Evening journal., 1897-12-10
THE PENSION BILL.
Mr.. Allen Of Mississippi In
dulges In Criticism.
APPROPRIATION NOT LARGE ENOUGH.
The Senate Adopts a Resolution Asking
the President to Obtain Postpone
ment of the Sale Of the Kan
sas Pacific Railroad.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-The house
has entered upon the consideration OF
the pension appropriation bill and stir
red up a debate that promises to con-
tinue for several days. Several of the
southern Democrats offered criticisms
of various classes of pensioners. and
Mr.. Allen Of Mississippi. who led the
assault I'm a speech replete with his
characteristic humor. presented Sc
ries of amendments designed, as he
said, to correct some of the most glar-
ing evils.
They prohibit the granting Of pen
sions to widows whose applications
were not filed during their widowhood
and the granting of pensions to widows
whose applications were based on mar
riages contracted after the passage of
this act and to permanently insane OF
idiotic minors who have reached their
majority.
The northern Democrats, however, wed
with the Republicans In their profess
sions Of friendship for the soldiers, and
one of them, Mr. Norton of Ohio, de-
clared that the Republicans could not
make the bin too large for him. 1t was
admitted on both sides of the house
during the discussion that the 100000
900 carried by the bill for pensions would
not cover the expenditures, but as con-
gress would be IN session Mr. Cannon
said II would be easy to make good any
deficiency that might occur.
Mr.. Fleming OF Georgia introduced a
bill authorizing an investigation of the
books, accounts and methods of rail-
roads which have received aid from the
United States. II provides that in the
presidents judgment the secretary Of
the treasury shall redeem or otherwise
clear Off the paramount lien, mortgage
or other incumbrance of government
aided railroads by paying the sums
lawfully due out OF the treasury or
may bid and purchase for the United
States the property subject to such in
cumbrance at any sale or sales made
under any order of the court or any
| judgment or decree of foreclosure of
such incumbrance or of any lien or
mortgage or interest Of the United
States.
The senate did a considerable amount
of business although tno very impor-
tant measures were considered or pass
/ ed, and there was very little debate.
Senator Gallinger, chairman Of the com-
mittee on PENSIONS called attention to
the Increasing demand for private PEN
sion legislation and requested senators
to be careful in the future to see that
their bills for private pensions were
meritorious before they were intro
duced.
Senator Hoar presented a petition
signed by 21.269 natives of Hawaii pro-
testing against the annexation of those
islands TO the United States. An at
n A.
to secure an appropriation for the re-
lief OF the KlondilSe miners, but the net
result was a resolution calling on the
! secretary of war for all information he
had on that subject.
An hour was devoted to the consider
alton of private pension bills. and a
were passed. The resolution Of the Pa.
cihc railroad committee asking infor.
nation concerning the Kansas Paci,
and requesting the president to obtair
a postponement of the sale TO such {
time as win give to congress a reason
able time TO consider and act upon hi
recommendation. was adopted. Thi
gave Senator Gear Of Iowa and Senate
Thurston of Nebraska an opportunit,
TO make short speeches congratulatin
the country upon the settlement of tn
Pacific railroad question.
Some work was laid out for mex
week. Senator Carter securing the righ
Of way Monday and Tuesday for hi
census bill and Senator Lodge had tn
immigration bill made the unfinishe
business during the week.
Bills were passed as follows; Grant
= ing 10 the town of Valentine, Cherr
5 county. Neb.. certain lands; TO pay III
! Richmond Locomotive works its claii
e for damages and losses incurred i'm III
a construction of the battleship Texas
q providing for the erection of publ
building at Washington, Pa.