New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-18
on Tons of Roses
~ years. success
Colgate's
Soaps and Perfumes.
IS THE NATION A ROBBERi
BITTER DEBATE OVER THE PAYMENT OF
WAR CLAIMS IN THE HOUSE.

BITTER DEBATE OVER THE PAYMENT OF
WAR CLAIMS IN THE HOUSE.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF DEFRAuDlNd
PRIVATE cIT1zENs-sPEAKER REED cRITI-
CIsED BY MR.. WALKER AND DE-
TENDED BY MR.. DoCKERY.
Washington, April 17.-Ths was an old
fashioned field day in the House of Representa-
tives, with radical variations. 1t was private
bill day under the rules. WREN bills to pay
claims arising out Of the war. which In the
past afforded opportunity and excuse for fight
ing the battles Of the Rebellion oyer again. were
under consideration. To-day, however. the con-
test was waged largely between Republican
members who advocated the payment OF the
bills reported by the Committee on War Claims
and those who favored postponing action, and
some of the statements were startling In their
bitterness.
The first bill was that authorizing the APP
pointment and retirement as second Lieutenant
Of cavalry Of Frank NJ Marshall, for thirty
FIVE years a hospital steward.
Mr.. Walker (Rep.. Mass) made vigorous
speech against the bill. 1t was. he said, running
into the ground the principle that the man who
had barred his breast to the brunt Of battle and
taken his chances of being shot down in his
prime should be pensioned. This man was not
in that class. and why, he asked, should other
men. who had served their country in the field,
be taxed to support him?
The committee refused-63 to 24-to order the
bill laid aside with favorable recommendation.
In the course of the discussion on the next bill,
to pay to Peter Cooke of Lonoke County,
Arkansas. 1904 for supplies furnished to the
NahA
chairman Of the Committee on War Claims ar
raigned Congress for its failure to discharge it's
just obligations. This house ought to do one of
two things, said Mr.. Mahon, either 1t ought to
pay the findings of this court. or 1t ought to
abolish the Court. Referring to the case before
the House, he said: THE simple question IS
whether this House proposes to pay findings OF
the Court Of Claims in cases OF this kind, or
whether II proposes to pay no attention to them
l say either you ought to stand by the Court
and pay the judgment which it renders or you
should abolish your Court and the hun
dreds Of thousands Of dollars that are now ex-
pended in the investigation OF these cases.
Mr.. Ray Rep N. W followed in answer to
Mr. Mahon. He called attention to the terms
OF the Bowman act under which these claims
were certified to the Court OF Claims to show
that the findings OF the court were not Judgments
and were subject to review by Congress The
payment Of the pending bill. Mr.. Ray said. would
open the doors of the Treasury to claims which,
Il allowed. would keep the present Administration
and the succeeding one busy selling bonds until
they closed.
Mr. Walker Rep.. Mass) made a speech Bit
terly arraigning the Government He had a bill
on the calendar. he said. which he had desired
to call up out OF order when the committee began
Ito hut ho1
opened with the statement II desire to say de-
loerately, that no robbers ever built castles
on the Rhine from which to levy tribute upon
the commerce OF that river which equaed this
Government In its robbery OF honest creditors"
In every Congress OF which he had been
a. member. Mr. Walker continued the lead
ers had put forward such measures as had been
discussed to-day to use up the time so that
honest claims could not be considered. And
that Is why we have such peculiar rulings IRE
ferring to that which made the Marshall bill the
order Of the day.. OF the Chair to-day"
AS to the bill before the House and others
like 1t. MI Walker said. there ought to be an
excuse sought; yes. sought, to pay the claims
OF the loyal citizens OF the South for the sup
plies and material furnished to the Army OF
the Union, found to be due after examination.
He pleaded for payment of them, whatever
their amount and asserted that the scrutiny Of
them to their amount, was due to a pur-
pose practically to steal the amount from the
claimant by which II could be reduced" When
he went to the Speaker. said Mr.. Walker. and
asked to be recognized TO present n bill for con-
sideraton. what was the inquiry with which the
request was met? "Is II honest? Is II Just?
Has II been examined and found correct by the
tribunal to whom IL was referred? Oh.
But with great scorn) How much is it," In
conclusion. he denounced with much force the
policy which prevented the payment OF these
claims for miserable, contemplate. partisan
reasons
Messrs. Mccall Rep.. TENN and Evans Rep.
Ky) appealed to the House to pay these claims
coming from the loyal residents Of the South
matter of justice and equity.
Mr.. Dockery Dem. MOI argued against the
payment Of these claims and appealed to the
Democratic members to take the same position.
Il honor" he said 1.-THE Speaker Of the pres
for standing like lion In the path OF members
who sought to pass bills to take large sums
of money out OF the Treasury" Applause)
Mr.. Grosvenor Rep.. Ohio. responding to
those Republicans who had attacked the policy
Of refusing to pay these claims said the only
question to consider was Of ability. The
House was confronted by condition. and the
the insnuation that the leaders Of the House
or those responsible for its management had
sought arbitrarily to obstruct the passage Of
bills
The committee rose after Mr.. Picker Rep..
s. d. reported the General Pension bill pre-
pared by the Committee on Invalid Pensions.
and 1t was ordered to be printed and recon-
At 4:5o O'Clock the House took a recess until
s o'clock.
A REPORT ON RECIPROCITY.