The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-02-17
ed those statements.

ed those statements.
If Mr.. IIarrison's influence be
strong enough to accomplish it the
legislation necessary to the annexation
of Hawaii is to be rushed through
Congress. Mr.. Harrison has decided
to send message to Congress re-
commencing annexation and suggest
ing the terms to be contained in the
legislation. To many this appears to
be IS hasty as was the action Of
Minister Stevens in establishing a
protectorate, and it is certainly going
to be done with much less to excuse
it. 1t is assumed to be necessary for
this government to endorse the action
of Stevens, and that being done what
occasion is there for hurrying an
nexstion? 1t is well known that so
long as Hawaii is under the protect
ion of the American flag no European
government will dare TO interfere.
There is great big niger concealed
somewhere IN this Hawaiian wood pile,
and his feet will be exposed if there
be no undue haste in the matter.
The talk of the republicans on the
floors of Congress and in private, on
the Pension question, is very different.
Privately thev admit that if something
is not done to reduce them the pay.
ments will soon bankrupt the country,
but on the floors of Congress they
bitterly resist every attempt to reduce
the amount paid. The House COM
mlttee on Appropriations after careful
consideration has recommended some
amendments to the general Pension
Appropriation bills, now being con.
sidered by the House, which would if
they became laws save $4,000, 900
year, but the republicans are doing
everything in their power to prevent
the adoption of these amendments.
One of the amendments provides for
transferring the Pension bureau to the
War Department and the detail Of
army officers to manage it, which
would remove it from politics ; Others
provide for suspension of pensions
paid to widows who were not married
within five years after the close of tine
war;to those having yearly income OF
5000 or more, and, except in cases of
total disability, to alien non.residents.
Unless the republican Senate shall
refuse to agree to amendments to the
legislative and executive Appropria-
ton bills which have already been
passed by the House there will be
some radical changes made here on
the first Of next July. The clerks in
the departments will work eight hours
instead of seven each day, and will
have their annual leave of absence
with pay cut down to IS days. The
departments will cease to close on
account Of the death Of ex-officials,
and Congress will no longer pay the
big prices it has paid in the past
for funeral expenses of members who
died. Whatever may be said of these
amendments they are in the line OF
democratic economy, and for that
very reason they will probably be de
feated in the Senate.
| The difficulty the Panama Investi-
cation committee has had in getting
witnesses to testify has caused the sus-
picion to be general that influences
are at work to prevent the truth being
found out. The committee has now
gone to New York to see if anything
can be got out Of the bankers who
disbursed the money. Later they will
90 TO Indiana to get ex-secretary
Thompson's statement of what he die!
to earn his salary OF $4,000 a
year also what he knows about other
money spent