The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-06
POINT SCORED BY HEPBURN
Colloquy Between Mr.. Cannon and
the physical Wreck"
Features of the Pension Debate i'm the
House-PrOceedings of the Upper
Branch of Congress.

WASHINGTON, March 5-The debate on
the pension appropriation bill continued all
day in the House, and at times considerable
spirit was displayed. The principal speak,
ers were Messrs. Dolliver, Hepburn, Enloe
and Cannon. 1t is expected that the debate
will be concluded tomorrow.
Dwight L. Moody, the evangelist, who is
conducting series Of revivals here with
Mr.. Sankey, delivered the prayer this morn
ing.
MIR. Mallory asked unanimous consent to
consider che bill to amend the act of March
.. 1893. for the construction OF a bridge
across the river between New York and
Long Island City, 80 as to make the lowest
part of the superstructure 1875 instead OF 15O
feet above mean high water. Mr.. Coombs
explained that if the bill was passed it
would make its height conform to that Of
other East river bridges. There was no
objection and the bill was passed
Mr. McCreary, of the committee on for
eign affairs. asked unanimous consent for
the passage of the Senate resolution for the
appointment of commission of five TO rep
resent this government at the international
exposition, which opens at Antwerp May 5.
He had a brief statement to the effect
that the resolution carried no appropriation.
Belgium had Hospitality entertained the
monetary conference, and had been the first
country TO accept our invitation to the
worlds fair Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, con-
tended that If the commission were to be
appointed the United States should defray
Mr.. Hopkins tried to secure unanimous
consent for consideration of a bill TO
classify the railway mail service so as to
increase the number of classes from five to
seven. and fixing the maximum salary to be
paid In each instance: Mr.. Bynum de-
manded the regular order and Mr.. Rich
ar1SOn privileged resolution
for printing the eulogies the late Rep
resentative Lilly; 1t was agreed to.
The Speaker then recognized Mr.. Joseph.
the pssssse Of the bill for FN admission S 0e Of
New Mexico under suspension of the rules
This bill bad been the special order after
the second morning hour for two months.
but since the tariff fight began the House
has never passed TO the second morning
hour. other business having constantly In
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, demanded a sec
ond: The Republicans. as rule. declined
TO ana Sann t@e QUORUM 1 was Go, 6Token'
.Arter few minutes, 1t being apparent
that the Democrats alone could not muster
quorum, Mr.. Joseph withdrew the bill
and the House went into committee OF
the WHOLE on the pension appropriation Dill;
not have Obtruded himself in this debate.
ne said. were he not in receipt of letters
PATTY with the present management of the
Pension Office.
MR.. HEPBURN FIGURES
Mr.. Hepburn declared that the late Con-
federate States contributed not one dollar
to the payment of pensions. OF the $780,
100000 internal revenue tax the South paid
less than s.. 100000; of the $177 OOOO 600 custom
receipts the South paid but 100000, and
of the miscellaneous receipts less than g.
100000 $50 that" said he, addressing the
Southern members, you contribute less
than $15.OO0.0oO TO the revenues of the gov
eminent. How do you get that back? Nine
million returns as sugar bounty, 5000 900
in pensions, and s5.OOO.OOO as deficit IN
back sseS0d65 more than "s You 0 contrib etys
You contribute not cent TO Northern
pensions what dlnersnce does II make
to you what we do with out money!" (Re-
publican applause.)
The first proof of hostility to pensioners
In the fact that Grover cleveland was Pres
ident; SECOND. that .Hoke Smith was Sec
rotary of the Interior. When he (Smfth)
went into office, he continued, $4,000 appH-
cations were pending. The applicants were
OF adJudicating these cases the department
went back and suspended 1900 pensioners
whose cases were In law res adjudicata. How
did this record compare with that of his
predecessor, who, in the previous six
months, allowed 10000 claims? He denied
fraudulent pensioners.
Mr.. Enloe, who followed. said there was
the pension question. A large amount of
money was involved; a large number of
conservative. there
was a strong temptation for the dema-
gogue to exercise his calling Because the
Democratic administration sought to strike
from the pension rolls those who were
titled neither 10 the governments graft
tude nor It's bounty. the Republicans as
terror and Commissioner Lochren AS an
evidence OF the existence of fraud Mr.
E.nloe said, there had been 10 convictions
OF pension claim agents for manufacturing
testimony in pension cases. Mr. Enloe had
read a letter from Commissioner Lochren
there were between eight thousand and ten
thousand pension cases at present under
investigation where there was strong pre-
sumptive evidence of fraud.
Mr.. Tawney continued the debate In OPP
position to the pension policy Of the adj
Mr. Baldwin gave a humorous descrip-
ton OF the war dogs of the other side
charging in the serried ranks OF rebellion
ana or having himself enshrined on the
pension roll by his tender youth; Cannon,
TO escape the draft. and Picker who now
refused to smooth the front of grim visaged
war In the name OF God and a suffering
people" he concluded 'let us have neace =
daughter and applause)
Mr cannon concluded the debate for the
afternoon. In the course OF his speech he
drew General Black into a most subtle
colloquy, Mr. Cannon's purpose being 10
commit General Black to the latter's opin-
ion OF Mr. CleVeland's pension policy All
his fnesse, however, awaited him not He
first asked General Black whether when
he was Commissioner OF Pensions under the
former Cleveland administration. the Pres
idents pension vetoes did not originate in
the Pension Office.
General Black answered frankly that IL
was the custom of the President. when
private pension bill was passed. to send
Ii TO the Commissioner OF Pensions for a
statement OF the facts In the case. BY him
IL referred to the proper division for
the official statement of facts When IL
was returned to him he examined the case
gave his opinion as TO whether the claim
was permissible under the general law and
his general impression to whether the
bill should be vetoed. 1t then went back
70 the President. and ne vetoed or not. as
he chose. As 70 the matter of the depend