The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-28
STILL TALKING ABOUT PENSIONS
The Picker Bill Will Be Voted
On To-day.
House Democrats Opposed to Transforming
Confederate Desexters-Nsval Appro-
priation Bill Considered In the Senate.
Mr.. Chambers Amendments Caused a
Debate which Broadensd Into o Dis
cussion of the Subject OF Armor
Plates.

WASHINGTON. April 27.-After spend
Ing two hours on District Of Columbia
business the House to-day adopted .
special rule for o final vote tomorrow
on the Pioklsr pension bill. There wss
an animated debate over the adoption Of
sne rule. Mr.. Crisp (Dem. Gs.), charged
thss Its purpose was to destroy the right
OF amendment Mr.. Dingley and Mr..
Henderson defended the rule, the pur-
pose OF which they asserted was to bring
10 vote bill on which there had AL
ready been ample debate.
lMr. Crisp reiterated his statement
that the purpose of the rule was to de.
strey the right Of amendment, and fol-
lowed this with the charge that the bill
had been framed. not by the comm ittse
on pensions, but by the leaders in con-
trol OF the House, who had received that
the House should pass the bill as drawn.
or nothing.
"The committee on pensions" said
he, "spend days and weeks perfeotinR O
bill! and then the gentlemen who con-
troll legislation and who manage the
affairs OF this House made this bill out
| In the speakers room. This certainly
Is not the bill reported by the pension
committee. Then those gentlemen
brought in this rule to prosect them
selves against this $50 Republican ma
Jority. II you adopt this rule you must
take this bill az II stands, or nothing, t"
ne concluded, Systematically addressing
the Republican side. "If you like the
aituation yeu are welcome TO IT,"
| Mr.. Henderson ridiculsd the virtuous
indignation Of Mr.. Crisp. 1--WE know"
said he. 1.-The solemn voice Of tho star
chamber rules COMMITTEES Of The
past, whose rules were Glad In steel,
appealing for more time. I have no
concealmont to make" no concluded;
"ehe gentleman says no appeals for
| oppor tunity 10 amend this bill, pre-
sumably in the interest of she old
soldier. In the same interest I ask for
| action"
! Tweaty-four Republicans voted with
thu Democrats against the adoption of
Ahe rais, but IL WAS agreed te-iI9 10 80.
| The pension bill was then takea up for
smendmsns under tho Ave minute luls.
Mr.. Cennelly (Rep., Ills.), offered an
amendment 70 the section OF the bill
| which provided that no peYssn entitled
70 pension should be disq aalifed from
reesivipg pension by reason Of any
| prior service In the Confederate army 90
50 TO l1rnis the provision 10 persons who
hac performed involuntary service" in
the Southern army.
Mr.. Picker opposed the amendment
on the ground that 1t would be impea-
sible TO provo that service in tAe Con-
federate army had been "involuntsry."
| Mr.. Pearson (Rep., N. o. appealed 10
his colleague, (Mr. Tslbert) not 10 op-
| pose the soldiers from their section, but
=
come from the 'copperhesds" from the
North.
Mr.. Miles (Dem., Md denounced the
men who deserted from the Confederate
army 10 join the Union ranks at the
close OF the war az mere merceaaries
who fought for gold and honored no Dag.
Mr.. Connolly's amendment WAS de-
feated without division.
Mr.. Hepburn (Rep., Ia offered an
amendment providing that the pension
office should construe the pension laws
literally in the interest of the claimant
and that no claimant should be required
to produce proof that would exclude ell
reasonable doubt, but that claims should
be decided In favor of the preponderanoe
Of the proof. The Hepburn amendment
WAS agreed to without division.
Mr.. Wheeler, (Dem., Ale.) offered an
amendment which was ruled out, Gre
sting "a battle pension ROLL" Several
other amendments were voted down,
when at O'Clock the time under che
special order expired and the bill
was reported to she House. The Hop
burn amendment WAS adopted and the
bill was engrossed and ordered to it's
passage.
Mr.. Picker asked unanimous consent
that tho vote on the passage be taken
this afternoon, saying that mem beYs who
were absent could place themselves on
record.
why doR't they stay away from the
horse rnoes?" asked M. Tabor, (Dem.,
s. CO. tLaugAser).
Mr.. Pickler, however, wishdreW his
request
Some miner bills ware then passed by
upanlmsns oeassas, anong sAom one 70
relieve she Month Georgia Agricultural
College.
Al 4;Ao p. m. the House edjoarsed.
Senate Pzeessdisss.
TIE naval appropriation bill was ba-
fore ths Senate thsosshezt she day. An
Amendments offered By Mr.. Chsaalsr,
making IL anlawfal fer retired officers
TO sstor ths service Of Contractors fssn-
ishinE asasaT. ets.. 10 the goversAsas,
occasieaod al sziz asNd debate, which
gradually bseadsAsa into o discgseiaa
OF sho entire sabjsct Of srnof plato.
Mr.. TillnaH wss amoag the most
active In support of the amendment.
The Best is the Cheapest"