The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-18
UNCLE SAM SLOW TO PAY.
Harsh Terms Used During the PrI-
vnte Bill Day Debate.

vnte Bill Day Debate.
Washington, April 17.-This was an old
fashioned field day in the House of Rep
resentatives, with radical variation. 1t
was private bill day, under the rules
when bills to pay claims arising out of
the war, which in the past afforded op-
portunity and excuse for fighting battles
Of the civil war over again, were under
consideration. To-day, however, the con-
test was waged largely by republican
members, who advocated the payment Of
the bills reported by the committee on war
claims and those who favored postponing
and some of the statements were start
ling in their bitterness.
Mr.. Mahon of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the committee, was asked by Mr.. Ding
ley, rep, of Maine, IL the committee was
satisfied of the justice and correctness of
a claim for the payment of which a bill
had been reported.
Mr.. Mahon reviewed the action Of con-
gress on these claims, their reference to
the court of claims for examination and
finding of facts, and passionately declared
that congress either ought to pay the
claims recommended by the court, or abol-
lsh the court, so that the people might
know what sto expect. He declared thai
the government was a great robber OF its
private citizens and asserted that he would
rather have q pauper owe him a thousand
dollars than to be creditor Of the Unit
ed states for that amount
Mr.. Walker, rep, OF Massachusetts, was
almost violent in his denunciation OF the
policy which prescribed the payment Of
these claims Dramatically he declared
that no robber born on the Rhine ever
equalled the government OF the United
States in its robbery sof honest creditors
He attacked the leaders of the House
charging them with purposely preventing
the consideration of bills for the payment
OF just claims, asserting that extraordi-
nary rulings Of the chair lin committee Of
the whole) were resorted to to aid in car
ryIing out that policy
Evans, rep, Of Kentucky. appealed to the
House to pay the claims Of loyal men from
the south, and Mr.. Ray, rep, of New York
charged that to enter upon the payment
Of them would compel the next admins
tration to issue bonds from beginning to
close.
Messrs Dockery. dem. Of Missouri. and
Grosvenor, rep, of Ohio, made political
speeches in connection with their common
position on the payment Of the claims, the
former asserting that republican legisla-
ton in the past, and the latter that the
democratic administration, was responsi-
BILE for the present condition Of the treas
ury. The net result Of the days discussion
was the rejection OF one bill and the pas
sage of another
Mr.. Picker, rep, of South Dakota, re-
ported the general pension bill prepared
II was recommitted
At 4:5O. o. clock the House took a recess
until 8 O'Clock, the evening session 10 be
for the consideration Of private pension
At the evening session nine pension bills
were considered and ordered TO be report
ed TO the House with favorable recom-
mendation. A large part of the time was
spent upon the bill granting a pension of
$40 a month TO the widow Of Brig Gen.
Fred Vanderver, who was originally colo
mel Of the Thirty-hfth Ohio volunteer in
fantry. The amount Of the pension was re-
duced TO so month, and efforts were
made 70 make IL so. proposition which
received considerable support among re-
publican members.