The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30

Pie invalid pension committee. 1t
amends the existing pension law in some
Merry important respects.
KNIT. Picker, chairman of the commit
-, addressed the house for three hours
n support of it.
Before the pension bill was taken up,
Plr. Goodwin, Populist, was seated in
place of Mr.. Cobb, Democrat, from the
Fifth Alabama district.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
n Washington, April 22.-The Fifth Ala
bama district was unrepresented in the
house. Mr.. Cobb had been unseated, but
fhe resolution seating the contestant, Mr.
Goodwin, went over till today when it
WAS adopted and Mr.. Goodwin was
Sworn in.
On motion of Mr.. Cockrell Dem.) of
HTeXas, Il bill was passed to organize the
fterritory heretofore known as Greer
tcounty, Texas, decided by the supreme
HcOurt to be part of Oklahoma) as Greer
.county, Oklahoma.
BY an amendment adopted the present
AcOunty officers were confirmed in their
Itenure until the election in November
next. On motion of Mr.. Lacey Rep.) of
Iowa, another bill was passed giving
preference to bona fide residents of Greer
county, March 16, when the decision was
made to 160 acres each and providing for
+. demonstrating the remainder of the land
4 without cost to the settlers under provi-
/ sions similar to those of the free home
\ bilf' passed some time ago.
4 The bill was passed.
Nv, D;,lylnr Of tbo onp,p,;tton o, IL,
valid pensions, then called up his pension
bill.
The bill amends the existing laws in
several important respects. 1t makes
presumption of death of an enlisted man.
if no tiding have been heard of him for
seven years; it provides that desertion or
dshonorabe discharge shall not be a
/. bar to pension under the act of 1890, if
: Tie man has served ninety days subse-
y Iuent to discharge. 1t provides that pen
fsions allowed shall date from their first
application, it fixes the maximum income
of widow entitled to pension under
the act of 1890 at $500 per annum; it
provides that no pension shall be reduced
or discontinued except for fraud or re-
covcry from disability and that the dis
continued PENSIONS when reconsidered
and allowed, shall date from their dis
continuance.
Mr.. Picker took the floor and made an
extended speech in support of the
measure. 1t added no new classes, of
pensioners to the rolls, he urged but
tralized the hardship of some of the eX-
listing relations and practices of the de-
partment.
He criticised the administration severe
ly He spoke for three hours.
At the conclusion of his remarks the
house, at 4:40 p. M, adjourned.
THE SENATE.
Washington, April 22-The senate
today disposed of the sectarian school
question by adopting Il compromise,
framed by Cockrei of Missouri. The
Indian bill. as it came from the house,
provided that mo money herein appro-
priated shall be paid for education IN
sectarian schools"
This provision is struck out by the
Cockrell amendment as adopted. and 1t
is declared to be the settled policy of the
government to make no appropriations
for sectarian schools after July l, 1898,
thus giving two years for the abandon
ment of sectarian schools instead of an
immediate abandonment. The amend
ment was adopted by the decisive vote of
3S to "A. The Indian bill was not COM
pleted when the senate adjourned.
During the day the bill was passed pro-
Vldlng for government regulation of eX-
cursion fleets attending regattas; also the
resolution calling for information as to
the arrest of Bishop Diaz in Cuba.
The presidents veto of two pension bills
brought out some criticism from the
chairman of the pensions committee, Mr.
Galllnger, but no action was taken on
sShe vetoes beyond referring them.
n SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, April 22.-The presi-
fdent's veto of two pensions bills, to the
SWld3ws of Peter H. Allabach and Chas.
10. Jones, were laid before the senate at
Ethe, opening of the session today.
Mr.. Gallinger, chairman of the pension
committee. said he regretted that the
president had seen fit to veto these bills.
rCapt. Allabach's military services were
such that he might have applied for
pension, but did not do so, owing to per-
sonal disinclinations.
Whlle Jones was photographer. yet
ne received gunshot wound, resulting
IN total blindness, during the attack on
Longstreets lines.
Inc president refers to "a trivial
wound, " said Mr.. Gallinger. 81 will
not discuss and suggest what is in mind
that the message was written without n
knowledge of the facts
Inc pension committee had not nro-
eceeded carelessly and reckessly in favor
ing pensions.
MI. Palmer Dem) of Illinois spoke
OF the embarassments attending cases
IN Whlch the applicant for pension had
not been formally enlisted.
hold,' said Mr.. Palmer, "that when
a citizen voluntarily associates himself
with the military forces he becomes de
facto in the. military service, and if
wounded he has the same moral right to
a pension as one formally enlisted"
sion committee. pen
Many petitions came up. urging action
in behalf of Bishop Diaz. arrested in
,Guba, and resolution by Mr.. Bacon
'lDem:) OF Georgia was adopted. request
mo Of tho Stata