The Portland daily press., 1893-02-13
THE PENSION BILL
Preeipitates a Significant Debate in
the National House.
SECRETARY FOSTER HAS NO IN
TENTEON OF ISSUING BONDS
FOR GOLD.

OSS--~-~--
CIeveland's Secretary of State Will be
Observation-Disclosures for Maine
Observation-Disclosures Affairs
WASHINGTON, February 1.-THE gen.
eral debate in the House on the proposed
pension reform amendments ran on
through the day today.
Immediately after the formal opening
this morning the House in committee of
the whole resumed consideration of the
invalid pension appropriation bill.
An attempt was made to come to some
conclusion as to the limitation to be
placed upon the general debate, but the
attempt was a vain one. The Republi-
cans objected. AS voiced by their lead
ers on this question-Grout of Vermont,
and Lodge of Observation-Disclosures view
was that the bill was too far-reaching to
be dismissed after few hours discuss
ion. So Mr.. Mutchler of Pennsylvania,
in charge of the bill, moved that the
committee rise, and this motion was
agreed to.
Then Mr.. Mutchler moved that general
debate terminate at o'clock today, and
on this motion demanded the previous
question.
Mr.. Burrows of Michigan then started
the filibustering. He moved a recess
until o'clock This hour did not suit
w. A. Stone of Pennsylvania, who moved
an amendment fixing the hour for, the
termination of the recess at $50. But
this was not enough for Mr.. Payne of
New York, who suggested, as an amend
ment, that o'clock would be the proper
hour
Then Mr.. Picker Of South Dakota
thought the House might do well to adj
journ, but his motion to that effect was
supplemented by Mr.. Payne with one
that when the House adjourns today it
be to meet on Tuesday next. And so the
filibustering motions were clinched.
The latter motion was defeated-yeas,
o; nays, 107, and then Mr.. Mutchler,
yielding to the inevitable, withdrew his
motion for limitation of debate. The
dilatory motions were also Withdrawn,
and again the House resumed in commit
tee the consideration of the pension APP
preparation bill.
Mr.. Curtis of New York and Mr.. Har-
ris OF Minnesota, opposed the proposed
amendments of the pension laws. On
the other hand, Mr.. Livingston of Geor-
gia. approved them, and he did it so as
Southern man. The Republican admin
istration, which was about to go out of
power. had appointed Southern Demo-
GRAFT to position in the UnitedStates SUI
preme Court. 1t was reported that the
incoming administration would appoint
a Republican as Secretary of State. With
such generosity on the part of the OUT
going and incoming administrations he
supposed that Southern ex-rebel would
at least find the sympathy of his Repub-
lican friends when "a discussion OF the
delicate question was entered upon.
Speaking for Southern men,s he said
that it was not ever intended to repeal
the pension laws; but he. as Southern
man, reconstructed, under his country's
flag and under his oath to support the
constitution, would vote for the amend
ments to the pending bill.
The time was coming when there
would be need Of reform. No men would
suffer more under the present pension
system than the veterans who had fought
for the Union.
If the present pension abuses wer con-
tinued, the time would come when the
masses of the people would go to the
other extreme, and the old veterans
would be injured. Southern men were
not opposed to pensioning Union sol
diers. Long ago that question had been
settled, not only as proper, but as justifi-
able.
The committee then rose, and public
business having been suspended, the
House paid its due need of respect to
the memory of the late Edward f. Nc
Donald of New Jersey, and then, as a
mark of respect to the memory of the
deceased, the House at 4.15 p. m. adj
journed.
In the Senate.
After the transaction of unimportant
business, the railroad car coupler bill
was laid before the Senate.
Mr.. Blodgett, Democrat, of New Jer-
sey, offered an amendment providing that
the act shall not apply to four-wheeled
cars or the locomotives used in handling
them (meaning coal trains). Agreed to.
The consideration of the bill was inter
rupted to allow the conference report on
the Notifications bill to be presented by
Mr.. Dawes.
Mr.. Hawley, Republican, of Connects
cut, asked what had been done about the
Senate amendment appropriating $500, O0(
for sites for Notifications for coast de
fences.
Mr.. Dawes replied that the amendment
had been reduced in conference to $175,
900.
Then followed a debate in whichMessrs
Hawley, Dawes, Chandler, Proctor anc
George took part, but finally the confer
ence report was agreed to, the other
changes made in the bill being of less
Importance.
The consideration of the car coupler
bill was then resumed.
Mr.. George offered an amendment pro
viding that no railroad employe who
may be injured shall be deemed to have
assumed the risk occasioned by the use
of any locomotive, car or train. After
discussion, the amendment was agreed
to-yeas, AZ; nays, Z. Messrs. Blodgett
Brice, Caffery. Camden, Gray, Morgan
and Sawyer.
Mr.. George offered another amend
ment giving to sailors on vessels engaged
in interstate commerce and to railroad
employees the right to recover damages
for injuries resulting from carelessness
neglect or unskilful act or omission OF
the part of his master, employer or fel