St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-03

600 had been added to the rolls: the
second year 100000; the third year
go, 900. Mr.. O'Neill took occasion in the
course of his speech to defend the
course OF
COMMISSIONER LOCHREN.
In reply to inquiries, he said that he
believed the amount carried by the bill
would meet the demands for all just
pensions.
Did l understand you to say that
there were many fraudulent pensioners
on the rolls?" asked Mr.. Pickler.
You did not understand me 10 say
anything of the kind" replied MIR.
O'Neill, sharply.
We'll, say it." interposed Mr.. Mere
dith Oem., Va.). land l will give you
proof i'll the morning"
Mr.. Grout, of Vermont, followed with
an assault on Commissioner Lochren'S
action in his wholesale suspension OF
pensions. He concluded with glowing
tribute to the valor, bravery and pat
riotism of the Union veterans.
MIR. Meredith Dem., Va.) made
rather sensational speech. He said
that he protested against the pension
roll of dlshonor in the name of state
that had paid three times as much pen
sions as Vermont.
That's because there are more of
| you," suggested Mr.. Grout.
But we get no benefit" returned
Mr:Meredlth.
That's because you were on the
wrong side" suggested Mr.. johnson
| Qtep., Ind.)
whether a man is patriot or
rebel,'' retorted Mr.. Meredith. 'depends
| upon the result. Success makes patriot
OF him whom defeat makes rebel.
| That was the case III 1776."
Nj n -
which he said made him believe that
there were hundreds and thousands of
fraudulent pensioners on the rolls. Dur
ing the progress of his speech he de-
nounced the Republicans for refusing
to vote when the Seigniorage bill was up.
"Why did you not count uS?" asked
| Mr. Reed.
"It they had put me in the CHAIR" re-
| piled MIR. Meredith, II would have ad-
| miniStered TO you your own medicine. l
would have counted you" Republican
applause.J
Il am glad to find there is one man
| Of some sense on that side" reported
| MIR. Reed. [Laughter.]
| Later, in referring to some cases in
his state of negro pensioners. MIR.
Meredith said that only negroes got
| pen ions in MS country.
That is because they were the only
people who were loyal said Mr..
Baker rep, n. H.
"According to your idea of loyalty"
replied MIR. Meredith, "there were no
loyal men i'll my country, and L am
| proud of it."
Toward the end of Mr.. Meredith's
| speech
a MOST EXCITING SCENE
| occurred, which almost eYentuated in
! personal collision between him and Mr..
| Funk, Of Illinois. Mr.. Meredith was
still talking about fraudulent pensions,
| and was having an animated alterca-
| tion with Mr.. Baker, OF New Hamp-
| shire, over a case which had come under
his (MeredIth's) personal observation
| where Union soldier was obtaining a
| pension for a disability which he (Mere
ditD claimed he did not have.
"lf | can judge from the fact that a
man seems healthy and strong," said
he, land yet gets pension by reason
of a disability, When see him day by
| day, week by week, and year by year,
in my plain. homespun, country way of
| speaking, / say that L believe that the
man lied when he went before the
officials and swore that he had been
crippled in the army"
II want to say, If the gentleman is
honest" interrupted Mr.. Funk (Rep.,
| Ill.). rising in his place. land is stating
what he believes to be true, that, If he
does not make the case known to the
proper authorities, he is not a good
| Citizen"
IL want to say this" returned Mr..
Meredith. hotly, ''that if the gentleman
undertakes TO inSinuate that L am dis
| honest; if the gentleman undertakes
| to-"
Without completing his sentence, Mr..
Meredith left his place to the right Of
the speakers chair and
HURRIED OVER
to where Mr.. Funk was standing in a
side aisle to the left.
Il did not say So" protested Mr.
| Funk, as Mr.. Meredith advanced to-
wards him in threatening manner.
''YOu had better not say sO," returned
| Mr.. Meredith, still advancing up the
aisle. A personal encounter was immi-
nent. Members crowded down about
the beligerents amid the most intense
excitement and confusion. They were
both talking at the same time. Finally
Mr.. Meredith clinched his fist and shook
it under the nose OF his adversary. By
this time Mr.. Funk, who had previously
displayed no feeling, shouted out some
thing about standing by what he had
said. Mr.. Meredith again assumed a
threatening posture, but the members
who had crowded around gently took
him by the shoulders. as If to prevent
a blow from being struck. All this
time MIR. Cultivate, who was presiding
on the committee of the whole. was
pounding vigorously for order, but
without effect, and Speaker Crisp. who
had been hurriedly sent for, mounted
the rostrum and assumed the gaveI, as
he is allowed under the rules to do
when the house is in committee Of the
whole in times of
GREAT DISORDER.
81 undertake To say that you are not
my keeper" said Mr.. Meredith, as he
was backed down the aisle by his
friends.
II stand by that proposition, shouted
back Mr.. Funk, who was held on one
side by Mr.. Doolittle and on the other
by Mr.. Payne, 'either here or anywhere
else"
A few sharp raps of the speakers
gavel produced measure of quiet. The
house recognized the hand of the pre-
siding officer.
1.-The sergeant-at-arms will cause the
gentlemen 10 be seated,' said the
speaker in firm tones.
Every gentleman will be seated" he
continued.
| ne assistant sergeant alarms rap
idly cleared the aiSles, and the members
resumed their seats. The excitement
quieted dewn.
Mr.. Meredith walked back to fhis
seat and sat down. After order had
been restored Mr.. Meredith arose and
protested, amid laughter, that ne was
not excited, but that gentlemen could
hardly do here what they might do else.
where. With this parting shot he closed
his speech, and Immediately the house
which was at a high tension, on motion
of MIR. Sayres, took recess until s
O'Clock, the evening session to be de
voted to pension legislation.
There were forty-two members pres
ent when the house met at o'clock
after the recess, for the consideration
of private pension bills. The first bill
taken up was to increase the pension OF
Addison M. Cofens from $50 to $50 pei
hi