The herald., 1896-04-29
IN THE HOUSE
The Pension Bill Passed-fiammon's Case
Comes Up

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The house
today passed the Pickler general PEN
sion bill by vote of 1877 to 81. The Re-
publicans and Populists voted solidly in
favor Of the measure, and the Demo-
Gratis, with six exceptions. solidly
against it. The section to which the
bulk of the opposition was directed pro-
vides that veterans otherwise entitled
to pensions shall not be disqualified on
account Of prior service In the confed-
crate army. provided they Joined the
Union forces ninety days before Lees
surrender.
The bankruptcy bill was taken UP
under q special order providing for a
vote Saturday at o'clock.
Quite a number of minor bills were
passed before the regular order was de-
manded, among them q bill to restore
the lands embraced in the Fort Lewis
military reservation, Colorado, to the
public domain.
At 1:40 p. m. Mr.. Mahaney, Democrat
of New York, created furry by ask
ing for the immediate consideration o:
the following resolution:
Resolved, By the house Of representa-
tives, that, whereas. the cable report
announces that John Hays Hammond,
otherwise described as Eugene Ham,
mond, an American citizen, has been
condemned to death for treason in the
Transvaal, the secretary of state take
terests Of said Hammond and exert the
friendly offices of the department in his
behalf, If the secretary Of state, in his
judgment, deems such interposition ad-
visable.
Mr.. Bartlett. Democrat of New York,
asked If the resolution had been con-
sidered by the foreign affairs COM
mittee.
Mr.. Mahaney explained in reply the
urgency Of the case. 1t was a matter
of life or death. Hammond might be
executed under the sentence at any time
and any delay might be fatal.
rs not the secretary of state compe-
tent to deal with the case?" asked Mr..
Bartlett.
Certainly" replied Mr.. Mahaney,
but the case might escape his attention.
With the house of representatives be-
hind him he can proceed vigorously"
The whole power of the English d.
plomacy, he said, was being employed to
safeguard the interests of the subjects
of the queen who are being tried at Prae-
tcria. Some one would be made the
scapegoat of this affair, and he was de-
termined that an American shall not be
the man.
Are you a member Of the foreign af-
fairs committee?" asked Mr.. Bartlett.
Il am not, but am q member Of this
house and have the right to seek the
protection Of an American citizen any
e.)
Il desire to say" interrupted Mr.. Hill,
Republican,, of Connecticut, that some
time ago, at the request of some of my
constituents, I wrote the secretary of
state regarding this case and received
the usual American reply to the effect
that the interests of Americans in the
Transvaal were guarded by the English
government l think it high time." he
continued, emphatically, that the
American government protect the inter-
ests of its own citizens" prolonged
applause.)
thought the state department would take
such steps as are necessary for the pro-
lection of American interests without
instructions from the house, and he OBJ
jected to the resolution.
Mr. Mahaney disclaimed any purpose
of .reflecting upon the state department
and appealed to Mr.. Hit chairman of
the foreign affairs committee, who had
just entered the hall, to give his opinion
on the subject but the opposition of Mr..
McCreary prevented further discussion.
The resolution was then, at Mr.. Ma
haney's request, referred to the foreign
affairs committee.
The bill to authorize the president to
retire John M. Quackenbush as COM
mander Of the navy was passed by
vote of 161 to 40.
Mr.. Henderson, Republican, Of Iowa,
then, from the committee on rules, re-
ported special order, which was adopt
ed without division, for the considera-
ton of the bankruptcy bill, debate to
run until o'clock Saturday, when final
vote shall be taken.
The house accordingly went into COM
mittee of the whole and entered upon tho
consideration of the bill 1t was ar
ranged that Mr.. Henderson should con-
troll the time in favor Of the bill, Mr..
Bailey, Democrat, of Texas. who IA
vored a voluntary bankruptcy bill, one
fourth, and Mr.. Broderick, Republican,
of Kansas, who opposes the enactment
of any law on the subject, the remain
ing one-fourth.
Mr. Henderson took the floor and SUBJ
mitted an extended argument in favor
of the bill as reported by the judiciary
committee
The bill before the house. he said, had
for it's basis the Torrey bill, which had
been urged upon congress unsuccessful
ly for number of years. 1t had been
stripped of the harsh features criticised
in former bills, and could not be object
ed to by an honest debtor.
At $40 p. m, upon the conclusion of
Mr.. Henderson's speech, the house aG-
journed.