The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-10
HOUSE SETTLES DOWN TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE AP-
PRECIPITATION BILLS.
LONG DEBATE IN PROSPECT.
SOUTHERN MEMBERS CRITICISE
THE TOTAL CARRIED BY THE
PENDING MEASURE.
PRIVATE ALLEN WAKES HUMOROUS
Turns the Batteries of His Wit on
the DinGIey Bill and the Re-
pubIicans In General.

w lee. Ellie ilOuSe
today entered upon the consideration
Of the pension appropriation bill. and
stirred up a debate that promises to
continue for several days. Several of
the Southern Democrats offered critf-
cisms on various classes Of pensioners
and Private John Allen, of Missis-
sippi, who led the assault in a speech
rcplete with his characteristic humor
presented series of amendments de-
signed, as he said, 20 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-
lions are based on marriages contracted
after the passage of this act and to
permanently insane or idiotic minors
who had reached their majority. The
Northern Democrats Wed with 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 the bill too
large for him. 1t was admitted on
both sides of the house during the dis
cussion, that the $500 900 carried by
the bill for pensions would not cover
the expenditures, but as congress would
be in session. Mr.. Cannon said it would
be easy to make good any deficiency
that might occur.
Mr. Stone, in charge of the bill, yield
ed to Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations, who took oc-
casion to make a general statement of
the estimates submitted by the secre-
tary of the treasury for the public
service of 1899 for the purpose, he said
of disabusing the minds of members
and the country of a false impression
made by comparison of these esti-
mates with those of preceding years.
The estimated revenues for 1898 were
$4S2, 900, the expenditures 1904, 900, OOO
showing an estimated deficit of $21 ,000.-
COO. Under the last sundry civil act
the secretary of the treasury, he point
ed out, was compelled to estimate this
year for $48,O0O.O0O of river and harbor
work. s33 100000 of which had not been
authorized by law. In this sum, not
heretofore included in the estimates
were deducted there would be an esti-
mated surplus of $4,000, 900 instead of
deficit
ECONOMY URGED
Last year the estimated deficit under
the last tariff act was SAC. OOO. 900 If
the ST, 100000 for river and harbor
work. for which the government then
stood bound. had been included the es-
timated deficit would have been
$68, 100000 Mr.. Cannon said it
might be that the expenditures for
pensions for 1899 would exceed the esti-
mates. In conclusion Mr.. Cannon
solemnly warned the house that the
large anticipatory expectations would
keep the revenues under the present
law down to the minimum and he ap-
pealed to his colleagues to see to il
that while the public service is suffi-
GENTLY supplied with money. not one
dollar is appropriated which is not alb
sciutely necessary to the best inter-
ests of the public service" This state
ment of Mr.. Cannon was warmly APP
plauded on the Republican side.
Mr.. Allen Dem, Miss) attacked Mr.
Cannon's statement in a speech in
table humOr that set the house into
roar of laughter He gravely COM
mended Mr.. Cannon's appeal for econ
omy, but avowed that the figures of
the chairman of the appropriations
committee did not do the situation JUS
tice. He produced figures which
showed an estimated deficit for the
next year Oh 9iz,OUO,UUU. lie referred 10
the increased pension roll under the
present administration. and ridiculed
the idea of a decrease, unless the late
increase was to be attributed to the
eXigencies the late campaign in Ohio
Mr. Allen directed the batteries Of
his humor at the Dingley law, as a
revenue producer, picturing the in
tense anxiety of the chairman of the
ways and means committee at the ex-
ira session to get bill on the statute
books that would strike a balance be-
tween the receipts and expenditure
and predicting another season Of anx-
iety on Mr. Dingley's part next spring
at another extra session called for the
same purpose. Mr.. Allen seriously
criticised some of the classes of pen
sions granted. In conclusion he spoke
of the hardships of this great tax bur
den placed on the people of the South
who were, he said, being relentlessly
burdened by the gold standard and
4h-cent cotton.
Mr.. Allen gave notice that he would
offer amendments to prohibit the
granting of a pension to a widow
whose application was not filed during
her widowhood; to prohibit pen
sioning widows who had not married
prior to the passage of this act, and to
strike from the rolls the names of all
permanently insane or helpless chill
dren who had reached their majority
At this point the committee rose and
the house adjourned.