The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-18
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. SATURDAY. JAN

siors committee The pension bill as. passad
carries siEi 20. sc. about s5a.ao0 less than
the estimate. The bill was passed fifty
days ahead OF any previous pension appro-
priation bill.
There was an unusual demonstration a.
the opening OF the session OF the house to-
day The blind chaplain, whose arden;
Americanism has frequently occasioned re-
mark prayed fervently today for srrug-
giiug Cuba. and the success OF her ba.tie
FOR independences When he concluded
the sentence ne was given hearty round
OF applause.
The presidents special message urging
the necessity OF immediate legislation 70
extend the Iir1.t OF tirne allowed TO the gov
eminent to bring suits 10 annul grants ot
public lands was referred 10 the committee
on public lands.
The house then went into committee OF
the whole for consideration Of pension ap-
propriations. under the five-minute rule.
Steele. Rep, Ind, offered an amendment
in the shape Of a provision requiring the
commissioner OF pensions to make public
all rules and regulations regarding the
prosecution OF cases. in matters Of evidence
10 conform TO the rules OF the courts. and
10 give claimants ana attorneys pTosecut-
ina, cases access 70 all documents and pa
pers relating 10 the cases with which tney
are connected.
order that the amendment changed an ex-
isting law, and the chair sustained the
point OF order.
Hermann. Rep, Or. offered an amend
ment which was practically a per diem
pension bill, that also went down under
point OF order.
Mahon, Rep, Pa. offered an amendment
declaring a pension 10 be vested right,
not 10 be suspended on charges Of fraud
until such charges have been proven in a
court OF law. \ point of order was raised
against this amendment which was tenn
porariIy passed over 10 auaw Bartlett TO
raise his point OF order against the pro-
vision In the bill requiring widow 10 prove
that her net income does not exceed 500
before she can receive a pension under the
act of 1890 The present law requires that
a widow under the act OF 1920 shall prove
that she is dependent upon her daily labor
for her support. This was the clause in the
bill against which Bartlett has been direct
ing his assaults Throughout the week. His
point OF order was that ii changed the ex-
!sting laws The point was sharply con-
tested by several Republicans. They con
tended that the provision in the bill simply
construed the act of 1880. and did not
change it. II interpreted the words n the
law, without which means of support,
TO mean not to exceed a net income OF $500
a year
",
a friend OF the provision, that. the chair
should not be embarrassed by being forced
10 rule on a very questionable point, tut
that the appeals of members should be di-
rected TO Bartlett to induce him 10 with
draw his point. bat Bartlett declined.
Cannon, Rep, H., while in favor of the
proposition on its merits. thought it was
in the spirit of the new legislation ana was
amenable 10 the rule.
Dingley. who was In the chair, in an Ella
borate ruling, in the course OF which he ex-
pressed his sympathy with the supporters
of the provision. sustained the point OF or
der. and the provision was stricken from
the bill.
stone Rep. Pa. then offered the pro-
vision in a modified form. but it also was
ruled out In view Of Dingley's rulings IN
these two cases, Mahon withdrew his
amendment.
Wood. Rep, ILL.,, offered an amendment
providing that pensions should oe paid
quarterly to those on the rolls at the rates
now allowed by existing law. or at such
increased rates as hereafter may De al
lowed.
Rartlett made the point OF order that the
amendment changed existing laws No
pens.oner could be dropped from the rolls
for fraud or any Eeas9n. Inc chlir suS-
tanned the point ~ order.
On motion OF Connol1. Rep, ILL., the
words because of any defect or infirmity
in the application" were stricken out or
the clause allowing pensions rejected, sus-
pended or dismissed to date from their
first application.
At the conclusion of the consideration
of the BILL Graft. Rep, ILL.,, said that IN
Justice to himself and those like him who
believed that a pension was a vested
right" he desired 10 state that his amend
nent had not been offered because OF the
manifest disposition Of the chairman OF
the committee to rule Il out, but he con-
fidently predicted that the committee on
invaIid pensjons would shortly report a
hill for that purpose. The committee then
rose. aal the bill as amended was passed.
Then. at 45O p. m, the house ADJOURNED
until Monday.