Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-03
APPROPRIATIONS.
Fortifications Bill Calls for
S2,219,654 for 1894.
Pensions Calls for Sl5l,581,570, a
Cutdown Of SIT, 900, 900.
Democratic Reasons for This Strange Altitude
Toward Our Veterans.

the bill was passed declaring all IA DIS IN
cluded within the limit of any abandoned
military reservation, where the aeA ex
ceeds 5000 acres, with certain Exceptions,
to be hereby opened TO settlement under tbf
public land laws. There are 50 OF th'se
reservations contsining about 100000
acres. 10 81 the area exceeds 5000 acres
each.
Ex.Speaker Galusha A. Grow, by unani-
NOUS consent, was sworn in as member Al
,args for Pennsy yania, in advanc of the
recent of bis credentials. The motion war
made by Holman (Dem.) of Indiana,
Father of the House" who mentioned
that it was 81 years ago today since Mr.
Grow retired from the Speakers chair.
The House resolved itself into committed
of the whole and took up the fertilization
bill. The appropriation carried in the bill
i, s2,2lg ,G54 or s5,2lS.759 less than the
estimates, and $3.50 more tn n the lasi
forlitica,ions bill. Deba'e was confined to
brief statement, by Livingston an Bing-
ham. The LATER said the Republicans Oh
the appropri ,lious committee approved the
uenaral features Of the lid.
Amendments recommended by the com
mittee were agreed to as foiloss: Assess
rage system nc Fort Monroe, Va, sgsias
the Hotel Company and Other noa-miil!ar!
residents on the reservation; reducing from
,sGl 200 10 $50 coo the appropriation foi
carriages for field gun batteries; increas-
ing that for carriage for linen
breechioading, riiled mortars from
$50 O0O to S1j 600, AMI tna'
for expenses Of ordnance officers while en-
ployed on their construction from $4,000 to
5000 The bill was reported TO the House,
the amendments agreed to and the bill
passed.
The House again went into committee OF
the whole ON the pension appropria
ton bill. This bill carries an APP
propriation of $ljl, 58l 80 for the
wear 1896, against estimates of SlG2,-
GSi $40, and al appropriation for the
present year of $lGl ,53l,"j0. ONeiil,
chairman Of the subcommittee in charge oil
the BILL made II statement to show why tie
proposed reduction was made IN the Dill
from the amount of the estimates. O'Neil
was questioned by Hudson and Johnson as
to III. poicy of the pension business
lie answered that he di / not believe the
commissioner of pensions had made any at
tempt to reduce the allowance of pensions
because Of the depleted condition of the
treasury. The force of clerks as under
q IN. Raum was working only under in
struciions to enforce the law as tbhy found
it. The unexpenjed balance of the appro-
priation expected to remain at the close OF
the present fiscal year will not be caused
O'Nciil said, by suspension of pensions, for
most of the suspcn, ions had been revoked
and the pensioners were paid the full
amount due them.
Gront (Rep.) of Vermont said the amount
carried in the bill, in his opinion, would be
amp'y sufficient for the needs of the bureau
under the present administration and policy.
lie d | not say that it would oe all that
should be expended, but all that would be-
Grout gave statistics to show that Commits
soner Bocbren admitted pension claims at a
rate only one fourth rs fast as Comm %
sioner Rsum, who rejected but one claim
out of four, while L,chren rejected two
claim to every one allowed.
In the discussion which followed. Mere
dith Dem of Virginia said he came from
y state that paid five times as much as the
G reen Mountain state for pensions AM
which got no benefit therefrom. Meredith
said he and his people believed the pension
TOtl SnOutu It a EDil VI HVuOl dhi NV Sob
tain names of persons not entitled to pen
sion, of which class there were hundreds
and thousands on the roll today. Gou
asked for proof and Meredith stated lie
could give it.
Hopkins (Rep.) of Illinois asked if it il
not the action of the sentleman's state and
others south of him that caused the exis-
tence of that pension roll.
Meredith-No, sir. 1t is due to the & ,n-
tlemen who forced that is ne upon us when
we wanted peace. We have no complaint
against the men entitled to place on the
pension list. 1t is agiinss those who began
lighting immedi ,tely after the war and k p,
II no that we complain.
Numerous interruptions were made in the
course of Meredith's remarks by Repubh-
cans to question him as to the action of
Democrats upon pension nights. in refusing
TO proceed with the business of the House
in the absence of quorum, in violation Of
the practice for mauy years. He answered
by charging that if the Republicans wonli
attend these Friday night sessions there
would be a quorum.
Livingston stated that the Republicans re-
Trained from voting last week when the
Democrats were trying 10 provide money
for paying pensions.
Reed-Why diin't you count Us: We
were here to be couuted.
Meiidith--l.et me say 70 The gentleman
from Maine that had | been in the Chair |
would have counted you the first one. Re-
public IN spplsuse.)
Reed--There is one man of sense on the
Democratic side.
Me,i 18th stated his intention was to de-
nounce and refute the sentiments expressed
on the other side that the Democratic party
occupied the position of MULTI RS of the
pension law, and he characterized the state
ment as gratuitous, untrue and known to be
SO.
Baker requested NJ ,redith to lake KIN
the proof of his statement that the pension
roll contained hundreds of frau tulen'
names.
Meredith replied that a certain pens onel
in his personal know ledge was stroag an
heslthful. ana he believed the pen.iJnor
had foresworn himself to gain the benefit
of the law. The case was, in his opinion
the type Of many others.
Baker remarked chat the gentleman had
given no proof of hi, statement.
Funk {Rep.) of Illinois suggested that il
Meredith believed what he said to be true
.,l All nat 3.po,,pca tho nj sinnar In ths