The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-01-16
In THE HOUSE
Oratory Reaarding Pensions and Criticism of
the Administration


the Administratio
WASHING TON, Jan. Is. - Another day
was onsunied by the house in oratory
upon the pen sion appropriation bill, in the
course of which the policy cf the present
administration toward the veterns was
scored by both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis and defen ded by two or three Demo.
Gratis The notable incident of the debate
was the attack made by Mr.. Grow of Penn
sylvania upon VIII at he termed the ''extra-
ordinary attempt by the preside mt and his
clerks to encroach upon the prer)gatives of
the legislative branch of the government. "
He denounced Secretary CARL sic for send
ing a financial bill to congress- and the ac-
ton of the president in having read the
famous letter to Mr. Catchings on the Will
son bill just before vote on the bill
which, he said, was an attempt to influ.
euce the vote. Congress should resent
silch encroachments upon its prerogra-
ives, Mr.. Grow declared.
Mr.. Walsh, Democrat. of Georgia, did
not think the provision of the law a proper
one which compels widow to show that
she depends upon her daily la Dor for sup
port before she can secure pension.
Mr., Mccall. Republic an, of Tennessee,
beley ed the pension laws were good but
were Tot enforced in the proper spirit.
Mr.. HIanley, Republican, of Indiana,
spoke i n favor of an amendment providing
for the restoration to the rolls of pension
ers drol ,ped therefrom.
Mr.. III Erdin thought the debt to the SOL
der had never been paid, and favored more
liberal pt VISIONS.
Mr.. La eey, Republican, of Iowa, predict
ed that the 100000 cases of pensioners
dropped or suspended from the rolls by the
mic no
by the lext administration and many of
them rest, ,red, and asked that nothing be
done to pr svent a review by one commits
sioner of is predecessors work.
Mr.. Mill les, Republican, of Michigan,
wanted eve, " soldier who served ninety
days to hav a pension.
Mr.. Crowt her, Republican, of Missouri,
advocated th q hearing of pension cases in
state rather than federal courts.
MIR. Low, Republican, of New York, and
Mr.. Spauldi sg, Republican, of Michigan,
spoke in favor of the bill and both believed
pension sho uld be q vested right.
Mr.. Picker, Republican, of South Da-
kota, chairma of the committee on invalid
pensions, stat ed that the present bill did
not, in the est nation of the committee, go
far enough. 1,he committee would draw
up and present a bill bearing on the adj
ministration o t pension laws and to faclli-
tate the taking of testimony.
dloWs SlluSy ~
opposed the idea of communications being
sent to the house by the president and
cabinet officers for the purpose of creating
legisl alton and referred to the letter sent
by the president to Mr.. Catchings.
"This house," he said, ''should resent
any at tempt by the president or his clerks
to dictate legislation to the house"
The speaker announced the appoint
ment of Allen of Utah to the committee on
public lands, in place of Curtis of Kansas,
resigned.
On motion of Bowers, Republican, Cali
fornia, the bill was passed authorizing the
secretary of the interior, under regua-
tons to be fixed by him, to permit the use
of right of way upon public lands for the
purpose of generating electric power.
George B. Mcclellan was declared
elected from the Twelfth district of New
York.
"A free home bill,'' making actual resi-
dence on railroad land grants unneces-
sary where lands had been fenced and inn
proved. WAS passed.
At 4 80 p. IN. the house adjourned until
Tomorrow,