The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-10
The House Considers the Pension
Appropriation Bill.
ALLEN LED THE ASSAULT
Amendments Presented to Correct GIar-
ing Evils = 1t Is Admitted That
S14o.ooo.oOO Will Not Be
Enough for Expenses

continue for several days. Several of
the southern democrats offered criti-
clSmS OF various classes of pensioners
and Private John Allen of Mississippi
VINO led the assault in a speech, replete
with his characteristic humor, pre-
sented series of amendments, de-
signed, as he said, to correct some of
the glaring evils. They prohibit the
granting of pensions to widows whose
applications were not filed during their
WidoWhood and the granting of pen
slonS to widows whose applications
We're based on marriages contracted
after the passage of this act and 10
permanently insane or idiotic minors
who had reached their majority. ,rhn
northern democrats WED win the re
publicans in their professions of friend
ship for the soldiers, and one of them,
Mr.. Norton of Ohio, declared that the
republicans could not make them 100
large for him. It was admitted on b. tn
sides of the house during the discussion
that the s140,000000 carried by the Oil
for pensions would not cover the eS-
penditures, but as congress would be in
session, Mr.. Cannon said, il would he
easy to make good any deficiency that
might occur.
Mr.. Stone, in charge Of the bill, yield
ed 10 Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the
committee on appropriations, WHO took
occasion to make general statement
OF the estimates submitted by the sec
retafy OF the treasury for the public
service of 1899, for the purpose, he said,
OF dlsabusing the minds Of members
and CT the people of the country of
false Impressions made by q compdri-
son of these estimates with those of
preceding years The estimated rev
enues for 1899 We're S482. .00o, 900: the ex-
penditures S504 900, 600, showing an es-
tmated deficit of $21 900 600
l..
secretary of the treasury, he pointed
out, was compelled to estimate this
year for 100000 of river anl harbor
work, $33 000. 900 of which had not been
authorized by law. After a sum, nol
heretofore included IL the estimates,
were deducted there would b. an es-
timated surplus of SIS, 00e, instead IF
the deficit
Last year the estimated deficit under
the last tariff act was $46000,0 600. If
the SIT 1000, 600 for river and harbor work
for which the government then stood
bound had been included, the estimated
deficit would have been 500. 600 900.
Mr. Cannon said it might be that the
expenditures for pensions for 1889
would exceed the estimates. The COM
missioner of pensions estimated the ex-
penditures at $14s 900, 900. If he should
prove to be right, Mr.. Cannon pointed
out the $40 900, ,000 appropriated by this
Il months Of the fiscal year and de-
ficiency appropriation could be easily
made. In conclusion, Mr.. Cannon SOL
emnly warned the house that the large
anticipatory importations 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 is sufficiently sup
piled with money, not one dollar is ap-
propriated which is not absolutely neces-
sary to the best interests of the public
service This statement of Mr.. Can
mon was warmly applauded on the re-
publican side.
MIR. Allen, democrat of Mississippi. at
tackled MIR. Cannon's statement in a
speech in which there We're flashes of
his inimitable humor that set the house
into roar of laughter. He grayely COM
mended Mr.. Cannons appeal for econo-
my. but ayowed that the figures of the
appropriation committee did not do
the situation justice. He produced fig.
ures that showed an estimated deficit
for the next year of S12,000000. He re-
feffed to the increase in the pension
roll under the present administration
and ridiculed the idea of a decrease un-
less the increase Was 10 be attributed
TO the 'exigencies of the recent COM
paign in Ohio"
He read from Commissioner Evans les
timony before the appropriations commit
tee, predicting deficit of from Ss0450i0
10 $l0, 100000 in pension expenditures dur
ing the next fiscal year. The maximum
had not yet been reached
his question Of the maximum of the
pension roll, observed MIR Allen "is one
of the things that has protracted my stay
III congress. When | first came here they
were talking of the maximum | staid 10
or j. years to see il. but 1t has not vet
come. and ] guess | will have TO come
back again" Laughtero.
Mr.. Allen directed the batteries of his
humor at the Dingley law as a revenue
producer, picturing the intense anxiety
of the chairman Of the ways and IN ans
committee at the extra session 10 get 4
bill on the statute books that would
strike a balance between the receipts aud
expenditures and predicting another sea-
son OF anxiety on Mr.. Dingley's part neNt
spring. Another extra session would be
called Tor the same purpose
MIR. Allen criticized some classes OF pen
sfons granted. In conclusion he spoke Of
the hardships this great tax burden placed
on the people Of the South. who. he sad
Were being relentlessly burdened bV the
gold standard and ~ cent cotton
MIR. Dearmond. democrat Missouri fol-
lowed with some additional criticism Of
some of the classes on the pension rolls.
Mr.. Lacey. republican. Iowa, defended
the present liberal pension policy.
When Mr. Lacey concluded Mr.. Alien
again got the floor and disclaImed any
intention of attacking the federal sol
diers on the pension rolls. But he said.
be could not hui marvel II the fact thaE
$4,000 names were now on the rolls ard
that there were 10000 applications in the
pension office. There had been buf - ma
men in the federal army. ard he WAS r.
minded Of a meeting between an es-can-
federate and an ex-fedeEstl 81 a blue ana
gray reunion. They were selteitating
themselves on the disappearance ef all
hostility.
IF there should he another war" said
tn ex-federaI we viii be standing shout
der to shoulder under enc ffag
y viii. but YOU Won rat0rted the *
What do you mean asked the ~
federal
Legally yau are disabled 4-au1Hter4.
Mr.. MfE8e. democrat. Arkansas. adxuz
Gated the Step taken to transfer the p=4-