The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-23
MORE LATITUDE FOR PENSIONS
THE HOUSE TAKES Up THE BILL
AND THE SUBJECT.

one of the Provisions Proposes to
overlook DishOnOrabIe Discharge
ar DeserfiOn where the Applicant
Holds an Honorable Discharge Az
ter 80 Days Service-Representa
lives 10 Oppose Some of the Pro-
visions.
Washington. April 22.-The first business
in order in the House to-day was the vote
on the resolution declaring Albert I. Good
v-yn. pop, entitled 10 a seat as the repre-
sentative from the Fifth district of Ala
hama in place of James Z. Cobb, upon
which no quorum appeared yesterday. It
was agreed tO-yeas, 145; nays. IS. Mr.
GOODWIN was escorted TO the bar by Mr.
Daniels, rep. of New York. where the
oath as a member of the congress was ad-
rninistered by Speaker Reed. At the con-
clusion of the ceremony. a slight ripple of
applause swept over the republican seats.
Mr.. Scranton, rep, of Pennsylvania IN
successfully attempted to get unanimous
consent TO consider the bill providing for
the election of a delegate in congress from
Alaska. Mr.. Crisp objected.
The House bill was passed, transferring
Greer county to the territory of Oklahoma,
in accordance with the recent decision of
the supreme court declaring 1t not part
of the state of Texas. An amendment
was adopted continuing the present Of
dcers of the county.
bill providing for the free entry of
lands in Greer county. giving preference
10 bona-fde occupants and allowing them
TO take up 100 acres additional ON pay
ment of 81 per acre, was also passed.
The House then. in committee of the
whole. took up the bill reported by the
committee on invalid pensions making
general provisions relating to pensions.
Cir Picker rep. of South Dakota, chair
man of the committee reporting the bill,
explained its provisions and its necessity
under the rulings of the present admin
istration of the pension bureau. It's prin-
cipal provisions are: Giving pensionable
status to soldiers holding an honorable
discharge from the union army, nOtwith-
standing prior service in the confederate
service; directing that no pension shall
be discontinued or reduced except Tor
fraud, clerical error, mistake OF fact or
recovery from disability; allowing claim
ants charged with fraud to confront their
accusers abolishing the distinction be-
tween the oath of an officer and that OF
an enlisted man; forbidding that claim
shall be rejected because of a claim
ants inability to furnish more than one
credible witness to any material tact;
permitting a claimant or his attorney TO
see any paper on file regarding his case;
establishing as a rule of the office the
common law rule for proving marriage;
of the termination of the war, in accord
ance with the proclamation of the Pres
ident and ruling of the supreme court;
giving a reasonable status under the
law of 1890 TO a claimant. honorably dis
charged after ninety days service, not
withstanding a prior desertion or dishon-
orable discharge; making death in ser
vice unless for or in violation OF the law,
equivalent to an honorable discharge; fix
ing $500 as the maximum annual income
a widow may have and still have a PEN
sionable status under the act of 1880
The section in the bill fixing the dates OF
the closing of the war and giving pen
sionable status to a soldier holding an
honorable discharge after ninety days
service, Notwithstanding previous deser-
ton or dishonorable discharge, as eX-
planned by Mr.. Picker, awakened some
criticism by republican members, indicat-
ing that they would oppose them. In The
course of a colloquy on the latter section,
Mr. Steele, rep, stated that he had occa-
sion to investigate the record OF some
bounty jumper and he had found that one
man had enlisted forty-one times the same
day in New York city.
Mr.. Picker spoke two and a half hours
and when he had concluded the commit
tee rose. At 4:S5 O'Clock the House ad-
j0urned.