The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-07
A PENSIONER ON PENSIONS.
General SitkltS Attacks The Admillstra-
ton In The House.
LENDERS MAKING RECORD SPEECHES.
Useless Talking on tho Pension Appropris-
sion BlII-Mr. Strait. Of south Car
oiina. and Iii. Naval Cadetship.

ing the Secretary OF the Navy TO appoint
cadet TO the Naval Academy from the
Filth district Of South Carolina. This
srew out OF the case whore IA cadet was
appointed from Alabama. upon the fall
ure Of the representative from that as
trict to appoint but credited TO south
Carolina.
MIR. Hopkins (Rep, IllJ said the case
uas not unique that the same thing had
occurred in Illinois. The Secretary OF
thc NAVY. he said. had violated the law
in this case. and what ought TO be done
vas 10 compel the Secretary 10 vacste
the appointment from the South Carolina
district He objected 20 the further con-
slderati0n Of the resolution, whereupon
air Money said he would present II as
matter Of privilege. involving the rights
of the member OF the Fifth district Of
south Carolina
On this point the Chair and Mr.. Money
got into a coloquy. The Speaker said
tne effect Of the resolution would be TO
increase the number OF cadets. which
would be contrary 10 law. II the appoint
uont made by Secretary Herbert was
UNAUTHORIZED. it was Illegal and void. and
ne resolution was unnecessary 70 remedy
ihc wrong.
Mr Hatch dem. MOI said this was
rHi the first time where the Secretary
Dad on the failure OF a member TO nomi-
nate a cadet appointed an alternate out
eide OF the state in which the members
district was located. il was. he claimed
violation of the law. and the practice
should be stopped.
The Speaker stated that the resolution
v.s not privileged and ii was withdrawn
under objection.
The resolution authorizing an investi-
cation Of the famous order issued by
Judge jenkins. in the Northern Pacific
fcrcivership case was called up by Mr.
B0aincr Dem, La and passed.
ou motion OF Ar. Meyer Dem. La)
saturday April eth. was set apart FOR
tn, delivery OF eulogies i'm the House
ulon the late Senators Randall and Glib
son, OF Louisiana.
Tho Appointment Annulied.
Referring to the resolution proposed by
n'r Money, Mr.. Strait Dem, $. Co. rose
Co personal question. and related the
circumstances surrounding the appoint
uent of "a naval cadet by the Secretary
Ci one Navy. credited to his district lthe
Fiffn South ClrOina He offered reso-
luuon declaring the appointment TO be
unauthorized and void. with a view of
haNns t vacated.
Mr Cummings lN. W said the original
resolution had been referred TO the COM
mttec Oh Naval Affairs, and that il had
reached bill Interpreting the law. SO that
in Tho future such appointments would be
impossible.
Mr. Hatch DEM MOI. Let me suggest
chat that does not go far enough We
should right the wrong already done. cap
pauscJ
Alr Bankhead dem. Ala) gave his
connection with the matter, which was
that hc had lost the appointment from his
district under the last administration, ana
that the Secretary of the Navy, acting
under what le believed 10 be sufficient
authority I'm the matter. had appointed a
candidate from his district and credited
him TO the Fifth South Carolina district
10 transplred in the course OF the rather
rambling discussion that several other
representatives. were I'm the same hN as
the member from South Carolina.
Air. Hopkins suggested that the case
should be met by a general law and not
by special legislation
Afr. Straits resolution was agreed TO.
On motion Of Mr.. Omen dem, Mass),
the House went into committee OF the
whole on The pension appropriation bhi.
with AN aegreCment TO close general de-
bate al o'clock tomorrow.
Mr. Enloe Dem. Tennl had read the
additional section. OF which he gave no
t.ce Yesterday. interpreting the law OF
December n. 1885 so that pension be-
levcl TO have been procured by fraud
upon the United states may be tempo
rarily suspended pending examination.
Genera sick es ON Pensions.
General sickles Dem., \. " was the
first speaker.
Pension laws. General sickles said had
AN been voted for 10y all parties, and
the present bill was approved on all sides.
10 appropriated "a larger sum than was
ever voted for pensions by any govern
ment. THAT is good policy he said. III
YOU would have good soldiers I'm the next
war. take good care of the soldiers of the
past war" (Appiause)
To the Commissioner Of Pensions, he
said was committed vast responsibility
and great trust lie must Of necessity
confde much OF his duty TO subordinate
officers they may not always have the
judicial faculty; they may not always De
active and vgilant I'm the examination
~ claims Congress has rieht 10 eN-
pect from the commissioner and his supe-
rior officers. the Secretary Of the Interior
and especially from the President wise
and liberal administration of the princl-
pies enunciated In the Presidents letter
OF acceptance. But ne could not, Genera
slckles said. agree with the Commissioner
~ Pensions In respect 70 his interpreta-
ton ~ the law OF 1898 In his letter 10
Congress in answer 20 the resolution ol
Inquiry. the commissioner had SAID tha'
The law was "incXact' and 'lnappropil-
ale" Before that letter had been sent
Go Congress his superior should nave re-
turned IL TO the commissioner with Ill
fcefion 10 treat Congress and its leglsia-
ton with more respect. daughter ana ap-
ulaueoD The commissioner is as faulty
in his law as he Is In his manners. lie
iced only have consulted law dictionary
to determine the meaning Of the words
right and vested right For his informa-
ton ] will read from Bowler.
General Slckles then quoted from that
ucl-known authority upon the words
.iatod and said their use in the statute
was appoint appropriate. and accurate
tne ai,hority OF the Pension Once C. the
contrary Notwithstanding. So that We not
oniy have bad manners Ia the fehsioh
OHee but bad laws
continuing on this point. ~ said that
Ae declaration OF right co iained In the
aet of December q, 1893 had been ac-
0epicd bog The Pension Oilice itself long
before me act was passed. He read from
compilation Of the pension laws Issued
hF fhe Bureau saying they print them
FOR other people 10 read. they ought 10
read them themselves
lie had marked twenty sections IN tnat
compilation which said that upon a GER
tain state OF facts being shown, the
claimant shall be entitled 10 so many
dollars month from the Government.
The whole pension policy OF the Govern
meni Was based upon the rights OF the