The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-24
Where Money for the In
dianS Went.
Senators Denounced a Publ
cation in New York Sun.
Pension Talk and Annual Sum
Awarded Mrs. Gresham.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2i.-Mr Gallinger,
(Rep., n. H., } chairman of the commit
tee on pensions, rose on a question Of per-
sonal privilege when the Senate assembled
today and in vigorous language de-
nounced publication in the New York
Sun purporting TO report the action of
the Senate in passing a number OF private
pension bills last Tuesday. 1t had been
asserted that all records had been broken
"by the Senate mill' 100 bills being pass
ed in an hour, with little or no attention
or consideration, few Senators being
present, etc.
Mr. Gallinger declared that this was at
issue OF Misrepresentation, 81 bills were
passed in two aud three quarter hours
ana the total increase was Sl2,072 per
year The Senator was very caustic con-
cerning the violation of journalistic priv
ileges.
MIR. Hoar rep Mass added his
opinion as TO the care with which PEN
sion legislation was guarded, each bill
passing the inspection of Senate and House
committees greater in number than the
mem hershuip of the Supreme Court or
court of appeals.
Mr. Hawiey (Rep., Conn., said it was
impossible for newspaper 10 avoid being
led into occasional error. He fully up
nelu the lhCls Dy LHe CndlIIlhn "
the pensions committee, but Mr.. Haley
added that there as quite a prevalent
feeling against large pensions expendi-
lures
Nj. Callinger called up the bill granting
pension to the widow of the late Walter
q. Gresham as brigadier-general at 200
per month, with an amendment reduced
the allowance to s100 month.
Mr.. Turpie (Dem., Ind, spoke in sup
port of thcAsmended bill. He said the
choice of Mr.. Gresham as Secretary of
State took the country by surprise. Mr..
Gresham had never been known as a mem
ber of the Democratic party and his
choice was regarded as marked uepar-
ture from established usage. He stood
at the front of the Republican party and
he now entered into Democratic avocation
in which he had no close personal friend
ship. At the outset he was threatened
with isolation, but his bonhomie won
him personal fr ends. while his su bstan-
tial ability and tact commanded respect.
Mr.. Turpie spoke of the difficulties in
the Hawaiian and Behring Sea complica-
tions, and the tremendous labor involved
therein, labor greater than that falling
on the shoulders OF any Secretary of State
since the war. A low of justice was the
absorbing motive of his life, political
ana social distinctions disappearing be-
fore this controlling trait Of his charac-
ter. lie was natural leader of men, on
the field, in the judiciary, in the cabi-
nets of the two parties, as though nature
had endowed him with some strange
right of primogeniture. The Senator
reviewed the Secretary's career as a sol
dier, statesman and iurist.
| !: At the conclusion OF Senatorr Turpie's
remarks, the bill as amended, Mt Zoo,
was passed without division.
| The resolution of Mr.. Lodge, directing
the finance committee to inquire into the
circumstances of bond issues during 1884,
1886 was taken up. Mr.. PETER offered an
amendment broadening the resolution
and directing that it ne made by special
committee of five Senators.
Mr.. Lodge movet to lay the PETER
amendment 'on the table. Mr.. Hill had
sought to discuss the subject, but Mr..
Lodges motion to table cut off debate,
the Massachusetts Senator remarking that
the express purpose was to prevent
lengthy discussion.
81 shall find an opportunity to express
my views on the subject interiected
Mr.. Hill.
The motion to table was defeated; yeas
1,6 nays 81.
| Mr.. Hill said he voted against the tab
ling of the resolution as he thought il
desira bic 10 discuss IL. He regarded the
Lodge resolution as proper in form. Civ
ing due courtesy TO the Secretary of the
Treasury. But he did not consider it the
province OF the Senate TO investigate.