The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-10
Private Allen Humorously
Opposes the Robbery.
PUTS HOUSE IN A ROAR
SOME BITTERNESS DEVELOPED
DURING THE DEBATE
SENATOR GALLINGER'S WARNING
A Resolution Passed Asking Information Touch
ing the Nearby Sale of the Kansas Paci-
fc--To indemnify the Richmond
Locomotive Works.

hc-- 10 indemnify tIle hlcnhlohu
Locomotive Works.
Washington, u. c.. Dec 9.-The house
today entered upon the consideration of
the pension appropriation bill and stir
red up debate that promises to con-
tinue for several days. Several of the
Southern Democrats offered criticism
of various classes of pensioners, and
Private John Allen. of Mississippi, who
led the assault in a speech replete with
his characteristic humor presented a
series of amendments designed, as he
said, to correct some of the most glaring
evils. The northern Democrats, how
ever, vie with the republicans in their
professions of friendship for the sol
diers, and one of them, Mr.. Norton, of
Ohio, declared that the republicans
could not make the bill too large for him.
Mr.. Stone, in charge of the bill, yield
ed to Mr.. Cannon, Chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, who took
occasion to make general statement of
the estimates submitted by the secre-
tary of the treasury for the public SER
vice of 1899, for the purpose, he said,
of disabusing the minds of members,
and the country, of a false impression
made by a comparison of these estimates
with those of preceding years. The
estimated revenues for 1899 were S4S2,-
100000, the expenditures $504. .000, 900,
showing an estimated deficit of S21 000,-
600. Under the last Sundry Civil act,
the secretary of the treasury, he point
ed out, was compelled to estimate this
year for S4S,000,000 of river and harbor
work, $33,0O0,000 of which had not been
authorized by law. If this sum, not
heretofore included in the estimates
were deducted, there would be an esti-
mated surplus of SS,000,000, instead of
deficit.
Last year the estimated deficit under
the last tariff act was $460O0.0O0. If
the S17 100000 for river and harbor
work, for which the government then
stood bound had been included the es-
timated deficit would have been S63.-
100000. Mr.. Cannon said it might be
that the expenditures for pensions for
1899 would exceed the estimates. The
Commissioner of Pensions estimated the
expenditures at $14S,000,000 If he
should prove to be right. Mr. Cannon
pointed out that the $140,000,000 ap-
propriated by this bill would pay all
pensions for the first eleven months Of
the fiscal year, and deficiency appro-
priation could be easily made
In conclusion Mr.. Cannon solemnly
warned the House that the large anti
cipatory importation would keep the
revenues under the present law down to
the minimum and he appealed to his
colleagues to see to it, that while the
public service was sufficiently supplied
with money, not one dollar is appropri-
ated which is not absolutely necessary
to the best interests of the public SER
vice."
This statement of Mr. Cannon was
warmly applauded ON the republican
side"
Mr.. Allen Democrat, Mississippi, at
tackled Mr.. Cannon's statement in a.
speech in which there were flashes of
his inimitable humor that set the House
into roar of laughter. He gravely
commended Mr.. Cannon's appeal for
economy, but avowed that the figures
of the Chairman of the Appropriations
Committee did not do the situation JUS
tice.
He produced figures that showed an
estimated deficit for the next year Of
$72,O00,000. He referred to the in
crease in the pension roll under the pres
ent administration, and ridiculed the
idea of decrease unless the late in
crease was to be attributed to the Sex
igencies Of the recent campaign in Ohio"
He read from Commissioner Evans tes-
timony before fhe Appropriations COM
mittee, predicting deficit of from $S,-
OOOO.O0 to S1O,000,000 in pension ex
penditures during the next fiscal year.
The maximum had not yet been reached.
'This question of the ma ximum of the
pension roll" observed Mr.. Allen, sis
one Of the things that has protracted
nv stay in Congress. When / first
came here they were talking of the
maximum. / stayed ten or fifteen
years to see it, but it has not come yet,
and / guess I'll have to come back
again." Uaughter)
Mr.. Allen directed the batteries of his
humor at the Dingley law as revenue
producer, picturing the intense anxiety
of the chairman of the Ways and Means
committee at the extra session to get
q bill on the statute books that would
strike a balance between the receipts
and expenditures, and predicting an
other season of anxiety on Mr.. Ding
ley's part next spring at another extra
session called for the same purpose.
Mr.. Allen seriously criticised some Of
the classes of pensions granted. In con-
clusion, he spoke Of the hardships this
great tax burden placed ON the people
of the South, who were, he said, being
relentlessly burdened by the gold stand
ard and Az cent cotton.
Later Mr. Allen again got the floor