Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-10

Representative Jerry Simpson of Kan,
sas. was in his seat for the first time this
session and was warmly greeted by his
colleagues.
After some preliminary business the
House went into committee of the whole
Payne of New York. in the chair, for the
consideration of the pension appropria-
ton bill which was reported, yesterday
The bill carries Sal .12l $50. of which
M,l2l $50 is for fees of examining sur
geons. salaries of agents. clerks. and
the other items for the execution of the
pension laws. w. A. Stone. Rep. Pa, in
charge of the bill, explained the different
items.
Stone. then yielded to Cannon. chairman
of the committee on appropriations who
took occasion to make a 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 members and
the country of a false impression made
by comparison of those estimates with
those of preceding years.
The estimated revenues for 1899 were
$500 900. the expenditures $504 900 900,
showing an estimated deficit of S21 900 600
Under the last sundry civil act the sec
rotary of the treasury he pointed out.
was compelled to estimate this year for
$4SOO0.OU of river and harbOr work. $33 :
0o0,000 of which had not been authorized
by law.
the estimates We're deducted there would
be an estimated surplus of s. 900 600 in
stead of a deficit.
Last year. as estimated the deficit I'M
der the last tariff act was $4,000 900. If
the 81, COO 600 for river and harbOr work
for which the government then stood
bound had been included. the estimated
deficit would have been $685. 900.
Cannon said it might be that the ex-
penditures for pensions for 1899 would
aV hn .aSfi, Th,
of pensions estimated the expenditures
at S14S, 100000 If he should prove to be
right. Mr.. Cannon pointed that the $l40.-
oo0.U0 appropriated by this bill would pay
al! pensions for the first II months of the
fiscal year and Il deficiency appropriation
could easily be made.
In conclusion Cannon Solemnly warned
the House that the large anticipatory
importations would keep the revenues
under the present law down to the mini
mum and he appealed to his colleagues
to see to it that while the public SER
vice was sufficiently supplied with money
not one dollar is appropriate which is
not absolutely necessary to the best in
terestS of the public service
This statement of Cannon was warmly
applauded on the Republican side.
Allen, Dem. Miss. attacked Cannons
statement. He commended Cannon's APP
peal for economy. but avowed that the
figures given did not do the situation JUS
IN estimated deficiency for the next year
If $720o0 600. He referred to the increase
n the pension roll under the present adj
and ridiculed the idea of a
decrease unless the latter was to be
attributed to the "eXigencies. of the re-
cent campaign in Ohio
He read from Commissioner Evans tes-
imony before the appropriation commit
zee predicting deficit of from $4,000, 900
o sl0,00o,G0O in pension expenditures dur
ng the next fiscal year. The maximum
has not yet been reached.
''This question of the maximum of the
pension roll" observed Allen, lis one of
he things that has protracted my stay
n Congress When l first came here
hey were talking of the maximum. l
stayed 10 or Is years to see it, but it has
lot yet come and / guess I'll have to
;ome again. Gaughter).
Allen directed his batteries at the Ding
ey bill as revenue producer. picturing
he intense anxiety of the chairman of
he ways and means committee at the
xtra session to get bill on the statute
'ook that would strike a balance between
he receipts and expenditures and pre-
letting another season of anxiety on
part, next spring, at another
ession called for the same purpose.
Allen. with mock gravity offered as his
xcuse for discussing the pension ques
ion. the conspicuous part he had played,
IS a Confederate soldier. in producing
he pension roll. He estimated that he
lad protracted the war two years by his
wn personal valor. But. he said, he had
orgiven the North and ventured the opin-
on that the President had him in mind
when he spoke in his message of a
growing feeling of fraternal regard" be-
ween the sections.
Allen then seriously criticized some of
he classes of pensions granted. In con-
fusion he spoke of the hardships this
reat tax burden placed on the people of
he South, which. he said. was being re-
burdened by the gold standard
nd Accent cotton.
DeArmOnd. DEM. Mo-, criticized some |
f the classes on the pension rolls.
Allen again got the floor and disclaimed |
ny intention of attacking the Federal |
oldiers or the pension rolls. But he said |
e could not but marvel at the fact that |
L. 900 names were now on the rolls and |
lat there were 100000 applications in the !
ension Office. There had been but 2,20O-
% men in the Federal army. and he was
pmindcd of meeting between an ex-
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