The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-16
PRIVATE PENSION BILLS.
Most of the Time of the House Taken
UD in Their Consideration
Yesterday.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 15.-Allen
(R.) of Utah started business in the House
to-day by presenting q resolution calling
on the Secretary of the Interior for infor-
nation as to why patents had not been
issued for land secured BY bona-fide pur-
chasers from the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, the lands having been given
the company under Government grants.
The resolution was agreed to.
The Committee on Contested Seats de-
cided for Price, the sitting member OF the
Third Louisiana District.
Johnson (R.) OF Indiana secured the
adoption of resolution providing for ex-
pedting the contested election case OF
Benoit vs.. Boatner from the Fifth District
of Louisiana, so that it might be disposed
of at the present session.
Quite little opposition developed over
resolution from the Committee Oh Ac-
counts for the employment of fifteen fold
ers for two months to refold documents
that had been injured in The falling of a
building during the hurricane here Sep
TENDER 80 last, ana finally the ayes and
noes were ordered on the amendment to
distribute the places among the States
that had no appointments on the roll at
and the resolution rejected without an
other rollCall.
The regular order was then demanded.
This was the consideration of private pen
sion bills. An interesting fight developed
over Senate bill granting pension of
500 Der month to Mrs. Annie Glbbon,
| widow OF General John Gibbon.
| Tracy (R.) of Missouri offered an amend
ment reducing the amount to 800 per
month. This was warmly opposed by
| Curtis (R. } OF New York, who made eulo-
| CYSTIC references TO the services OF General
Gibbon
| Grosvenor (R) of Ohio was also against
the bill. He said in answer to Willis (R.)
OF Delaware, who protested against dis
crlnination for the widows OF dlstn-
| guished officers. that SO out OF every 100
privates OF the late war would vote to give
| Mrs. G1bbon the full amount.
Wood (R.) OF Illinois opposed the grant
ing of special rates OF pension through
| the medium OF private bills, on the ground
that 1t was contrary to general law
The previous question on the passage OF
| the House bill granting pensions to Gray s
Battalion of Arkansas Volunteers, vet
Grams of the war with Mexico, was
ordered, on motion of Thomas (R.) OF
Michigan, but the bill went over until 1T
could be engrossed, under demand tor
| the reading of the engrossed copy.
| A House bill to increase the pension OF
Clara L. Nichols, the present Postmistress
of Fort Leaven worth and widow of Brevet-
Major-General W. A. Nichols, developed
some slight opposition.
| In committee of the whole the House
had reduced the amount of tive increase to
$50, but on motion of Dalzell (R.) of Penn
sylvania the House, after listening to a
eulogy of General Nichols by that gentle
man, made the amount $75 and then
passed the measure.
A House bill granting a pension to
Sarah E. Comfy, widow of Major Clifton
Comfy, was also passed A number OF
other private pension bills were passed
and the House then, at 1855 o'clock, took
a recess until P. NJ.
| At the night session OF the House a