Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12
AGED AND INFIRM
The Bill for a National Colored
Peoples Home.
De BATE IN CONGRESS TODAY
Disposing Of tho Leftover + reed
mans Bureau Funds.
T H E TIES KE N

In the House this morning Mr. Outhwaite
of Ohio secured unanimous consent for the
consideration of the bill reported from the
committee on military affairs. appropriate
ing 100000 for the erection of a national
home for aged and infirm colored people
The money is to come from a fund in the
treasury set aside and belonging to the
estates of colored soldiers, but the bene-
nciaries OF which cannot establish technical
claim to the sums. While it is proposed to
erect the home in the District, 1t is to be
strictly national affair. The report of the
committee. accompanying the bill, reviews
the history or the accumulation Of this
Iund In the treasury and says:
w hen the bureau (referring to the Freed
mans bureaW was discontinued in 1872 the
unexpended balance OF said funds was turn
cd over TO the adjutant generals depart
ment for disbursement, and every effort
was made to hnd the persons entitled there
10. In many instances 1t was ascertaiued
that the payees were dead. and in all such
cases the funds were held for seven years
and then repaid into the treasury on the
legal presumption Of the death of the
payees. The total amount repaid was 1884,
wv. In 1852 1t was found that more than
one-half OF that sum had been claimed, the
$40 233
Your committee find that while all Of the
money has been claimed land In many in
staEces as many as ~ persons from as
m any different states filed claims as the
lawful heirs of one deceased soldier since
Inc date of that report there still remains
IN the treasury at least $4,000, which, un-
der existing conditions. can never be paid
cut on account of the utter insufficiency Of
the proof furnished to establish the claims
Ihere have been numerous requests made
by. the colored people generally to apply the
sum FOR the advancement and benent Of
their race. but as there was no law In ex-
istence whereby this money could be so
Used no progress was ever made.
In 1888 a number of coiored men in the
Dis trict of Columbia formed a corporation
Tor the purpose of establishing and main
tanning home for the aged and infirm col
cred people OF the United States, and by
private subscription have acquired tract
OF land sufficient to erect suitable home
thereon and have come to Congress for a
transfer to them for that purpose of q
portion of the fund In the treasury, which
justly. equitably, and legally belongs to the
Cclored people.
There is no question but that the
aged colored people who were once
slaves are more subject to restitution and
require charitable aid more than any other
class Of people in the United States, and as
II Is not the province of this government to
establish charitable Institutions. but rather
assist those already established in the Dis
trict, these people suffer for want of an In
stitution of their own. There are at the
present time only ten colored people per-
mitted admittance in the charitable insti-
tutions in the District of Columbia on ac-
count of a lack of accommodations. and
those are provided for in the basement OF
the Children's Asylum on Sth street: there
fore IL is eminently proper that they should
receive recognition to such an extent as
will enable them to care for the needy and
aged of their own race out of the funds
which really belong TO them and are with
held in the United States treasury.
BY taking this money for the purpose set
nj IN ri M NT1 ra1 a1a xl,a
benefit and use OF the fund that rightfully
belongs to them. and which. IL not appro-
priated for their use. or some other. will
lie idle in the treasury of the United States
until some distribution is made of 1t. The
fact should clearly be borne in mind tn At
this fund wocld be paid to the heirs of the
decea led colored soldiers II proper proof
could be made. but, inasmuch ms the re-
qrirements Of the department cannot be
complied with, and satisfactory regulations
as TO Identification of the claimants cannot
now be made. unless some legislative action
is taken whereby the money can be utiiized
for the benefit of these people, 1t will re-
main where 1t IS, and the race Of people
who are entitled to every penny Ct it will
be deprived Of what is Justly due them"
FavorinE the Bill.
Mr.. Cultivate explained the bill and no
one. after his explanation, seemed to OBJ
ject to 1t. until Mr.. Cannon of Ilionis sug-
ges tee that in the future Congress might be
called upon to appropriate for the support
OF the inmates. Mr.. Cultivate assured
Rim that such Is not the intention of the
promoters of the home. and an amendment
would be accepted clearly defining this.
Mr.. Murray. the colored Congressman
from South Carolina, said he hoped this
bill will pass, as it is in a worthy cause
There are a great many aged and infrm
colored people in the states who have no
resources In the way of charitable insti-
tptions, and he hoped this money would be
from the fund beloNying to the
colored people. At a later time he would
introduce bill to appropriate the balance
of the sum for the purpose of erecting in
dustrial institutions for the training of
colored youth. There is a great need in
this country for such institutions He be-
lieved In training the colored people accord
Ing to their condition. There are two such
Institutions now in existence, and they are
doing noble and valuable work.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois offered an amend
ment providing that the home shall never
become charge upon the United States
treasury. This was accepted and then Mr.
Cannon offered another amendment pro-
viding that II residents of the District Of
Columbia became inmates Of the home and
are supported in whole or in part by Con-
gress, one-half of the charge shall come
out of the revenues Of the District
p Mr.. Savers Of Texas moved to amend Mr.
Cannon's amendment by requiring the en-
tire cost of maintenance of District in
mates to be paid by the District Mr.
Sayers amendment was adopted, however
and the vote required upon Mr.. Cannon's
amendment as amended by Mr. Savers.
Mir. Cannon was defeated on rising vote
and vote by tellers, whereupon he made
the point of no quorum. and the roll was
called.
On tine yea and nay vote Mr.. Cannon's
amendment was agreed to by a vote Of l13
to 107.
At this point Mr.. De Almond of Missouri
moved TO commit the bill to the appropria-
lions committee, which was lost by a vote
OF A yeas to 113 nays.
The question then REQUIRED on the passage
or the Dill, and lO2 yeas arose on stand
ing vote to 20 nays. The negative vote was,
with one or two exceptions, entirely by
southern members
Mr. De Almond was not satisfied with
this defeat however, and made the point OF
no quorum, whereupon the yeas and nays
were again called.