The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-13
Mr.. Combs and Mr.. Caruth Take the
Role of Clowns and Furnish En-
tertainment for Other Members.
SEVERAL SPIRITED TILTS
ONE GENTLEMAN ACCUSED OF HAv-
ING WHEELS IN HIS HEAD.
Plan to Protect Veterans in Office
Defeated-Salary Grab for Clerks
Rejected-PensiOn Decisions.

WASHINGTON, Feb H-Members crowd
| ed before the Speakers desk in the House
| to-day to secure consideration of the many
/ local measures which are being endangered
| by the near approach of the close of the
| session. Among the bills and resolutions
| passed were those returning war flags to
certain Michigan regiments; donating con-
| demned cannon to Des Moines, Ia; incor-
| porating the National Association of Flor
| lists; Senate bill granting puOric lands in
| Mississippi to aid in the mechanical and
| agricultural schools Of the State, and House
| bill authorizing the restoration to the pub
| lie domain of certain reservations in FIissis-
| sippi and Alabama, now held by the Navy
| Department for naval purposes.
While the House was proceeding with rou-
| tine business there was a round of applause
| from the Republican side, and then from the
| whole House, Mr.. Wilson, of Washing
| ton, long popular and witty member of
| the House, and recently elevated to the
| Senate, came the floor. He was sur
rounded by his old associates, and the House
| business was temporarily suspended by the
| heartiness of the reception accorded him.
The House then resumed consideration of
| the legislative, judicial and executive APP
| preparation bill. Mr. Picker offered SUBJ
| stitute for the provision of the bill relating
| to the working force of the Pension Office.
| The substitute proposed the same force of
| officers and clerks at present, instead of
| the reduced force reported by the appropria-
| tion Mr.. Picker said the executive au-
thorities We're afraid to assume the respon-
| sibility for discharging old soldier clerks,
and trying to unload the responsibility
on to Congress.
| MIR. Milliken also spoke against this I'm
| sidious plan of oustng the old veterans
| and leaving them in their old age like aban-
| doned hulks
| Mr.. Coombs defended the pension item of
| the bill against criticism. He then branched
| off into in financial speech. Mr.. Bland
| and Mr.. Snodgrass sought to interpose ard
| the counter assertions became so warm that
| Mr.. Coombs appealed to the Chair for pro-
| lection. He said Congress had shut its eyes
| to the recommendations of the President.
| No wonder credit was no longer as good
| abroad as it was at home. No wonder our
| securities were returning. IF you allow
| the country's credit to fail before the
| world said Mr.. Coombs, 'it will cost us
untold millions; it will bring ruin mad
| destruction exceeding that of the rebellion"
| Mr.. Snodgrass interposed the point of
/ order that Mr.. Coombs was maligning the
| upper branch of Congress because a free
| silver bill had to-day been reported to that
body
There was great confusion and laughter as
Mr.. Coombs excitedly demanded protection
Another uproar arose when Mr.. Van
Coombs He arraigned the administration
for it's course the financial question
Il make the point that the gentleman is
| out of order in criticising the chief ex-
| ecutive," interposed Mr. COMBS
;. There was some more laughter and
| lively exchange between Mr. Coombs and
Mr.. Van Voorhis, which could not be heard
above the confusion.
The gentleman has wheels in his head"
| said Van Voorhis, resuming. IT had sus-
| pected as much but now he has proved it -
Mr.. Coombs Joined in the general laughter
and made no further rejoinder
| Mr.. Bingham, member of the appropria-
! ton committee, said the criticisms on the
proposed reduction in pension appropriations
| was not justified, it was based on plain
business principles.
a warm exchange occurred with Mr.
Baker when that gentleman spoke of the
| one-armed clerks at the Pension Office who
Were expected to do as much as two-armed
clerks. a. '''e0
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
MIR. Bingham said Mr.. Picker could not
show his devotion to the old soldier in any
approval But he did not believe the dis
charge of veterans was contemplated.
The vote was taken on Mr.. Picklers sub
stltute, and it was defeated-69 to 1872
| When the bill was reported back to the
House the contest was resumed against the
provision for annual clerks to Congress- Mr.
| Dockery pointed out that the annual clerks
| would cost 1856, 900 before the next Congress
actually assembled.
The intensity of feeling aroused by the
struggle brought out many humorous incl
dents. Mr.. Dearmond criticised the "con-
gressional vultures."
4 Mr.. Bartlett resented the imputation, and
declared that Mr.. Dearmond was not vul-
ture, but a raven, continually croaking
'never more" Mr. Bartlett said his fight
In behalf of the clerks involved nothing per-
sonal to himself, as he was serving in Con-
gress at a loss of his New York law prac-
tice worth Sc, 900 annually.
Thereupon Mr.. Caruth created much
amusement by running up the aisle and
pleading that his abandoned law practice
be turned over to him
| Mr.. Dockery finally cut off the lively de-
bate by moving the previous question, which
was ordered. A yea and nay vote then
| taken the amendment for the annual
| clerks and it was defeated-yeaS, SO; nays
142. Most of the Republicans voted for the
| clerks and the Democrats against them.
The Democrats who voted yea are: Bart
lett, Boatner Cadmus, Cobb of Missouri
Cockrell, Cooper of Florida, Grain, Davey,
Everett, Griffin, Haines, Hayes, Kribbs, Lay
ton, Livingston, McAleer, Meredith, Meyer
| following Republicans voted in the negative
| Brosus, Daniels Hit, Lucas, Scranton and
| Wadsworth.
| The legislative appropriation bill was then
| passed without division and the House, at
| 4:25 p. M adjourned.
| PENSION RJTIUNGS