The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-23
mains that it is, pro tanto, q change Of exist

remains that It is, pro tanto change Of exist
ing law.
There can be no doubt about that. Other
wise the tariff law which passed the House the
other day might DO proposed as an amendment
to the sundry civil appropriation BILL to the
| paragraph providing for customs, on the ground
| that it did not propose TO change permanently
the existing law-only to suspend it-and was
limited in its operation to two and half years.
If an act of the legislative power changes .
law upon the statute book for single year or
| single month, for any period, longer or
shorter. it seems to the Chair that il must be .
change Of existing law. The Chair
| therefore sustains the point Of order. after ex-
pressing his sympathy with The supporters OF
| the provision.
| Mr.. Wood Qll.) offered an amendment pro-
| viding that pensions should be paid quarterly
| to those on the rolls at the rates now allowed
| by existing law or at such increased rates as
hereafter may be allowed.
Mr.. Bartlett made the point Of order that the
amendment changed existing law. 1t would
prevent, he said, any reduction Of rates;
would make the present rates permanent. No
pensioner could be dropped from the rolls for
fraud or any other reason. The Chair sustained
the point Of order.
Mr.. Mahon withdrew his amendment in
view of the previous rulings.
On motion of Mr.. Connolly, of Illinois, the
words because of any defect or informality in
the application" we're stricken out in the clause
allowing pensions rejected, suspended, or dis
missed to date from their first application.
Mr.. Bartlett tried his best to get ruling
against the admission of this, but the Chair sus-
tanned the amendment
Minor amendments offered were left out Of
the bill through tho exerton5 of Mr. Bartlett
and Mr.. Mills. of Maryland.
Mr.. Graf. Mr.. Chairman, desire to say, in
justice to the large number of mem bers of this
w hn huUn linn faun rahI fn
amendment which | offered. to give the PEN
sioner n vested right after the pension was adj
Indicated, that, in view of the ruling of
the Chairman Of the committee to-day,
which l consider entirely right aud proper,
propose to present the same measure to the
Committee on Invalid Pensions at the proper
time and endeavor to secure action by that COM
mittec. | do this with the more confidence
from the fact that / have been assured by the
Chairman OF that committee, the gentleman
from South Dakota (Mr. Pickler), while there
may be some differences of opinion as to the
remedy, that the Republican membership of
that committee unanimously, so far az he
knows recognize the right of soldier to have
his pension secured to him by law as a vested
right after adjudication, and that bill will be
reported from that committee at an early date
which will remedy the evil to which the
amendment calls attention.
l believe that the debate brought up by the
introduction OF that amendment has had it's
good uses in the House. am proud of the |
fact, Mr.. Chairman, that this amendment has |
succeeded in unan imously crystallzing the |
sentiment on this side of the House in favor of |
pensioner having a vested right on adjudica- |
ton of Il pension in his favor
The amendments reported from the Commit |
tee of the Whole were agreed to.
The bill as amended was ordered to be en-
crossed and read third time; and it was ac-
cordngly read the third time, and passed.
On motion Of Mr.. William A. Stone, q motion |
to reconsider the last vote was laid ON the |
table.