Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-17
P'RAYIN G FOR CUBA
The House Chaplain Asks Aid for the
Insurgents .
His Prayer is Observation-Disclosures
of the Pensions Appropriation
Bill Resumed.

There was most unusual demonstration
at the opening of the session Of the House
today. The blind chaplain, whose ardent
Americanism has frequently occasioned
remark, prayed fervently today for "str'lg-
Cling Cuba" and the success OF her bat
tie for independence.,'. When he concluded
the sentiments he had expressed were
given hearty round Of applause.
/ On motion OF Mr. Gamble IS. d. bill
was passed granting to the city Of Cham
berlin, S. D., thefadght to use American
Island, in the Sioux indian reservation.
The Presidents special message urging
the necessity Y6r Immediate legislation to
extend the limit 81 time allowed the gov,
eminent I'm Wh4chsto bring suits to annuf
grants of public lands was laid before we
House and referred to the committee on
public lands. $3.50
The House then went into committee Of
the whole for, the consideration OF the
pension appropriation bill.
The general debate on the bill closed
yesterday and Nhs iabill was today open to
amendment under. the five-minute rule
Mr.. steeie,s Amendment.
Mr.. Steele Qhd.J y offered an amendment
in the shape .ef q proviso requiring the
commissioner of pensions to make public
all rules and regulations regarding the
prosecution of cases In matters OF evil
dence to conform to the rules of the courts
and to give claimants and attorneys prose-
cutting cases access to all documents and
papers relating to the cases with which
they were connected.
Mr.. Bartlett IN. W raised the point OF
order that the amendment changed exist
ing law.
The chair sustained the point of order.
. More Points of Order.
Mr. Herman (Ore.) offered an amendment
| which was practically per diem pension
bill, that also went down under point OF
| order. Mr.. Mahon Pa) offered an amend
| ment declaring pension to be vested
right, not to be suspended on charges OF
| fraud until such charges had been proven
| in a court Of law, "A point of order was
reserved against this amendment, which
| was temporarily passed over to allow. Mr.
| Bartlett to raise his point of order against
| the provision in the bill requiring widow
to prove that her met income does no
exceed $500 before she can receive pen
| sion under the act of 1880. The presen
| law requires that widow under the act Of
| 1890 shall prove that she is dependent OF
| her daily labor for support -1":-E
| This was the clause in the bill agains
| which Mr. Bartlett had been directing hi!
as sault throughout the week.
The point of order was that 1t changed
| existing law. The point was sharply con
| tested by several republicans.
l. They corterded that the provisions of The
| bill simply construed the act Of 1880 anc
did not change it, 1t Interpreted the word!
/ in the law without other means of sup
port to mean not to exceed a net income
of $500 year Mr.. Dockery CAIo) took the
position, as a friend of the provision, tina
| the chair should rot be embarrassed by be
ing forced to rule on a very questionable
should be directed to Mr.. Bartlett to induce
| him to withdraw his point.