The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-19
PENSION FOR r. B. REED. 11Ni
Not the Speaker but Sergeant Reed of Penn
sylyania.

Washington, December Is. Mr.. Evans.
Republican of Kentucky, presented in
the House today,a report of the conferees
within which the joint congressional
committee to investigate the question
of regulations for the use of free alcohol
in the arts and manufactures, shall re-
port to Congress, limiting the time to 10
days after the beginning of the next ses-
sion, which was agreed to.
rhis being private bill, under the
rules. Mr.. Bingham, Republican of
Pennsylvanis, in charge of the leGisia-
tive, executive AMI judicial appropriation
proceed with ita consideration, but OBJ
lection was made by MIR. Mahon, Repub-
lioan Of Pennsylvania, chairman OF he
committee on war claims. The bills on
the calendar reported from the commit
tae of the whole were disposed of, 81 be-
ing passed. A bill to pay $4,000 to Flora
D. Arlin, widow of Confederate gen.
eral, for money allegedsto have besn tax
en from her at the time of her arrest on
u steamer at New Orleans, when travell-
ing on safe permit granted by Gen. n.
p. Banks, was laid on the table, des pits
the favorable recommendation Of the
Committee.
These being disposed of, the Hou &c
went into the committee of the whole
to consider bills and private relief.
The first bill raised laugh, being
for the relief Of Thomas B. Reed.
in the Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry. The
bill authorized the court Of claims to
pass upon his claim for pay as SER
geant, he having been carried on the roll
as a private. The bill was passed.
A bill for the relief of James Bigler OF
New York. who owned some property in
Virginia. destroyed during the war. was
laid aside to permit Investigation int
the question as to whether it was de-
stroyed in military operations.
MIR. Dinghy suggested that II this was
tfe case, the bill opened up dangerous
field, one which Congress never before
entered-that of paying for property de-
that policy be adopted now, he said, Con-
gress would have to provide revenue to
the extent of four or five hundred mil
lions, instsa1 Of fifty or seventy mlllions.
Three or four other war claims were
considered, meeting with the usual ob1ec
tions. Upon O measure to repay $500 sub
stitute money taken from Swede draft
ed while not a citizen of the United
States, Mr.. Dingley p eaded that the sta
tute of repose should be allowed to OBJ
tain, and these claims arisIng years
after the war had closed be settled and
stay settled.
MI. Mahon, Republican of Pennsylva-
MIA, replied to this vigorously, protesting
against the government pleading the
statute of limitations after years of de.
MED Justice to claimants. In this case
MIR. Updegraff, Republican of Iowa, of
whom the claimant is q constituent, de-
neunced the action of the government as
that of highway robbery, Selling money
like a robber, by its strong arm and
retaining it because Of Its power to do
SO.
By vote OF 65 to So the committee re-
commended favorable action on the bill,
and then 1t rose.
The House passed the bill for the relief
of Thomas B. Reed amidst much amuse-
ment and some embarrassment of the
Speaker. Tie hour of O'Clock having
arrived the House took recess until
8. e. NJ.
At the night session fourteen pension
bills were read and laid aside with
favorable recommendation, and at 1890
tine House adjourned.