The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE,
An AGREEMENT on the Pension Appropri-
alton Bill,


An agreement on the Pension Appropri-
alton Bill.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 13.-To-day
being the second Monday in the month
was. under the rules, set aside for the con-
sideration of the business relating to the
District of Columbia, and two measures
of local interest were passed. The pension
appropriation bill for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1897, the first general sppro-
priation bill reported, was then taken up
IN committee OF the whole. 1t appropri-
ates SAL 1876 $50, which is some $4,000
less than the amount carried by the last
bill and about the same amount below the
estimates. W. A. Stone (R.) OF Pennsyl-
vania explained the bill, and the two
changes made by it in the existing law,
which We're to make a pension granted
date from the time of the first app1ca-
ton without regard to intervening reiec-
tons, and limiting to $500 the income
which the dependent widows may receive
and yet be eligible to pension.
Graft (R.) of Illinois gave notice OF an
amendment making a pension q vested
right, and attacked the present pension
policy. Bartlett CD of New York OPP
posed any further extension of the pension
system.
At the conclusion of District business
the House went into committee of the
whole on the annual pension appropria-
tion bill. 1t carries total of Sal, 1884, $40,
which is practically the same as the appro-
priation for the current year and few
thousands less than the estimates of the
Commissioner of Pensions.
Morse (R.) of Massachusetts offered a
resolution instructing the Committee on
Foreign Affairs to inquire into the expe-
diency of reporting to the House an ex-
preston of this Government in regard to
the Armenian outrages and looking to the
cooperation of the allied powers 10 "wipe
the Turkish Government off the face of
the earth" 1t was referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs
Stone (R.) of Pennsylvania, in charge of
the bill, explained the few changes in the
amounts and the amendments to existing
laws proposed by the committee.
Graft (R.) of Illinois proposed an amend
ment making pension vested right and
spoke in advocacy of it.
Bartlett CD of New York raised a point
of order against the proposed amendment
and criticized the Appropriations Com
mittee for ENGRAVING general legislation
on general appropriation bill. He op-
posed the amendment on the ground that
it would be placing premium on fraud.
In view OF the present condition of the
treasury, and the numerous calls which
would soon be made upon it, he did not
think that an unnecessary enlargement of
the existing pension laws would find tauor
on either side of the House.
Discussing the merits of making a pen
sion vested right, Willis (R.) of Delaware
said that it was better to let ninety-nine
criminals escape than to condemn one in
nocent man. He asked to whom the
country belonged if not to the men who
saved it. In conclusion he advised Bart
lett to get his inspiration from that grand
old soldier (then on the foor), General
Daniel E. Sickles, and to follow his lead.
At the close of Willis speech the COM
mittee, without reaching conclusion on
the bill, rose and the House at :35 adj
lourned until tomorrow.