Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-07
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
DfII Passed 60 Prevent the swindiing
of Old Pensioners.

WASHINGTON March 6.-At the opening
of the session Of the house today bill was
passed on motion Of Mr. Overstreet, repub-
lican Of Indiana, to abolish the cash pay
ment OF pensions. The purpose Of the
bill is to prevent the swindllng Of old vet
erans who draw their pension money at the
agencies on the quarterly pay days Core
spondence with the agencies shows that many
pensioners draw their pensions in cash and
their families complain they get no benefit
from the money. This bill requires all
pensions to be paid in checks, sent to the
homes of the pensioners.
Mr.. Hull, republican Of Iowa, asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration OF bill
to relieve General Carlin Of liability for
l.1sO expended by Captain J. ". Clyde in
the rescue Of party of students who were
snowbound in the Bitter Root mountains In
1898 Mr.. Wilson, republican OF Idaho, OBJ
jected saying that the party had deserted a
citizen OF Idaho and had left him to de.
The house then resumed consideration
Of the remaining features of the amend
ment to the legislative bill to abolish the
fee system in the case OF United States at
torneys and mershals.
After some unmportant amendments had
been adopted the legislative appropriation bill
was passed
The house then took up the consideration Of
the postotfice appropriation bill. Mr.. Loud.
chairman of the committee which was in
charge OF the bill. explained its provisions.
The bill Is the largest Of the annual supply
bills. 1t carries s91 ,9i3,757, s2.si7 1872 less
than the estimates, but S2,377,760 more than
the current law carried.
Mr.. Quigg asked whether 1t would be pos
sible under the provisions of the present bill
for the POstofice department to continue
what he denominated "the spy system" for
surveillance over carriers. etc.
Mr.. Loud in reply explained that the COM
mittee did not desire any official Of the gov
ernment to embark into new enterprises. and
therefore the appropriation used by the first
assistant postmaster general to employ in
spectors has been segregated so that money
could not be used for that purpose by him.
But Mr.. Loud said he agreed with the first
assistant postmaster general fully as to the
principle Of adequate supervision Of the pos
tai service, but the committee had decided
that It was not dee srable to divide the in
spectng force, and had therefore cut of the
force under the first assistant and increased
the force under the fourth assistant postmas-
ter general by making provisions for thirty
more inspectors.
In further explaining the bill Mr.. Loud
said: "The amount for railroad transporta-
ton of mails has been reduced from S29 000,-
900 to s27, 500, 900, and the reduction had
been made in the hope and expectation that
his bill to amend the postal laws in relation
to second class mail matter which has been
extensively discussed, shall become law"
In answer to a question he stated that he
would press that bill, II possible, to a vote.
without completing the general debate the
committee arose and at O'Clock recess
was taken until 8 o'clock, the evening ses-
sion to be devoted to the consideration of
private pension bills.
The night session Of the house was with
out incident. About a dozen bills were ia
vorably acted upon.