The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-03-03

Monroe, Va, should bear one-half OF the
expense OF constructing sewerage sys-
TEN at Fort Monroe. AGREED to.
The appropriation for carriages for neld
gun batteries was reduced from S6l,0N to
| $4,000, and that Tor carriages Tor the
breech-loading rificd mortars OF l2-inen
| caliber was Increased from $4,000 to $780,
| O0o These were the only amendments.
The committee rose twenty-five minutes
having been occupied In It's consideration
| IL was passed-li0 TO ..
The house went back into committee of
| the whole for the consideration OF the PEN
| SONS appropriation bill.
! Mr., O'NOll OF Massachusetts,, in charEo
l OF the measure, explained its provisions.
! The bill carried tor the fiscal year ending
/ June 30, 1895. Si4bl9Sj0 less than the bill
coming fiscal year was Si69, 00lOV0. but It
| had been revised and cut down later by
| Commissioner Lochren,
Mr. ONenl argued that while the ap-
! propriations for pensions might waNer for
| W. Davis, Dunn heirs and others were par
! preparations had been passed. and here
alter there would be q material reduction
| In tae AMOUNT needed Tor pensions
There were on the rolls IN 1898 g66,0l2 pea
/ s!oners The annual Increase had been
! steadily declining Toe first year of the
| net 400 had been added 10 the roll, the
second 1000, Tie third year 200.
! Mir O'Nenl took occasion IN the course
] OF his speech 90 defend the course OF
/ Commissioner Loemen IN reply 20 m
| amount carried by the bill would meet ihe
! demaads for al just pensions.
"Did l understand you 10 say that there
irolls2" lsisti MT Picker.
You djd not understaud me to say any
tnHg of the kind replied Mr.. OMEN
"Weh, l say st." in;erposcl Mr Mere
| dith ldeml of Virginia, and l VII! give
Mr. Gront OF Vermont followed with an
7 assault on Commissioner Lochreu's ac-
! ton IN his wholesale suspension OF pan
sisns Ile concluded with a g,owing ttih'
ute to the valor bravery and patriotism
OF tue Union veterans.
AIR. Meredith c.cml Of Virginia made
! rather a sensational spc ch lie sud tina
he protested against making the pcns.Nn
| roll a roll OF dishonog. .r the unme OF a
state that paid three times as much Tor
pensions as Vermont,
That's because there are more OF you"
I sugEested Mr.. Ggout.
"Gut we get NJ benefit" retorted AR.
"rnaGs because y5u were on the wrong
side susgeated Nj. johnson Uepl Of In
Whether a man Is a patriot or a rebel"
retorted AIR. Meredith "depends upon the
result Success makes r. patrIot OF him
VINO makes y renel of himself T'Aat was
the case In 1776."
Mr. Meredith went on to cite cases
which he said made him believe that
there We're hundreds and thousands 81
fraudulent pensioners on the rolls. Dur
ing the progress of his speech he de-
nouncel the republicans for refusing to
vote when the seiguiorage blu was up.
Why did you not count us?" asked
II they had put me in the chair" re-
Piled Mr. Meredith, u would have admin
istcred 10 you your own medicine l
appause)
Later. In referring to some cases In his
~ or metro pensioners, .dr. Meresi tnt
s1ld that only negroes got pensions in his
That is because they are the only pes
pie VINO were loyal" said Mr. Baker Crep3
| OF New Hampshire
,",According TO your idea Of loyalty" re-
IR rs IN my oo'n'ry-and ana proud OF
Toward the end OF Mr.. Meredlths speech
Il most exciting scene occurred which al
most ended ln q personal encounter he
tween him and Mr.. Funk OF Illinois Mr.
Meredith was SIN talking abont fraudu-
rent pensions and was having an animated
alteration with Mr. Baker Of New Hamp-
: Shlre over case which had come under
hls (Mr MerSdith'sl personal observation.
pension for 4 disability which he Mere
dithl claimed he did not have
If ! can Judge from the fact that n
man seems healthy and strong" he SAID.
and yet gets pension by reason or n
week hy week an year by year in my
plhln hcmepin way OF speaking / say
ne lled Wnen he went before the officials
ana swore, that he had been crippled In
II want 10 say II the gentleman is
honest interrupted Mr. Funk, Gepub-
Is stating what he believes 10 be tTne
that " he does not make the case known
to ne proper authorities, he Is not
II want to say this" retorted Mr..
Meredith, holly. that II the gentleman
undertakes to insinuate thnt / am as
honest; IL the gentleman undertakes
To-
without completing his sentence Mr.
the ayr e 9e p a6 TO- Ge Ss Of
where Mr. Funk was standing In a side
aisle to the left
"a did not say So B" saald Mr.. Funk as
Mr.. Meredith advanced toward him in
threatening manner.
You had better not say So" returned
Mr. Meredith. stun advancing up the
a personal encounter was imminent.
Members crowded down about the bell
ligerents amid the most intense excite
ment and confusion. They were hoth
talking at the same time. Finally Mr..
Meredith clenched his inst and shook II
under the nose OF his adversary By this
time Mr.. Funk, who had previously dis
| PLAYED no feeling, shouted ont some
thing about standing by what he had
Mr. Meredith again assumed a threat
| en!ns posture, but the members who mad
crowded around, gently took him by the
shoulders as n 10 prevent a bow from
Delng struck All this time Mr. Outh-
waite. who was presiding on the commit
tee OF the whole, was pounding vigorously
for order, but Without effect, and Speaker
Crisp, who had been hurriedly sent for,
| mounted the IpsuuIu ana dsSulnel tHn
| gayel, as he ls allowed under the rules
70 DO when the house ia IN committee OF
the whole IN Zines OF great disorder.
! II undertake to say that you are not
my keeper" shouted Mr.. Meredith, as
he WAS backed down the als.e by his
| friends.
81 stand by that proposition" shouted
| back Mr.. Funk who was he'd on one SIDE
| by Mr.. Doohttle and on the other by Mr..
Payne either here or anywhere else"
a few sharp raps OF the speakers gayel
produced measure OF quiet
The house recognized the hand Of the
presiding officer "The sergean t-at-arms
VIII induce The gentlemen @ be scented"
gentleman win be seated" ne continued.
The assistant sergeant-at-arms rapidly
/ cleared the alales and the members re-
gumod their seats. The excitement quieted
DOWN Mr. Meredith walked back 10 hiB
seat and sat down.
After order had been restored. Mr. Mer-
edth arose and protnsted amid laughter
that he was not excited but THAI q gem
tcman could hardly do here WHIST he
might do elsewhere with this parting
shot he closed his speech ana Immediate
" the house which was nj a high ten