Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-08
PENSION BILL PASSED.
Il Carries appropriation Of S15i 600 GOO, o.
$4,000. 900 tess Than Estimate.

WAsuINGT n, March In the House,
u hen certsin judgments from the court of
clairn., in the Indian depreciation case re-
ported, Cox said that under the law of 1891
these judgments wtre final and they
should 20 to the committee on appropris-
lions for action. Chairman Ssyers of the
latter committee asked the Speaker, III dis
posing of the judgments TO consider the
under advisemsnt
Or motion of McCreery the Senate lint
resolution providing for the appointment
by the President Of six commissioners to
the Antwerp exposition of 1894, was agreed
70, wil the amendment declaring that no
liability shoull be incurred by the ual'ed
States ny the passage of the resolution.
O'N,il reported from the committee on
approp ii,ions Birgham's resolution asking
the Sc cretary of the treasury to inform the
House under what authority the bureau OF
ngraving and printing submitted bid for
p,ioting postage stamps; and 1t passed
II, nIerson reported from the committee on
postof,ic' and post roads B!nehams resolu-
ton asking the postmaster general to give
the House sll the information in his depart
ment respectirg bids for printing postage
stamps and award of the contract; passed.
Discussion of the pension appropriation
bill was resumed. O'Neil, in charge of the
bill. closed the general debate. The cause
of the great sudden decrease of the issue of
pension certificates, he said, was decision
made by Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Bussey in the late administration, which
reduced the allowance of certsin class Of
certificates per cent. O'Neil said the
average monthly payment of certificates is
sued in the last year of Raums administra-
ton was 50 81 and the value of these issued
10 the first 10 months of Lochrens admin
istration was $40 0S.
The bill came up for consideration under
The five minute rule and for amendmf mt.
Bingham proposed an amendment repe aling
4 e PROVISION of the pension act of 1872 81
th.t "no pension shalt be psi TO Bon-
resident not citiz of the United States
except for actual disabilities Incurred in the
service" which was recommended by Com
missioner Lochren. On point of order it
was ruled out.
Hopkins offered an amendment giving to
pensioners whose pensions may be sus-
p -nded by the commissioner the right to ap-
peal to the United States court for the dis
trict in which the pensioner lives; ruled out
on point of order.
Enloe proposed an amendment constru-
ing the law of Dec. IL, 1898, a, not intended
~ prevent temporary susp 'nson OF pen
sos where fraud is suspected ruled out.
Grosvenor moved to amenl by making
the total appropriation for pensions SlG5,-
900 900 instead of Sl50,o00 900. Blair
argued from the testimony of Commissioner
LII Il |,,,,. t<nft ErtNo
that the proposed increase should be made,
hat the amendment failed. On this amend
ment debate REQUIRED to the points covered
in general debate, particularly as to the
charge of pension bureau used for political
purposes.
Mahon offered an amendment providing
for the speedy investigation AMI adj ldicat-
irg of charges of fraud against pensoner.
Chairman Q dthwaite ruled it out of order.
| Grout offered an amendment intended to
effect revival of the practice by which the
local exsming boards reported ratings Of
dis abilities. This met a point of order from
O'Nei that it changed that existing law by
rest citing the right of the secretary of the
interior to make regulations for the pension
| bureau, which point the chairman sus-
tanned. Grout appealed from the decision
/ of the Chair. and the Chair was sustained.
| Picker Offered an am 'ndment proviiing
that all papers in a p-nsion claim before
the pen.i m bureau be open to the inspec-
lion of the cl imaht or his attorney; ruled
out An amendment making the reports of
| the local examining board open To claim
ants and their attorney, was offered by
4 Pickl ard was adopted.
Grow offered an amendment making tue
lowest monthly pension rate for disability
Sl2; ruled out. The committee rose aud
the bill was reported to the House. The
| Pickler amendment was agreed 10 and the
I bill pass 4 ithout division. The House
adjourned.