The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-13

/ Governmental Appropriation Bill Contain
ing the Provision to Cut Down the Force
of Officers and Clerks in the PensiO,
Office Denounced as the Attempt of thu
Executive Branch to Discharge UniOI
Veterans and Leave Congress the Blame
of It--Vote on the Annual Clerk Clause
| Humors of the Session.
| washington, Feb. 12-Members
| crowded before the speakers desk i'll
| he house today to secure consideration
! # the many local measures which are
| being endangered by the near ap-
proach of the close Of the session.
Among the bills and resolutions passed
| We're those returning war flags to GER
| tain Michigan regiments; donating
| condemned cannon to Des Moines. Ia;
| Incorporating the National Asssocia-
| ion OF Florists; the senate bill grant
| ing public lands in Mississippi TO aid in
| the mechanical and agricultural schools
| Of the state and the house bill authoriz-
ing the restartion to the public domain
Of certain reservations in Mississippi
and Alabama now held by the naval de-
partment for naval purposes.
While the house was proceeding with
routine business there was round of
applause from the Republican side and
then from the whole house as Mr.. VIII
son Of Washington, long a popular and
witty member of the house and recent
ly elevated to the senate, came on the
floor. He was surrounded by his old
associates and the house business was
temporarily suspended by the hearth
ness of the reception accorded him.
The house then resumed considera-
ton of the executive, judicial and leg
islative appropriation bill. Mr.. Picker
(Rep. S. D., offered substitute for
the provision of the bill relating to the
working force of the pension office.
The substitute proposed thes anne force
of officers and clerks as at present in
stead of the reduced force reported by
the appropriation
MORE VENOM THAN COURAGE.
Mr. Picker said the executive au-
thorities We're afraid to assume the re
sponsibility for discharging old sold
Ter clerks and We're trying to unload
the responsibility onto congress. Mr..
Milliken Rep. Me- also spoke against
this ''insidiouS plan of ousting the old
veterans" and leaving them in their old
age like abandoned hullIs.
Mr.. Coombs Dem. n. y, defended
the pension item of the bill against crit
icism. He then branched off into a
financial speech.
Mr. Bland Oem. MOI, and Mr.. Snod-
grass Oem. TENN, sought to interpose
and the counter assertions became so
warm that Mr.. Coombs appealed TO the
chair for protection He said congress
had shut its eyes to the recommended
ton of the president. No wonder our
credit was no longer good abroad as it
was at home. No wonder our securi-
ties were returning. IF you allow the
country's credit to fall before the
world said Mr.. Coombs, lit will cost
us untold millions; it will bring ruin
and destruction exceeding that OF the
rebellion
Mr.. Snodgrass interposed the point
Of order that Mr., Coombs was malign-
ing the upper branch of congress be-
cause a free silver bill had today been
reported to that body.
HE DEMANDS PROTECTION.
There was great confusion and laugh
ter as Mr. Coombs eXcitedly demanded
protection. Another uproar arose when
Mr.. Van Voorhis CRep. n. W, replied
to Mr.. Coombs. He arraigned the ad-
miniStration for its course on the finan-
cial question. Il make the point that
icizing the chief executive, interposed
Mr.. Coombs. There was some more
laughter and a lively exchange be-
tween Mr.. Coombs and Mr.. Van Voor-
his which could not be heard above the
confusion.
THE gentleman has wheels in his
head said Mr. Van Voorhis resuming.
Il had suspected as much but now he
has proved IL.
Mr.. Coombs joined in the general
laughter but made no further rejoind-
er.
Mr. Bingham Rep. PENN, member
of the appropriations committee, said
the criticism of the proposed reduction
in the pension appropriations was not
justified, as it was based on plain bust
ness principles. A warm exchange oc-
CURED with Mr.. Baker Rep. n. HI,
when that gentleman spoke of the one
armed clerks at the pension office who
were expected to do as much as the two
armed clerks.
GOD HAS FIXED THAT.
"Why do you not put it in the statute
if a one armed clerk is not to do as
much as a two armed clerk?" asked
Mr. Bingham.
Because God Almighty has put it
in his statute declared Mr.. Baker.
MI Bingham said Mr.. Picker could
not show his devotion for the old SOL
diers in any way which would not have
his (Binghams( approval, but he did /
not believe the discharge of veterans
was contemplated. The vote was TAX
en- on Mr.. Pickler's substitute and it |
was defeated, 90 TO 1872.
When the bill was reported back to I
the house the contest was resumed |
against the provision for annual clerks I
TO congress. Mr.. Dockery pointed out /
that the annual clerks would cost $685. /
coo before the next congress actually /
assembled.
The intensity of feeling aroused by ,
the struggle brought out more humor- !
Gus incidents. Mr.. Dearmond Dem. !
MOI, criticized congressional vultures. /
Mr.. Bartlett resented the imputation /
and declared that Mr.. Dearmend was
not a vulture, but raven continually |
croaking "Nevermore"
CARUTH WANTS A JOB.
Mr.. Bartlett said his fight in behalf /
of clerks involved nothing personal to 4
himself as he was serving in congress
at-a loss of his New York practice /
worth $4,000 annually.
Thereupon Mr.. Caruth Dem. XIV. I
created much amusement by running
up the aisle and pleading that this
abandoned law practice be turned over
TO him.
Mr., Dockery finally cut of the lively |
debate by moving the previous cues /
ton which was ordered. \ yea and |
nay vote was then taken on the amend
ment for the annual clerks and il was
IS. nays li2 Most Of the
voted for the clerks and 1
the Democrats against. The Demo-
Gratis who voted yea are: Bartlett. 4
Boatner. Cadmus Cobb CAIo.). Cockreu.
cooper ltla), Grain. Davey. Everett,
Griffin. Haines, Hayes. Pigott. Robert
son, Rusk and Turpin