Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-22
THE PENSION BILL.
Notice Given Of an Amendment for
Pensioning Ex-Confederates
AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL
The House Passes Il without Material
AnIsndment-The Conferences Re-
port on the Navy and Army
Deficiency Bill Adopted.

Ter occupied the first half Of yester
days session OF the senate with 9
speech in advocacy OF the theory thai
there are no restrictions upon the
right OF the United States TO expand
its borders so as to include far distant
territory. He went quite thoroughly
into the legal points Gearing upon the
question, and also incidentally dis.
cussed at some length the form Of gov.
eminent for the Philippines, saying
that he would encourage seli-govern.
ment among the islanders, and would
give them the most liberal government
they were capable Of conducting, but
that he would not take down the
American flag where once planted.
The remainder Of the session was given
to the Nicaragua canal bill. Senator
Gallery was the only speaker on this
subject and he opposed the Morgan
bill.
Senator Butler, OF North Carolina,
gave notice of an amendment he will
introduce TO the pension appropriation
bill, pensioning ex.confederate SOL
diers The amendment follows:
That from and after the passage OF this bill
every pension law now on the statute books
shall apply to every invalid soldier, widow,
minor child. dependent relative the army
nurses and oil other persons who may be able
to prove their claim under the present pension
laws without regard TO whether said soldier
was enlisted In the federal or confederate serv-
Ice Of the civil war Of 1917. provided that
those enlisted In the confederate service shall
not draw any back pensions prior to the pas
sage OF this bill, but their claim under exist
Ing laws shall begin and become operative with
the passage Of this bill
AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Washington, Dec. 81. The house
yesterday listened to the first speech
on the annexation Of the Philippines
Mr.. Williams, Of Mississippi a demo.
cratic member Of the foreign affairs
committee, in on hours speech stated
bis opposition to policy which would
bring the islands under the sphere Of
the United States influence. He con.
tended that 1t would be hostile to the
spirit OF our institutions to assume
control over 100000 unwilling sub.
jects; that annexation would cost us
Bl4O, 00O, 900 a year; that the annexa.
ton Of the islands met none OF the
tests which applied to our past acqui.
sitions Of territory and would be q
mistake from social, political and
material standpoint Mr.. Williams
remarks received careful attention
and several times drew applause from
bis democratic colleagues
The agricultural appropriation bill
was passed without material amend
ment II carried $1,000, 322, or $ls7, 1870
more than the current law.
Several resolutions from the river
and harbor committee calling upon
the secretary Of war for estimates as
TO the cost Of certain proposed river
and harbor work were adopted.
At the opening Of the session Mr..
Cannon called up the conference re-
port on the army and navy deficiency
bill and moved its adoption. Mr.. De.
Almond. democrat OF Missouri, asked
whether the re.appropriation OF the
balance Of the $50, 0O0,O 900 to be ex.
pended under the direction Of the
president would in any way sanction
Or authorize the payment out Of that
fund Of $780, 900 to Whitelaw Reid and
Judge Day for services as peace com.
missioners. Mr.. Cannon said he knew
nothing about 1T, and on his state ment
that this re-appropriation made no
shange authorizing such an expendi-
ture the report was adopted.
The senate bill to authorize the
Choctaw 4 Memphis railroad to con.
struct bridge across the Arkansas
river was passed.
Resolutions were adopted directing
che secretary Of war to furnish sur
vey and estimate OF the cost OF enlarg.
ing the east channel OF New York har-
Dor from the narrows to the sea to
depth OF 35 feet and width Of 1000
Feet also to furnish estimates for the
improvement Of the harbor OF Racine,
Wis.,, dredging Cleveland harbor, Ken
osha, Wis, and the Ohio river at Gin.
rinnati
Mr.. Cowherd, Of Kansas City, intro.
duced resolution asking for an inves.
tigation into the cause Of the delay In
the completion Of the Kansas City
public building.
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Returned to tho Nations CauitaL