The herald., 1896-01-18
THE PENSION BILL PASSED
After Many Intellectual Attempts
to Amend
THE WIDOWS NET INCOME
Need Not be Proved TO Secure
Pension
THE WIDOWS NET INCOME
The Bill Carries an Appropriate of $I4I,-
3z5,S2o, and Was Passed in Unusu-
ally Prompt Time
Associated Press Sneoial Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE h ouse today
passed the pension appropriate bill, to
the consideration of which it has devoted
the entire week, and adjourned until Men,
day.
Mr.. Bartlett raised points of order against
all new legislation proposed in the way of
amendments, such as that looking to inak-
ing pension ssvested right" etc., and
Mr.. Dingley, who was in the chair. sus-
tanned them.
In this way the clause in the bill changing
existing laws so as to allow widows to OBJ
tain pensions under the act of 1890, whose
net income did not exceed $500 per an
mum, was stricken out.
Mr.. Bartlett, however, did not raise the
point against the provisions making PEN
sions under the act of 1890 rejected. sus-
pended or dismissed, and afterwards al
lowed, to date from their first application.
It was announced in the debate today
that the bills covering the amendments
ruled out today would be reported from the
invalid pensions committee. The pension
bill as passed carries $141 1923, 500. about
$4,000 less than the estimate. The bill
was passed fifty days ahead of any previ-
GUS appropriation bill.
There was most unusual demonstra-
ton at the opening of the session of the
house today. The blind chaplain, whose
ardent Americansm has frequently oc-
casioned remark, prayed fervently today
for struggling Cuba and for success in her
battle for independence. When he con-
cluded the sentiment he had expressed
was given a hearty round of applause.
The presidents special message urging
the necessity of immediate legislation to
extend the limits of time allowed the gov
ernment to bring suits to annul grants of
public lands was referred to the committee
on public lands. The house then went into
committee of the whole for the considera-
ton of pension appropriations under the
misrule.
Mr. Steele, Republican of Indiana,
offered an amendment in the shape of
proviso requiring the commissioner of PEN
sions to make public all rules and regula-
tions regarding the prosecution of cases in
matters of evidence, to conform to the
Jules of the courts and to give claimants
and attorneys prosecuting cases access to
all documents and papers relating to the
cases in which they were connected.
Mr.. Bartlett. Democrat of New York,
raised the point of order that the amend
ment changed existing law. The speaker
sustained the point of order.
Mr.. Herman, Republican of Oregon,
offered an amendment which was prac-
tically a per diem pension bill. That also
went down under point of order.
Mr.. Mahon. Republican of Pennsylvania,
offered an amendment declaring pension
to be vested right. not to be suspended
on charges of fraud, until such charges
have been proven in court of law. A
point of order was raised against this
amendment, which was temporarily passed
over to allow MIR. Bartlett to raise his point
of order against the provision in the bill
requiring widow to prove that her met
income' does not exceed $500 before she
can receive a pension under the act of
1890.
The present law requires that widow,
under the act of 1890, shall prove that she
is dependent upon her daily labor for her
support. This was the clause in the bill
against which Mr.. Bartlett had been di-
recting his assaults throughout the week.
His point of order was that it changed ex-
listing law. The point was sharply con-
tested by several Republicans. They con-
tended that the provision in the bill simply
construed the act of 1890 and did not
change it; it interpreted the words in the
law, "without which means of support" to
mean not to exceed a net income of $500
a year.
Mr.. Dockery Democrat, Mssouri) took
the position, as friend of the provision,
that the chair should rot be embarrassed
by being forced to rule on a very question:
able point, but that the appeal of members
should be directed to Mr.. Bartlett to in
duce him to withdraw his point. But Mr..
Bartlett declined.
Mr.. Cannon (Republican, Illinois), while
In favor of the proposition on its merits,
thought it was in spirit new legislation and
was amenable to the rule.
Mr.. Dingley, who was in the chair. in an
elaborate ruling, in the course of which he
expressed himself in sympathy with the
supporters of the provision, sustained the
point of order, and the provision was
stricken from the bill.
Mr.. Stone then offered the provision in a
modified form, but it also was ruled out.
In view of Mr.. Dingley's rulings in these
two cases, Mr.. Mahon withdrew his amend
ment.
Mr.. Wood, Republican of Illinois, offered
an amendment providing that pensions
SHOULD be paid quarterly to those on the
rolls at the rates now allowed by existing
law, or at such increased rates as may
hereafter be allowed. Mr.. Bartlett made
the point of order that the amendment
changed existing laws. No pensioner
could be dropped from the rolls for fraud
or any reason. The chair sustained the
point of order.
On motion of Mr.. Connolly, Republican
OF Illinois, the words "because of any de-
feet or intirmity in the application were
stricken out OF the clause allowing pen
elons rejected, suspended or dismissed to
date from their first application.
AT the conclusion of the consideration of
the bill, Mr.. Graft, Republican of Illinois.
said that, in justice to himself and those
like him, who believed that a pension was
"a vested right" he desired to state that
his amendment had not been offered be-
cause the manifest disposition of the chair
man OF the committee to rule out, but he
confidently predicted that the committee
on invalid pensions would shortly report a
bill for that purpose.
The committee then arose and the bill as
amended was passed.
Then at 4 80 the house adjourned until
Monday.
BowLER's BOUNTY MATTER
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Some talk con-
cerning the resolution introduced by Boat
ner of louisiana for the investigation of
Comptroller Bowler's course in the sugar
bounty appropriation occurred in the
house committee on judiciary today. The
resolution is still in the hands of the sub
committee, of which Ray of New York is
chairman. Boatner desired to have it
taken up by the full committee. 1t was
finally decided to lay it over until the next
meeting, when the subcommittee probably
will report substitute providing for an
inquiry into the law under which the comp
trolIer claims TO act, with a recommenda-
ton as to whether legislation is needed to
define and restrict the comptroIlers duties.
The preamble to Boatner's resolution. So
far as it affects Bowlers course, will not
be adopted, as the committee thinks it has
no official knowledge of the statements