The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-03
FUNK SHOOK niS tlSl
When Meredith Rushed at Him with
Arms Uplifted.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE NEARLY
CAME TO BLOWS.

1t Was During Heated Discussion of the
Pension Bill-Funk Had Intimated that
Meredith Might Not Be,a Good Citizen
and Meredith Thought He Was Accused
of Lying-Mr. Reed announces that He
Is Ready To Be Counted.
Washington, March 2.-In the House
today, ex-Speaker Galusha A. Grow, by
unanimous consent was sworn in as
member at large for Pennsylvania in ad.
vance of the receipt of his credentials.
The motion WAS made by Mr.. Holman,
Democrat Of, Indiana. the father of the
House, who mentioned that it was
thirty-one years ago today since Mr..
Grow retired from the Speakers chair.
The House resolved itself into commit
tee of the whole and took up the fortifi-
cation bill. The appropriation carried
in the bill is $2,219, 564, $5.21S, 759 less
than the estimates, and 80, 500 more than
the total of the last fortfication bill. The
bill was passed after being somewhat
amended, the amendments including one
assessing half the expense OF constructing
a sewerage system at Fort Monroe
Virginia, against the hotel company and
other non-military residents Oh. the feser-
walton.
The House again went into the COM
mittee of the whole on the pension ap-
preparation bill. This bill carries an
APPROPRIATION of S151. 5s1, $40 for the
year 1S94-95, against the estimates of
$162, 631. $40 The appropriation for the
present year is $161, 53l, $50.
Mr.. O'Neill, Democrat of Massachu-
setts, chairman of the subcommittee in
charge of the bill, made statement to
show why the proposed reduction was
made in the bill from the amount of the
estimates. Mr.. O'Neill was questioned
by Mr.. Hudson, Populist of Kansas. and
Mr.. johnson, Repu blican of Indiana, as
to the policy of the pension bureau. He
answered that he did not believe the
commissioner of pensions had made any
attempt to reduce the allowance of
dition of the treasury. The force of
clerks was generally the same as under
General Raum, and was working only
under instructions to enforce the law
as they found it. An unexpected balance
of the appropriation expected to remain
at the close of the present fiscal year
would not be caused Mr.. O'NeiI said,
by the suspension OF pensions, Tor most
of the suspensions were reveKed and the
pensioners had been paid the full
amount due them.
) Mr.. Grout, Republican of Vermont,
said the amount carried in the bill, in
his opinion, would be amply sufficient
for the needs of the bureau during the
year under the present administration
and policy. He did not say it would be
all that should be expended but all that
would be. Mr.. Grout gave statistics to
show that Commissioner Lochren ad-
mitted pension claims at a rate only
one-fourth as fast as Comm issioner
Raum, who rejected but one claim out
of four, while Lochren rejected two
claims to every one allowed.
In the discussion which followed, Mr..
Meredith, Democrat of Virginia, said he
as much as the Green Mountain State for
pensions, and which got no benefit there
from. Mr.. Meredith said he and bis
people believed the pension rolls should
be a roll of honor and not contain the
names of persons not entitled to pensions
of which class there were hundreds and
thousands on the roll today.
Mr.. Grout asked for proof and Mr..
Meredith stated that he could give it.
Mr.. Hopkins, Republican of Illinois,
asked if it was not the action of the gen.
tleman's state and others south OF him
that caused the existence of that pension
roll.
Mr.. Meredith" No sir; it was due to
gentlemen who forced that issue upon us
when we wanted peace. We have no
complaint against the men entitled to
place on the pension list. 1t is against
those who began fighting Immediately
after the war and kept it up, that we
complain"
Numerous interruptions were made in
the course of Mr.. Meredith's remarks by
Republicans to question him as to the
action of the Democrats upon pension
nights in refusing to proceed with the
business of the House i'll the absence of
quorum, in violation of the practice for
many years. He answered by chargin e
that if the Repu blicans would attend
these Friday night sessions there would
be quorum.
Mr.. Livingston stated the Repu blicans
refrained from voting to break quorum
last week when the Democrats were try
ing to provide money for paying
pensions.
Mr.. .Reed-"Why did not you count us?
We were here to be counted"
Mr.. Meredith" Let me say to the gen
tleman from Maine that had l been in
the Chair would have counted you the
first one" {Republican applause.)
Mr.. Reed-"There is one man of sense
on the Dem mocratic side."
Mr.. Baker, Republican of New Hamp-
shire, requested Mr.. MerSdith to make
known the proof Of his statement that
the pension roll contained hundreds of
fraudulent names.
4 Mr.. Meredith replied that a certain
pensioner in his personal knowledge was
strong and healthfuJ. He believed the
pensioner had foresworn himself to gain
the benefit of the law. This case was, in
his opinion, the type of many others.
Mr.. Baker remarked that the gentle
man had given no proof of his statement.
Mr.. Funk. Republican of Illinois, sug-
geste that if Mr.. Meredith believed what
he said to be true and did not denounce
the pensioner to the property authority
he was not a, good citizen. This remark
was evidently understood byAr. Meredith
to be a reflection upon his verasity.
With arms uplifted and menacipg tone,
he left the place where he had been
speaking, and approaching tine desk OF
the gentleman from Illinois in the centre
almost, of the Republican seats. "If
the gentleman means to insinuate," he
shouted, that I am not telling the
truth?''
Republican mem bers crowded around
the two principal participants in the
scene and Mr.. Payne, Republican OF New
York, stood between them. Mr.. Funk
responded, as nearly az could be made
~. IL Il Fms tET did