The herald., 1896-04-28

bankruptcy bill tomorrow as soon as
the pension bill was disposed of. Mr..
Henderson. from the committee on
rules, then, at 1850 y. m, brought in
special order for the consideration of the
Pickler pension bill for one and half
hours this afternoon, under the five
minute rule, the previous question then
to be considered as ordered on the bill
and pending amendments, with provis-
ion for final vote tomorrow immedi-
ately after the reading of the Journal.
Mr.. Crisp, Democrat of Georgia. char
acterized the rule as remarkable one.
He said it pretended to do one thing,
but did another, as only such amend
ments as were adopted in committee
could be voted on. The practical con-
sequence Of the adoption of this rule
would be to force the house to vote on
the bill without amendment.
Mr. Henderson said he made no dis
guise Of the fact that the purpose of the
rule was to bring the bill to vote. He
said the situation in the senate must be.
taken into consideration and also the
president in the White House. and urged
all the friends Of the old soldiers to
stand by the bill, as the best that could
be written on the statute books at this
time.
Mr. Crisp reiterated his statement
that the purpose Of the rule was to de-
stroy the right of the amendments. and
followed this with charge that the bill
had been framed, not by the committee
on PENSIONS but by the leaders in con-
troll Of the house who had resolved that
the house should pass this bill as drawn
or nothing.
Mr.. Cannon, Republican of Illinois.
said that as one of the $50 majority he
favored the rule. He had voted for the
act of 1890. he said. which had placed
100000 new names on the pension roll.
Mr.. Hepburn, Republican of Iowa, op-
posed the option of the rule. The bill
ought, he said, to be amended.
The rule was adopted--119 to 50.
Thirty-four Republicans voted
against the adoption Of the bill, as fol-
lows: Blue, Bowers. Burton Of Mis-
souri,. Calderhead, Connolly, Cook.
Cooper, Crowther, Danford, Dewitt,
Eddy, Fenton. Graft, Hager. Hartman.
Henderson, Hepburn, Johnson Of Cali
fornia. Kirkpatrick, Mcclure, McLach-
Ian, Miller, Miner of Wisconsin, Smith,
Southland. Strong. sulloway. Tawney,
Towne, Tracewell Updegraff, Van Horn,
Wanger and Wilson of Idaho.
When the vote was announced, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the
appropriations committee, the senate
amendments to the Sundry civil bill
were non-concurred in and the bill sent
to conference. Messrs Cannon, Hainer,
w. A. Stone and Sayers were appointed
conferees
Under the rule adopted the pension
bill was taken up for amendment under
the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Connolly, Republican of Illinois,
offered an amendment to the section of
the bill which provided that no person
entitled to pension should be disquali-
fled from receiving pension by reason
of any prior service in the confederate
army. SO as to limit the provision to per-
sons who had performed involuntary
service" in the southern army.
Mr., Pickler opposed the amendment
on the ground that 1t would be impossi-
BILE to prove that service in the confed-
crate army had been Involuntary"
Mr.. Pearson, Republican Of North
Carolina, appealed to his colleague, Mr..
Talbert, not to oppose the soldiers from
their section. but to let the opposition
come, If it must come, from the copper
heads of the north.
Mr.. Miles. Republican of Maryland,
denounced the men who deserted from
the confederate army to Join the Union
ranks at the close of the. war as, mere
mercenaries who fought for gold and
honored no flag"
Mr.. Connelly's amendment was de-
feated without division.
Mr.. Hepburn offered an amendment
providing that the pension office should
construe the pension laws literally in
the interest of the claimant, and that no
claimant should be required to produce
proof that would exclude all reasonable
doubt, but that claims should be de-
cided in favor Of the preponderance Of
the proof.
Mr.. Hepburn's amendment was
agreed to without division.
Several other amendments were voted
down, when, at 4 o'clock, the time under
the special order expired, and the bill
was reported to the house. The Hep
burn amendment was adopted and the
bill was engrossed and ordered to it's
passage.
Mr.. Picker asked unanimous consent
that the vote on the passage be taken
this afternoon, but aftsrward withdrew
his request
Some minor bills were passed by
unanimous consent and at 4:40 the
house adjourned.