Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-15
POPUL|TES MAKE TROUBLE They Worry Both Democratic and Republican Senators ASKING THEM QUESTIONS Senator Mills Is Opposed to Retiring Green
 back With Bonds. PENSIONS MATTERS. OCCUPY THE HOUSE MT. Walker Was Applauded When He Stated the South's Position-Mr. Cum
 mings Creates Something Of
 Sensation.
ASKING THEM QUESTIONS
PENSIONS MATTERS. OCCUPY THE HOUSE

Washington, Jan. 14.-The private pen- sion bill granting $75 per month to the widow of Brig.-Gen. William Cogswell of Massachusetts (volunteer army) gave rise to some discussion. MT. Hill inquired as t0 the usual rate of pension allowed in such cases, and being informed by MT. Gallinger. who had reported the bill that there was no rate established by law, but that under special acts pensions were allowed all the way from $50 to $200 $75 being about an average rate. MT. Allen protested against higher pensions being given to widows of officers than were given to widows of private soldiers. He thought the discrimination was a piece of namby-pa mbyism and flunkeyism. MT. Allen was replied to by MT. Hawley who said he would not characterize Mr Aliens remarks as he would like to. but he informed him that the uniformity he advocated was absolutely impossible. There were grades of rank which the world recognized, whether the senator from Nebraska did or not. The bill passed.
 At D. m. the house bond bill, with the finance committees silver substitute was taken up. MT Butler offered an amend ment to the bill prohibiting the issue of bonds for any purpose whatever without the action of congress and requiring the payment of greenbacks, treasury notes and interest and principal of coin obliga- tions in either gold or silver coin, and he addressed the senate on the amendment.
 It would not do, he said, for either the republican or the democratic side of the chamber to evade responsibility by say Ing that it had no majority 'T pledge" he satd "six peoples party votes in this chamber to either party that will stop the further issue of bonds. and six votes will give majority on either side. In fact either party can have a majority in this body when it desires to pass any law In the interest of the American people"
 In the course of his speech MT. Butler asked MT. Hill a hypothetical question based on the idea that he CButler) had given to the senator from Ohio (Mr. Sherman) a. note payable in corn or wheat, but MT. Hill declared that the question was so long that he could not remember how 1t began.
 That is just the way with these gold bugs" said MT. Butler. "They excuse their ignorance by pleading want of memory" Uaughter)
 MT. Hill made good hlmored remark as to the question requiring some thought and as to its possibly involving lnsuperable obstacles. one instance show ing how ridiculous it was-the idea that the senator from Ohio would take the note of the senator from North Carolina for any amount. Gaughter)
 MT. Butler occupied two hours in the delivery of his speech and the floor was then taken by MT. Peffer. populist, of Kansas, who will address the senate on the bill tomorrow.
 MT. Mills offered resolutions declaring that the outstanding legal tender notes shall not be retired. canceled or funded into interest bearing bonds but shall be kept in circulation; that the whole of the silver bullion now in the treasury shall Ia nnd fII ftl tx.. for the seignkorage to be paid out in cur rent expenses and the rest in the demption of treasury notes issued for It's purchases; that whenever there is def- cit in the treasury legal tender notes shall be issued to meet current expenditures and shall be destroyed when returned to the treasury; that all laws authorizing the sale of interest bearing bonds shall be repealed; that it is the established policy of the United States not only to keep all kinds of money issued under its authority at par, but to require all cred itors public and private, to receive gold and silver coins in payment of all obli- gations where the terms of the contract stipulate for coin payment, and that it is the duty of the secretary of the treasury to pay United States notes in both gold and silver coin. He asked that the reso- lution lie on the table and gave notice that he would address the Senate on 1t tomorrow.
 The senate at 4:25 p. m. proceeded to executive business and shortly after wards adjourned until tomorrow.
 House.
 For four hours today the debate on inc general pensions appropriation bill ran along iu the house without especial in- terest the only spice of variety even be- ing the occasional efforts of MT. Bartlett of New York to defend the position he had taken in his speech yesterday in which he supported the administra ra ton by the pension bureau of the laws en- trusted to it for execution. Then Mir Cummings of New York occupied five minutes in most vigorous attack upon the policy of the pension bureau. which he declared caused union soldiers and their widows to shiyef with apprehen-f sion that they would be stabbed in the back by bureau where they should re- ceive only encomiums and support He repudiated the speech of MT. Bartfett in the name of the democracy of New York the Tammany hall democracy, which. he asserted. had always been loyal to the union and the friend of the soldier of the union He was surrounded during the delivery of his tmpa ssioned philipic by republican members. who applauded nearly every sentence.
 Mir. Walker of Virginia. who com manded the famous 'Stonewall' bri- gade, said he rose as representative of the south and as Confederate soldier who followed the fortunes of his com rades from Manassas to Appomatox, to say that, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr Hefnmingway) totally misappre- hended the sentiment of his people and the Confederate soldiers. There were none of them, he said. with possibly few exceptions, who did not sanction and ap- prove the payment of pensions to federal soldiers which would keep them from suffering and distress. (Appiause.)
 Mir. Cummings of New York made the closing speech of the day. and 1t was the. sensation of the day also. Coming imme- diately after a republicans partial de- fense of the pension bureau. ft attracted about him the members. who crowded the pit In front of the desk. MT Cum mings said:
 CT shall heartily support the amend