The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-12-15
CONGRESS-.
House.

Washington. Dec I'm the fouse af-
ter the adoption of several routine re-
solutions the house heard a message
from President Mckinley. transmits
ting the report of Special Commissions
er Handy relating to the exhibit of the
United states ut the Paris exposition.
discussion as TO the proper COM
mittees to consider the presidents cur
rency recommendations followed.
The afternoon OF Friday, December
II, was set apart for memorial exer-
cises on the death of the late Congress-
man Holman, of Indiana. and in the
afternoon of Tuesday January is, for
memorial exercises on the death of
Senator Earl, of South Carolina.
Grosvenur. of Ohio. addressed the
house on the civil service law, and Sc
cured the earnest attention OF the
body, AMI especially of his republican
colleagues
II agree with the president" he said,
when he says that there are places
under the civil service law that ought
not to be. But / must differ from him
when he says that the law has met the
approval of the people. If you will go
west of the Allegheny mountains and
submit the question, shall the civil
service law, as now administered, be
continued?' 95 out of every 100 would
vote against it,"
December S-When the session of the
house began Mr.. Walker. of Massachu-
setts, moved and the house agreed. that
the committee on banking and curren-
cy be permitted to sit during the ses-
sion of the house. w. A. Stone, OF
Pennsylvania. reported the pension ap-
preparation bill, and gave notice that
he would call II up for consideration.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 9.-The house
entered upon the consideration of the
pension appropriation bill, and stirred
up debate that promises to continue
for several days John Allen, OF Mis-
sissippi. presented a series of amend
ments designed. as he said. to correct
some of the most glaring evils. They
prohibited the granting of pensions to
widows whose applications were not
filed during their widowhood, and the
granting of pensions TO widows whose
applications were based on marriages
contracted after the passage of this
act. and to permanently insane or idi-
otic minors who had reached their ma
jority. 1t was admitted, on both sides
of the house. during the discussion,
that the $4,000 600 Corried by the bill
for pensions would not cover the ex-
penditures. but as congress would be
in session, Mr.. Cannon said It would be
easy to make good any deficiency that
might occur. Mr.. Allen disclaimed any
inteEtion of attacking the federal SOL
diers or the pension rolls. But he said
he could not but marvel at the fact
that $4,000 names were now on the
rolls, and that there were 100000 appli-
cants In the pension office. There had
been but 100000 men in tie federal
army, and he was reminded of meet
ing between an ex-confederatc and ex-
federal at at a blue and gray reunion.
| They were felicitating themselves on
the disappearance of all hostility.
Washington. ID. c.. Dec. 10.--The
house passed the pension appropriation
| bill without amendment and adjourned
until Monday. The debate touched not
only the question II our pension policy,
but that of civil service reform and
| the receipts and expenditures of the
| treasury under the Dingley law. on
| the latter question Mr.. Diugley made
an important statement in which he
| expressed the opinion that the re-
| ceipts would equal the expenditures
| before the close of the present fiscal
| year and predicted a surplus Of Si0,-
100000 next year. The civil service law
was savagey attacked 10y several
| members.