The morning call., 1895-02-13
HILiRTTY IN THE HOUSE.
And Then the Lawmakers EOted to Favor
the Veterans.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-Members crowded be-
fore the Speakers desk in the House to-day to
secure consideration of many local measures,
which are being endangered by the near ap-
proach of the close of the session. Among the
bills and resolutions passed were those regard
ing war claims to certain Michigan regiments,
donating condemned cannon TO Des Mo1nes,
a., and incorporating the national association
of florists. The Senate bill granting public
lands in Mississippi to aid in the mechanical
and agricultural schools of the State, and the
House bill authorizing the restoration to the
public domain of certain reservations in Miss
issippi and Alabama now held by the Navy
Department for naval purposes, were passed.
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.. Wilson of Washington, long a
popular and witty member OF the House, and
recently elevated to the Senate, came on the
floor. He was surrounded by his old associates,
and the House business was temporarily sus-
pended by the heartiness of the reception ac-
corded him.
The House then resumed consideration of
the legislative, judicial and executive appro-
priation bill. Picker (R.) of South Dakota
offered a substitute for the provision OF the
bill relating TO the working-force of the Pen
sion Office The substitute proposed the same
force of officers and clerks as at present instead
of the reduced force reported by the appro-
priation. Picker said the executive boards
were afraid to assume the responsibility for
discharging old soldier clerks and were trying
to unload the responsibility on to Congress
Milliken (R.) of Maine also spoke against this
''insidious plan of ousting the old veterans"
and leaving them in their old age like aban-
doned hulks.
Coombs (D.) of New York defended the PEN
sion item of the bill against criticism. He
then branched off into financial speech.
Mr.. Bland d. of Missouri and Snodgrass
(D.) of Tennessee sought to interpose, and the
counter assertions became so warm that
Coombs appealed to the chair for protection.
He said Congress had shut its eyes TO the
recommendations of the President No Won
der'our securities were returning.
''If you allow the countrys credit to fail be-
fore the world" said Coombs ''it will cost us
untold millions; it viii bring a ruin and de-
struction exceeding that of the rebellion"
Snodgrass interposed the point of order that
Coombs was maligning the upper branch of
Congress because q free silver bill had to-day
been reported to that body. There was great
confusion and laughter as Coombs excitedly
demanded protection.
Another uproar arose when Van Voorhis (R)
of New York replied TO Coombs. He arraigned
the administration for its course on the fnan-
cial question.
''I make the point that the gentleman is out
of order in criticizing the Chief Executive"
interposed Coombs.
There was some more laughter and lively
exchange between Coombs and Van Voorhis
which could not be heard above the confusion.
"The gentleman has wheels in his head"
said Van Voorhis, resuming. 'I had sus-
pected as much, but now he has proved it,"
Coombs joined in the general laughter and
made no further rejoinder to it.
Bingham R.) S member OF the Appropria-
ton Committee, said the criticism on the sup
posed reductions in pension appropriations
was not justified, as 1t WAS based on business
principles A warm exchange occurred with
Baker (R.) of New Hampshire when that gem
tleman spoke of the oHe-armed clerks at the
Pension Office who were expected to do as
much as two-armed clerks.
''Why do you not put it in the statute if one
armed clerk is not to do as much as two
armed clerk?" asked Bingham.
because God Almighty has put it in his stat
ute,' declared Baker.
Bingham said Picker could not show his deyo
ton for theold soldiers in any way which would
not have his (Bingham's) approval, but he did
not believe the discharge of veterans was con-
templated. The vote was taken on Pickler's
substitute and it was defeated-69 to 132.
When this bill was reported back to the
House the contest was resumed against the
provision for annual clerks to Congress. Mr..
Doekery pointed out that the annual clerks
would cost 1855 900 before the next Congress
actually assembled.
The intensity of feeling aroused by the strug-
gle brought out many humorous incidents.
Mr. De Almond tDem.), Missouri, criticized
Congressional vultures."
Mr.. Bartlett resented the imputation and de-
clared that Mr.. De Almond was not vulture,
but a raven, continually croaking "never
more"
MI Bartlett said his fight in behalf of clerks
involved nothing personal TO himself, as he was
serving in Congress at a loss of his New York
law practice worth $25, 900 annually.
Thereupon Mr.. Caruth (Dem.) of Kentucky
created much amusement by running up the
aisle and pleading that this abandoned law
practice be turned over to him.
Dockery finally cut off the lively debate by
moving the previous question, which was or
dered.
An aye and no vote was then taken On the
amendment for the annual clerks and it was
defeated-ayes "a, noes 142. Most OF the Re-
publicsns voted for the clerks and the Demo-
Gratis against. The Democrats who voted aye
are: Bartlett, Boatner, Cadmus, Cobb OF Mis-
souri,, Cockrell, Cooper of Florida. Gran, Davey,
Everett, Griffin, Haines, Hayes, Kribb, Layton,
Livingston, McAleer, Meredith, Meyer, Pigott,
Robertson, Rusk and Turpin. The following
Republicans voted in the negative: Brosius,
Daniels, Hit, Lucas, Scranton and Wadsworth.
The legislative appropriation bill was then
passed without division, and the House at4:25
P. N. adjourned.