cockrell said he was humiliated at the
fact that the committee on appropria-
tions, headed by the distinguished SEN
ator from Iowa (Allison), had just been
ridden over rough-shod by the republi-
can majority. There was no reason
whatever for the increase of the two
offices, except for the benefit of spoils-
men.
Sherman suggested that Cockrell was
making a very great affair out of small
matter, and argued for the increase, say
ing that the pension office at Columbus
was so crowded now that an increase in
the pension agents was absolutely neces-
sary. He (Sherman) very seldom dis
puted with the committee on apprOpria-
tions, but when new question came up,
the committee ought not to feel offended
that its work had been inquired into.
Cockrell referred to the rumor that
there was a warm and lively contest over
the Ohio pension agency; that friend
of an ex-president had been selected over
the choice of another distinguished citi-
zen (meaning Sherman), and that the
senator who was so grievously disap-
pointed was patiently awaiting the crea-
ton of these two new offices.
Sherman said all this showed that
Cockrell had been looking into the small
details about local matters, which had
no more connection with the amendment
than the man in the moon.
Allison said he felt aggrieved that the
majority voted an increase of the agen-
cies. 1t showed that the majority had
not examined the question with the care
it should.
Paddock said there were localities
worse off as regards the necessity for an
increase of agencies than Ohio. He spoke
of the needs of Nebraska, Kansas and
other western states, and said if there
was any action it should be for the re-
adjustment and consolidation of some of
the smaller agencies.
German said in the interests of the
soldiers congress might bankrupt the
government, and probably would, for in
fifteen years there would be more spent
for pensions than it had cost to put
down the rebellion. In view of all this,
economy should be practiced in the adj
ministration of the pension Office at
least.
Finally the discussion closed, and
Sherman's amendment was agreed to,
% to q. Payne voted with the repub-
licans, and Allison, ingalls, and Plumb
with the democrats. Teller did not
vote.
The bill then passed, and the military
academy bill was taken up and passed.
The army appropriation bill was then
taken up. Among the amendments
agreed to was a paragraph appropriat-
ing 100000 for buildings at military
posts for libraries, gymnasiums and
canteens.
Hale moved an amendment that no
alcoholic liquor, beer or wine be sold or
supplied to enlisted men in any such
buildings. Cockrell moved to amend
the amendment by striking out beer and
wine. No quorum voted, and the Senate
adjourned, leaving Hale's and Cockrell's s
amendments pending.