The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-03
A SOUTHERN BULLY
Mr.. Meredith, of Virginia, Sab!
Creates a Scene in the House.
The Ex-Rebel Rushes from His Seat and
Shakes His Fist In the Face of
Mr.. Funk, of Illinois.
FIGHT AVERTED BY FRIENDS
Speaker Crisp's Presence Neces-
Sary to Restore Order.
A Spirited Debate on the Pension Bill
that Was Not Concluded Owing
to the Excitement.

WASHINGTON, March 2-The House to-
day entered upon consideration of appropri-
alton bills The fertilization bill, carrying
something over s2,OO0.OO0, was passed in
twenty-five minutes, and then the pension
appropriation bill was taken up. This bill
usually leads to considerable display of
political feeling, and to-day was no excep-
tion. An alteration occurred between Mr..
Meredith, of Virginia, and Mr.. Funk of
Illinois, over the formers attempt to prove
that there were many fraudulent pensions
on the rolls, which resulted in a personal
collision. Mr.. Meredith, who was the ag-
gressor, rushed over to the place where
Mr.. Funk was standing and shook his fist
in the latters face. Hot words were
spoken But friends interfered and the
Speaker restored order before any blows
were struck.
AT the opening of the session this morn
ing Mr.. Bankhead, chairman of the COM
mittee on public buildings. offered a resolu-
tion for the appointment of a subcommittee
TO go to Chicago and investigate the post
office building there with view TO de-
termining the question of its safety, etc.
Mr.. Bankhead explained the pressing neces-
sity for examination. The committee has
been considering the matter for some time
points at issue as to whether there should
be a new site, or a new building should
be erected or the present site. 1t was also
questionable whether suitable quarters
could be obtained while the building was
being prosecuted, which would require from
three to ten years. The amount involved
was large, and the committee was unwill-
ing to make q recommendation without
personal investigation. The resolution
carried an appropriation of s1,5O0. 1t was
passed.
Mr. Kilgore then presented his resolution
of yesterday, calling upon the Sergeant
alarms for his reasons for not carrying
out the provisions of law which require
that he deduct from the salaries of MEM
bers for such time as they are absent 1t
was referred.
Mr.. McCrea called up from the committee
on public lands the bill which has been be-
fore several previous Congresses to pro-
vide for the opening of certain abandoned
military reservations
Mr.. Sayers, chairman of the appropria-
ton committee, raised the question of con-
sideration against it, but the House de-
cided to go with the BILL Mr. McCrea
explained the provisions of the bill. There
were eighty of such reservations. The act
only applied 10 reservations of 5000 acres
area, and they were to be opened only to
bona fide settlers, to be paid for at not
less than their appraised value. After some
debate the bill was passed.
MR.. GROW SWORN IN
On motion of Mr.. Holman, ex-Speaker
Grow, the newly-elected Congressman at
large from Pennsylvania, was then sworn
in. 'Mr. Grow" said Judge Holman, ad-
dressing the Speaker. after serving as a
Representative from Pennsylvania for
twelve years, left the place you so
highly honor thirty-one years ago in the
midst of the blood and strife of civil war
After this long period of time he returns
to the theater Of public affairs when the
flag Of the Republic is honored and revered
in all sections of the country. Inasmuch
as his credentials have not yet arrived, /
ask unanimous consent that he be now
sworn in'
As Mr. Holman finished, a burst of ap-
plause greeted the tall form of Mr.. Grow
as he stepped down the aisle to take his
place at the bar of the House. His hair
and beard are white, but his eyes are
bright, his form erect, and he gives no un-
due evidence of the weight of years which
rest upon his shoulders. Mr.. Holman es-
corted him TO the bar, where, with uplifted
hand, the oath was administered. Another
round of applause followed him to his seat.
Mr. Boatner asked unanimous consent for
consideration of the resolution TO investigate
ing the Injunction against the employees Of
the Northern Pacific railroad. Mr.. kigore
objected, and. on motion of Mr.. Sayers the
House went into committee of the whole,
Mr.. Cultivate in the chair. for considera-
ton of the fortihcationS appropriation bill.
Mr.. Livingston. in charge of the bill, ex-
planned the provisions. The total sum car
ried by the bill was S2,219 s54, upon an esti-
mate of $7.43S. i13 The Notifications bin
in the Fifty-first Congress carried 81, ,232 935.
pNnlainpQ
omy.
Mr. Bingham, on behalf of the minority,
against the bill itself, but it was like all
the other appropriations that would follow.
1t was the declaration of a depleted treas
ury. The Republican side of the House
would probably be met with the statement
that the present economy was made nee
essary by the eXtravagances of the Fifty
first Congress and it would be charged on
the other hand that the proposed unwiss
tariff legislation was the source of the
poverty of the treasury and the cessation
of industry. General debate was closed,
the committee arose, and the bill, after be-
ing amended, was passed.
THE PENSION BILL.
The House went back to committee of the
whole for consideration of the pension ap-
preparation bill. Mr.. O'Neil, of Massachu-
setts. in charge of the measure explained
it's provisions. The bill carried for the
fiscal year ending June 80. 1885, sl4,5l9S50
less than the bill last year. The original
estimate for the coming fiscal year was
$162, 0O0,000 but it had been revised and
cut down later by Commissioner Lochren.
Mr. ONeil argued that while the appropri-
ations for pensions might waVer for few
years the maximum of pension appropria-
tions had been passed. and hereafter there
would be a material reduction in the
amount needed for pensions. There were
on the rolls in 1898 966.O12 pensioners. The
annual increase had been steadily declin-
ing The first year after the act of 1890
10000 had been added 10 the roll. the Sec
ond year 100000. the third year $4,000 Mr..
ONeil took occasion, in the course of mis-
speech, TO defend the course of Commits
siOner Lochren. In reply 10 inquiries he
said that he believed the amount carried
by the bill would meet the demands for all
just pensions.
Did | understand you to say that there
were many fraudulent pensioners on the
rolls?" asked Mr.. Picker.
You did not understand me TO say any,
thing of the kind replied Mr.. O'Nell,
sharply.
well, 1 say it," interposed Mr. Mere
dith. of Virginia. "and l Will give you
proof in the morning"
Mr.. Grout or Vermont, followed with an
assault on Commissioner Lochren's action
in his wholesale suspension of pensioners.
He concluded with glowing tribute To the
vIllor, bravery and patriotism OF the Union
veterans
Mr.. Meredith made rather a sensational
speech. He said that he protested against
W4raNI