Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-16
PENSION MEASURES.
The Senate Passes Forty-Five
Private Bills in an Hour.
THE IMMIGRATION BILL FORWARDED.
Tho Census Bill Gets the Right Of Way
The House Takes Up the Pension APP
preparation Bill-Mr. Cannon Ap.
peals for Economy.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1o.-The senate
did considerable amount of business
yesterday, although no very impor.
tant measures were considered or
passed, and there was very little de.
bate. Senator Gallinger, chairman Of
the committee on pensions, called at
tention to the increasing demand for
private pension legislation and re-
quested senators to be careful in the
future 10 see that their bills for pri-
vate pensions were meritorious before
they were introduced. An attempt
was made by Mr.. Mcbride to secure an
appropriation for the relief of the
Klondike miners, but the net re-
suit was resolution calling on
the secretary Of war for all in
formation he had on that subject.
An hour was devoted to the con-
sideration of private pension bills
and As were passed. The resolution of
the Pacific railroad committee, asking
information regarding the sale of the
Kansas Pacific, was passed, which gave
Senator Gear, of Iowa, and Senator
Thurston, of Nebraska an opportunity
to make short speeches congratulating
the country upon the settlement of the
Pacific railroad question. Some work
was laid out for next week, Senator
Carter securing the right-of-way Mon
day and Tuesday for his census bill,
and Senator Lodge had the immigra.
ton bill made the unfinished business
during the week.
Senator Hoar presented monster
protest in the senate from native
Hawaiians against the annexation of
the Hawaiian islands to the United
States. The protest filed several hun
dred pages of foolscap paper and con-
tanned the names of 81. 269 natives.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l0.-The house
yesterday entered upon the consdera-
ton of the pension appropriation bill
and stirred up debate that promises
to continue for several days. Several
of the southern democrats offered crit
icisms of various classes Of pensioners,
and Private John Allen, Of Mississippi,
who led the assault in speech replete
with his characteristic humor. pre-
scented a series of amendments de-
signed, as he said, to correct some Of
the most glazing evils. They prohibit
the granting of pensions to widows
whose applications were not filed dur
ing their widowhood and the granting
of pensions to widows whose applica-
tons were based on marriages con-
tracted after the passage Of this act,
and to permanently insane or idiotc
who had reached their major
ity.
Mr. Stone, in charge of the bill, |
yielded to Mr.. Cannon, chairman of |
the committee on appropriations, who
took occasion to make general state
ment of the estimates submitted by |
the secretary of the treasury for the |
public service of 1899. for the purpose.
he said, of disabusing the minds of |
and the country of the false
made by comparison of |
these estimates with those of preced.
ing years. The estimated revenues for
1899 were $4S2, 100000, the expendi-
lures 500, 100000, showing an esti-
mated deficit of S2l, 900, 900. Under the
asst sundry civil act, the secretary of
the treasury, he pointed out, was com
oelled to estimate this year for S4s,.
1000 OF river and harbor work. $780,
100. 900 of which had not been author.
zed by law. If this sum, not hereto.
ore included in the estimates, were
deducted, there would be an estimated
surplus of IS, 900. 900 instead of deficit.
LAST year the estimated deficit under
he last tariff act was $40, 900, 900. If
he Sl1,0J0.OOO for river and harbor
work for which the government then
TODD bound had been included. the
stmated deficit would have been $685..
U0. 600
Mr.. annon said it might be that the
expenditures for pensions for 1890
would exceed the estimates. The com.
missioner of pensions estimated the
expenditures at Sl4O00O,00 II he
hou prove to be right Mr. Cannon
'ointed out that the Sl4O, 600 900 appro-
,rlated by this bill would pay all pen
ions for the first II months of the
isca year, and deficiency appropri.
ton could easily be made. In con.
fusion he solemnly warned the house
hat the large anticipatory importa-
ions would keep the revenue under
he present law down to the minimum
nd he appealed to his colleagues to
ee to II that not one dollar is appro.
rated which is not absolutely neces-
airy to the best interests OF the public
nrvino