The Portland daily press., 1890-12-06
PENSIONS BILL PASSED.
Provision for the Veterans Made by
the Republican House,

WASHINGTON, December 5-The House
today went into committee of the whole on
the pension appropriation bill. Mr.. Outh-
waite of Ohio reproached the Republican
House with shirking its duty, arguing that
the pending bill would show deficiency of
at least S32, ,834, 900.
Mr.. Cheadle of Indiana contended that
the amount of the appropriation was amply
sufficient to supply the needs OF the service.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa cited figures to
show that when the Republicans controlled
legislation In the House the appropriations
for pensions were generally IN excess OF the
requirements of the law. The deficiencies
began when the Democrats came into con-
troll and cut the appropriations so short that
during the last year there was deficiency
of $25, 100000. In all probability the COM
mittee on appropriations had, in this bill,
provided more than was absolutely necessa-
Mr. Dockery of Missouri argued that the
amount carried by the bill was Insufficient.
and branched from this subject to discus
sion of the general financial condition of the
country.
Mr. Breckinridge of Kentucky said the
probabilities were that within seven years
there would be million pensioners on the
roll who would be paid $17O,0OO,000 annual
ly. The first necessity was to meet the
question frankly by adequate appropria-
tions the second, to raise committee to in
vestigate the bureau thoroughly, to have the
list revised aud strike off unworthy pension
ers the third, to transfer the bureau to the
War Department and take it out II the do
main of politics. This was not question as
To whether the present commissioner had
taken part in the elections in Indiana or
whether the former commissioner was gull
ty of the charges made against him. Here
were people staggering under burdens so
distressing to them that they were seeking
new alliances.
Mr.. Peers of Kansas charged the Demo
cratic party with hypocrisy In its treatment
of the soldier. 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 it was quite different thing.
He hoped the Republican side of the House
in the sd Congress would insist on the Dem
ocrats carrying out their professions, which
they made in the 51st Congress, and compel
them to pass the service pension bill. The
Democratlc party was, endeavorlng to en-
brace the Farmers Alliance movement. He
wanted the 22d Congress to pass the SUBJ
treasury bill, [laughterl and the free coinage
bill [cries"We will''l and the service pensions
bill. Unless his Democratic friends would
do all that. they would find the wave Of the
Farmers Alliance would sweep over them,
and wipe them from the face of the earth.
On motion Of Mr.. Dnckery of Missouri,
an amendment was adopted providing that
no agent or attorney shall demand. receive
or be allowed any compensation in any claim
for increase of pension on account OF in
crease of disability. 1t is estimated by Mr..
Dockery and Chairman Morrill, Of the inva-
lid pensions committee that this will save
$5,000,000 to pensioners within the next
three years.
The committee rose and the bill was
passed. The House then adjourned.