Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-02-23
HELP,
I HAVE BEEN PARALYzED.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 189'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 1898.
Mr.. Cleveland is certainly trying
hard to dictate legislation to the pres
ent congress. There is good reason
for the assertion that the proposed
radical amendments to the pension
laws, which were, when first offered,
voted down by the house committee
on appropriations, and this week
adopted by that committee, are the
result of direct orders from him. Mr..
Holman joined the Republican men,
bers of the committee in protesting
and voting against these amendments,
which are to be offered to the pension
appropriation bill when it comes up
in the house, bnt they were outvoted.
These amendments are first, for the
transfer OF the pension bureau to the
war department and the detail OF
army officers to serve as commits
sioner and deputy commissioners;
second, to suspend all pensions paid
to pensioners not disabled by wounds
who have an annual income in excess
of 5000 a year; third, to suspend all
pensions paid to widows OF soldiers
who we're not married to them within
five. years after the close of the war;
fourth, to suspend all pensions except
for total disabilities, now paid to alien
non-residents. Whatever may be
done at the next congress it may be
set down as certain that these amend.
ments will never be adopted by this
congress. 1t is believed that the pur-
pose in Offering them is to feel the
pulse of the public on the pension
question.
Even the gall ofTammany congress
men must give way to universal public
sentiment. This was shown when the
Quarantinebill as originally passed by
the senate came up in the house this
week. The bill was passed, notwith-
standing the attempt OF Anthony and
Kilgore, OF Texas, to filibuster against
it's being voted upon, and has now
gone to the president, whose approval
it will promptly receive.
A majority of the house judiciary
committee has at last agreed to the
report of the Homestead investiga-
tion which was pref ared by Repre-
sentative Oates, chairman of the sub
committee which made the investiga-
ton. This report will not make
enjoyable reading for Democratic edi-
tors who made the Homestead trouble
the basis for partisan editorials, dur
ing the late campaign, for it says that
the tariff had nothing to do with the
trouble. and that the strikers were
| the aggressors. 1t also condemns the
use OF Pinkertons and says that such
| agencies should never he employed
without consent of the state. There
are two minority reports, one con-
demning the use OF the Pinkertons and
the other an argument in favor OF com
pulsory state arbitration laws.
| The ease with which two or three
men tie up the house whenever they
are so disposed has created a senti
ment which makes it certain that the
rules adopted by the next house will
permit the maj ,rity OF the house to
do business when it wishes to and to
squelch tillibustering. In fact it is &
common thing to hear Democrats il
the house abuse the present rules and
wish for a lew days OF the much cursed
Reed rules of the Fifty-frst congress
IL l.,t ls.
ations OF this congress will be at least
$50, 900 in excess OF those made
by the last Republican congress
which, by the way, is no longer sneer
ingly referred to by the Democrats a.
the "billion dollar congress-" Nov
these gentlemen see that Secretary
Charles Foster was right when he said
.sThis is a billion dollar country"
Senator Chandler had a little fur
with his Democratic colleagues thi.
week by twitting them for their fsilur,
to live up to their national platform
The only reply came from Senato
Harris ofTennessee. who declared tha
he was not, never had been. and neve
would be the slave of u national plat
form.
Extra session talk is now heart
everywhere, and unless Cleveland
made his threat about the failure Il
repeal the silver law for a bluff, on
of his first official lacts will be ,
proclamation calling an extra ses
sion. A prominent Democrat i
authority for the statement that j
will depend upon a poll of the hous
and senate of the next congress
which the friends of Mr.. Cleveland ar
now trying to make. If the poll show
a majority for repeal an extra session
will be called; otherwise not.
, Both the whiskey trust and tn
Panama canal investigations are il
what may be called the promising
stage, that is they promise startlin
revelations, but so far none have beel
made.