New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-10
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A STORM OVER PENSIONS
THE APPROPRIATION BILL HOTLY De-
BATED IN THE HOUSE.
DEMOCRATIC CHARGES THAT THE PENSION LIST
is "a ROLL OF DIsHoNoR' INDIGNANTLY
DENOUNCED BY REPuBLIcANs-MR.
CANNON POINTS OUT THE NE
CEssITY FOR ECONOMY.


Washington. Dec. 9.-The Pension Approprfa-
ton bill provoked a hot debate in the House OK
Representatives to-day. which spun to such
a length that the bill had not been disposed OK
when the session closed. Before the trouble be-
gan Chairman Cannon Of the Appropriations
Committee made q short explanatory speech
about the estimates, showing that last year
Secretary Carlisle omitted from the totals not
only all the engineers stmates for new works
of river and harbor improvement but also
l70OOWO0 for which Congress was bound TO
make appropriation on that account and by
those means cut down the estimated deficit for
the current year.
Mr. Cannon also showed that. ain accordance
with law since enacted TO prevent such
sharp practice that in which the former Sec
retary Of the Treasury had INDUCED, the total
Of the estimates this year includes all the en-
eineers' estimates. which are S33,OO0'OU in ex-
cess Of the amount required TO meet payments
on contracts for river and harbor work. and
said that IL the estimates this year had been
made up I'm the same manner az they were last
year by Secretary Cages predecessor, surplus
OF Ss.GO.G00 would have been shown. He ad-
mitted however that the estimate for pensions
(S141.OO.0O0) might turn out TO be SIcOOOO or
$SO0O000 below the amount actually required
next fiscal year.
MIR. CANNON's STATEMENT APPLAUDED.
Chairman Cannon made exceedingly clear to
all who beard his statement that II will be i'm
peratively necessary for Congress to exercise
the most rigid economy in the matter of appro-
prations at this session. and he appealed to the
House TO recognize this necessity and aid the
committees in keeping appropriations down to
,.s,lf ff.. trinn
an encouraging sign that this appeal was re-
warded with generous applause by the Repub-
lcans. and received with no manifestations OF
dissent on the Democratic side.
Mr. Allen, OF Mississippi, member Of the SUBJ
committee which framed the pending b then
took the floor and iefore he sat down had laid
the foundation for the HOT debate which followed.
Messrs De Almond, Of Missouri: Wheeler. or
Alabama, and other Democrats, added fuel 10
the fire Allen had kinded, and Mr.. Norton OF
Ohio a Democrat who served in the Union
Army. poured oil on the flames by taunting tho
Republicans with insncerlty in dealing with the
pension question. and declaring IN substance
that most of the men whose names are on the
pension rolls committed both moral and legal
perjury In order TO get them there
MR.. HEPBURN REsENTs A SANDER
Probably more slanderous untruth was never
uttered In the House OF Representatives and 1t
was hotly resented in eloquent speech by
Colonel Hepburn, OF Iowa, who was himself
gallant Union soldier. Mr.. Norton pleaded that
he had intended 10 say many Instead OF
most" but most" was what he did say.
II must be admitted that some ground was
shown for several of the criticisms OF the pension
| laws by Democratic members but there was
none whatever for the repetition OF the stale ana
| exploded slander that the pension roll Is a ron
| of dishonor" As Colonel Hepburn pointed out
with great clearness and force. the eight years
OF two Democratic Administrations had been
| ad Ia
Every agency that could be devised had oeen
employed in this work and not only the AID OF
Democratic partisan postmasters, but or sus-
pcIous and unfrlendly neighbors had been IN
voked That the results had been so meagre as
to appear insignificant was not due 10 lack or
zeal or energy either the part or the TWO
| Democratic Administrations their agents
short of maevolence could inspire repetition
at this late day Of the charge that the pension
| roll is a roll OF dishonor.
SOME CHANGES OF LAW NEEDED
That some changes Of the pension laws arc
deemed advisable and necessary in order that
their benefits may not be shared by classes OF
persons who were not embraced within the pur-
view OF those laws when enacted Is the opinion
! of many OF the best friends and strongest sup"
porters of the pension system VINO nave studied
and investigated the subject but II Is strongly
TO he doubted whether such debates as tnat OK
| to-day make 1t easier 10 apply the needful RENEE
dies So long indeed. as Democrats continue 10
heap SANDERS on the benetciaries or the laws
and even In less culpable ways 70 assall theins
lust so long Will the obstacles to rernedal ieSis-
lation continue to exist.