The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-22
HOUSE PRoCEEDINGs.
Pension Bill Passed Over a Veto-The
Labor Commission Bill.


WASHINGTON. May 21.-So much of the
time of the House was occupied to-day in
considering the Presidents veto of bill to
pension Francis E. Hoover, a private in the
Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
In listening to a personal explanation from
Mr.. Grosvenor relative to newspaper mis-
representation of his position on the subject
of reciprocity, that the time for the debate
on the Phillips commission bill was extend
ed until tomorrow at O'Clock. The bill
provides for the appointment by the Presi-
dent OF nonpartisan commission Of twenty
one-seven representatives from labor, agri-
culture and business, to collect information
and consider and recommend legislation to
meet the problems presented by labor, agri-
culture and capital. Mr.. Phillips, chairman
of the labor committee, and the author of
the bill, made the principal argument to-
day.
At the opening of the session Mr. Gros-
venor had read washington special to a
Cincinnati paper, charging that at a recent
meeting OF the ways and means committee
after pledging himself to vote to report a re-
ciprocity bill, he had voted against 1t. The
article created much amusement. It de-
scriDed the surprise created by his "lining
up with the Reed faction and spoke Of
him as a Mckinley manager who refused
to support legislation "along Mckinley
lines" Mr.. Grosvenor explained facetiously
that If the publication only contained the
charge that he had lined up with the Reed
faction he would not have troubled the
House. He did not think he could be found In
better company. Qaughter.) But this was
a serious attitude. The correspondent had
undoubtedly been imposed on. There had
been a constant reiteration of the charge
that the ways and means committee was
rent by factional dissensions. This charge
had no foundation in fact. There was no
difference OF opinion among the Republicans
OF the committee as to the ultimate purpose
Of the Republican party to carry to triumph
the doctrine of reciprocity. There had been
a proposition to re-enact the third section
of the Mckinley law 0he reciprocity clause),
but it had been found. IN view of the tariff
law on the statute books (sugar having been
placed on the dutiable lisu, that the third
section of the Mckinley law would not be
applicable. In this opinion ne had concurred.
and he was ready to take the responsibility,
whether he lined up With one faction or an
other, II there were factions Mr. Gros-
venor went on to deprecate all these dssen-
sions among, the Republicans of the House.
He explained that there had been no differ
ence of opinion on the advisability OF pre-
senting the Dingley bill, and concluded with
tllc dlciucHi that TIE lsepuDlc4n party Was
charged With duty above faction--rhat OF
wiping out the evils of bankrupt treasury
and once more restoring prosperity 20 this
country.
Mr. Kirkpatrick then called up the bill to
pension Francis E. Hoover at the rate of $50
per month. which was returned With the
Presidents veto. Mr.. Kirkpatrick moved
that the bill be passed over the veto and
said: IF Congress does not give him relief
he will go to the poorhouse. Tie committee
can never assent 10 that as long as there Is
dollar in the treasury. Mr.. Kirkpatrich
submitted the additional testimony secured
by the committee since the veto message
was received, showing that the soldiers con-
dition was due to army service. Mr.. Kirk
Mr.. Erdman opposed the motion. He ex-
planned that the information in the posses
sion OF the President was the original report
Of the committee and the testimony on file
sr the Pension Once. In neither OF whi.,h
was Il claimed that the disease was due "a