The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-25
day OF DEBATE IN BOTH HOUSES
In the House the Pension Bill
Was Discussed
And tho Section Granting Pensions TO
Confederate Soldiers Who DESCRIBED
Ninety Days Before Lees Surrender,
Was Vigorously Opposed-The sunhry
Civil Appropriation Bill and vehe-
zueian Commission Debated In She
Senate.

this was private bill day under the
rules, the House decided to proceed
with the Picker pension bill and the
whole day WAS consumed in the discus
sion of that measure. The feature was
the opposition Of Mr.. Connolly (Rep.,
Ills.l to the section OF the bill which
granted pensions to Confederate soldiers
who deserted and joined the Union
ranks ninety days before Lees sur.
render. 1t is not probable that Q vote
will be reached before Monday.
Early in the day Mr.. Jones (Dem..
Vs.) presented the contested election
case OF Cornett vs. Swanson from the
Fifth Virgins district. The report
fevors the sitting member. A minority
report is to be filed.
Mr.. Connolly in the course OF his
speech in opposition to the provision
OF the pension bill which would grant
pensions to deserters from the Confed-
crate ranks said: 81 declare that man
who cast his fortunes with the Confed-
eraoy and remained there until he found
the cause falling and then deserted to
the Union army WAS at lesst coward"
(Applause).
cism to offer against the thousands OF
men, especially in Tennessee and Ken
tucky, who were Union in sympathy
but who were conscripted and forced
into Confederate service. They took the
first opportunity to escape to the Union
linea.
The section of the bill to which he
took exception would give pension to
every Confederate who deserted from
the Confederate army ninety days be-
fore Lees surrender. Most of those who
deserted at the last moment, he said,
were either towards or in search of
rations.
Senate Proceedings.
The Senate gave to day to the sundry
civil appropriation bill without COM
plotting 1t.
At $50 the bond resolution was laid
before the Senate and Mr.. PETER, it's
author. proposed notifications to meet
the criticisms in the recent speech of
Mr.. hill. As modified the resolution
strikes out the direction that the special
committee Of five Senators shall inquire
whether any officer of the government
made any contract or agreement In con-
nection with the bond issues with the
intent to receive commission or personal
reward.
Mr.. Pfeffer also modified the resolu-
ton by striking out the provision that
not more than two of the Senators on
the committee Of inquiry shall be MEM
bers OF the same political party, The
resolutions then went over by agree
ment.
Another debate took place when the
sundry civil bill was reached. authoriz-
Ing the Venezuelan commission so pay
rent for Its quarters out Of the S1O0 600
appropriated for Its expense. Mr.. Cor
man suggested that sn explanation was
in order. In great haste and in great
emergency Congress had appropriated
500, 900 at the suggestion of the Presi-
dent for the purpose, as was supposed,
OF preventing war; but now 1t appeared
that the legislation was not effective in
giving quarters for the Venezuelan COM
mission.
"Thereis o feeling prevalent through
the country" said Mr.. German, that
the emergency In this Venezuelan
question is past, If, indeed. 1t has ever
existed. At all events 1t is gratifying
to know that this grave question has
dwindled down to q question of rent of
quarters for the Venezuelan commits
sion"
Mr.. Allen (Pop., Neb J. said IL WAS
angular that the Venezuelan commits
sion had not taken quarters in the State
Department instead of renting private
quarters. Mr.. German insisted on hav-
Ing the Venezuelan matter 90 over, but
later withdrew his opposition and the
item WAS adopted.
An amendment was adopted giving
the Cotton States Exposition Com pany
$4,000, balance Of former sppropris-
ton unpaid. A bill was passed sppro-
priating Sa5 1000 to Richmond College,
Richmond, Va. for war indemnity.
The Senate adjourned until Monday.
The Lion OF the Delegation.