New-York tribune., 1896-01-18
RAPID WORK IN THE HOUSE.
PENSION BILL PASSED MUCH EARLIER
THAN IN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSES
MANY. AMENDMENTS RULED OUT ON POINTS OF
ORDER. But NOT VOTE CAST AGAINST
THE MEASURE ITsELF-PRAYER FOR
THE CJRANS APPIATpEp
THE CUBANS APPLAUDE

THE MEASURE ITsELF-pRAYER FOR
THE CuBANs APPLAUDED
Washington Jan 17-After a debate lasting al
mos, FIVE days the General Pension Appropriation
bill for the year ending June 30. 1897, was passed
BY the House this afternoon. To-days debate was
conducted under the fve-minute rule the Dill oeing
read by paragraphs for amendment NO materai
amendments were adopted. Mr.. Bartlett u)em N
W enforcing his announced policy of opposition 10
further extension OF pension legislation by raising
points of order against them. BY the same dev-ce
ne succeeded in having struck out OF 'he pni t"c
provision reported by the committee tnat durms
the fiscal year shall not be necessary Tor "iuo"
In establishing her claim 10 a pension under 'he
provisions of the act of 1890 to prove that sne Is
whou; other means OF support than her daily lapor;
Provided That before she shall be entitleu 10 pv
eion under the provisions of said law. she shai'
prove that her net income does not eXceed ~" per
anrum"
Among the miscellaneous business transacted were
tho massage of a Joint resolution providing for the
distribution of undelvered sets Of the Naval recoros
of the Rebellion by members OF the Lawn Con
gress and the passage OF bill authorizing ,he Guy
OF Chamberlain, s. D., TO lease an isand lying au-
faceut thereto which came into its possession uh'
de- ,be law Of 1889 dividing the Sioux reservation
\ message was received from the President ask
ing prompt legislation TO enable the Attorney
eral 10 prosecute litigation In reference to the grant
ing Of patents 10 lands lying within forfeited rail-
road grants.
SYMPATHY FOR THE CUBANS.
The cause Of Cuban Independence was the SUD-
fec, OF Chaplain .Coudens prayer at the beginning
Of the session. and his hope that this Government
would do what il could to aid in securing lpery
for the Cubans was followed by wave OF ap-
plause probably the first time such aenohs''d'io'i
followed a prayer in the House.
Mr. Howe (Rep y. YD offered for present con-
sdorat,on concurrent resolution directing the JOINT
7 investigate the cauSe VI
delay IN finishing the painting In The Capitoi TO-
,unda and the removal OF the scanolding res''ns
against its face ani disfguring its appearance H''
ing remained there unused for seven years
Mr. Bartlett Dem. " " objected, whereupoh MI
Howe remarked that it seemed TO him 1hey nhsh'
come together on such a simple proposition ont MI
Rar,jett continued his walk up the aisle anu away
from Mr. Howe. and the resolution was referred.
Mr. Hicks Rep.. PENN. at the request OF 'he
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds asKeu
unanimous consent for the present consideration oi
a resolution without the presentation OF the usuaI
report appropriating 5000 10 repair ana improve e
kitchen Of the House restaurant. Objection WAS
made by Mr.. Savers Dem, Tex)
The House went into Committee or the Who'o
Mr. Dingley Rep. Me-. in the char), on motion
a, w 4 Stone (Rep PENN, to consider the Cen
eral Pension Appropriation bill under the fve-mnute
rule.
Mr. Steele Osep. Ind) offered an amendment, pro-
viding that the regulations made IN the fehsloii
be public and not the laws OF the United
States nor the rules evidence recognized by the
Courts in the Dlstric. OF Columbia. and that all
napers bearing on a claim shall be open to the In
spection of the claimant and his attorney
MR. BARTLETT"s OBJECTIONS SUSTAINED.
To this Mr. Bartlett QDem n. v made the point
OF order that it changed existing law and was
therefore obnoxious the rules. After some DEBATE
the point OF order sustained.
l.r Hermann Rep.. Ore) proposed an Amendment
establishing a one-cent per diem service pension 10
every soldier and sailor who served more than
ninety dave. the minimum 10 be s. a month ana
making that the minimum pension paid under
any law TO a veteran his widow Ruled out on
point of order.
Mr. Mahon (Rep PENN offered amendment
making a pension once granted a vested @ @righ'' 10
be disturbed only on ground of fraud This was
passed temporarily.
Mr.. Bartlett Dem.. " " made the point or order
against tho provision in the blll as rcpor.u M i
widow claimant having less than 500 year III,
other means of support than her daily labor" The
provision was supported by Messrs w, "A: iIS 1sone
Qaep.. Penn), Powers (Repr W. NorthWay St S'Tt'
PENN, and Grosvenor CRep" Ohio) as not ehahS-
Chairman Dingloy sustained the point of order
and the provision was stricken out ia,
form and that rejected on another point OF
order ~
In view of these rulings by the chairman, Mr.
ment declaring a pension to be vested right.
NO NECESSITY FOR IT.
Mr.. Wood O}ep, I'D offered an amendment
specifically 10 include pensioners Of the late war
in the Of the bill arguing that the failure 10
do so would jeopardize the payment OF pensions 10
them although the bill in the exact phraseology
OF every pension law enacted since 1864. The
proposition was warmly discussed pro ana con ani
finally rejected point OF order. MI Lacey
(Rep, IOwa) said that there was no necessity lor
the amendment for the reason mentioned by Mr..
Wood. "for II there had been any ground for falling
70 pay pensions TO veterans OF the war, some one
IN this Administration would nave lound IL out
before now.
Several other proposed amendments failed to Sc
cure consideration because they were obnoxious 10
the rule against amendments changing existing
laws, but TWO three TO perfect the text were ad-
nittel and agreed 10.
amendment TO prevent the reduction or withdrawal
OF pension except in proceedings instituted in
Federal court He said he glad to know that
the amendment had had the effect Of manifestng
unanimous crystallzei opinion on the Republican
side of the House in favor OF making a pension
vested right. He announced that the proposition
would be submitted TO the Committee on Invalid
Pensions 10 be incorporated in a bill 10 revise the
pension laws.
The committee then rose and the bill passed
without q dissenting voice.
The resolution offered by Mr. Hicks Rep., PENN
carrier in the day and objected TO- appropraiing
5000 repair and improve the House restaurant.
then agreed 10.
Al 4JO O'Clock, after announcement by W. a.
Stone Rep, PENN, which received with ap
plause that the Pension bill had passed the House
fty days ahead OF the passage Of any similar bill
in the last two Congresses, the House adjourned
until Monday.
GIFTS FOR THE HOSPITAL FUND.
Charles Janier the general reasurer OF the Hos