The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-09
NEW LEGISLATION.
First Special Pension Bill Growing
Ont of the Wnr with Spain.

Ont of the War with Spain.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.--The first or the
special pension bills growing out OF the
SDanish-American war to be introduced at
the present session is that of Representative
Gillett. of Massachusetts, to pension the
widow of Captain Dickinson, seventeenth
United States Infantry, mortally wounded
during the fight at FL Caney on July last
Other bills of this character coming over
from last session are those to pension the
mother of Worth Bagley, the naval ensign
who lost his life on the torpedo boat WINS
low during the bombardment of Cardenas'
and to pension the widow Of Captain Grlu-
lev. commander of Admiral Deweys flag
shin OLYMPIA during the battle of Manila
All bills relating to the Spanish-American
war go to the pension committee, as lhe
committee ON invalid pensions, which nam
dies the great bulk of pension leslslatlon'
is restricted by the rules to the civil war.
Chairman Ray, of the committee on IN
valid nensions. said to-day that he did not
look for any general pension legislation
growing out of the recent war. There IS
no need of it." said he. "as all our present
pension laws apply to those who served IN
the recent war except the act OF June ~,
1880 which applies only to those serving IN
the war of the rebellion. That act gives
S12 to a soldier and $S to the widow OF q
soldier without reference TO the cause oL
disability.
Senator Mitchell introduced bill to-day
amending the existing law in regard to vol
unteer soldiers homes so as to admit Volun-
teers who were disabled by the war with
Spain About 1900 men are anected Dy the
proposed amendment
s,,Ar In
Senate a resolution providing for the ap-
pointment of a joint commission to investi-
gate the charges of corruption in the con-
duct Of the war with Spain. The preamble
to the resolution recites that charges have
been made in the public press over the sig
natures of responsible parties that improper
and corrupt means have been used to Sc
cure contracts from the government Tor the
purchase of vessels for the navy ana Ior
the furnishing Of clothing and other neces-
sary articles for the army of the United
States during the war with Spain at eX-
cessiVe and eXOrbitant rates. Ihe reSOlu-
tion calls for the appointment of three SEN
ators and five members OF the House, ana
imposes upon them the duty OF 'inquirlng as
to the truth of all such charges ana make
report by bill or otherwise" The senators
are to be appointed by the president OF the
Senate and the members of the House by
the speaker of the House.
The Senate committee on foreign relations
held a meeting to-day to consider the bin
reported by the Hawaiian commission for
the government Of the Hawaiian islands.
The bill was only considered in very gen.
eral way the committee deciding to post
pone the detail work upon it for a week:
This decision was reached because the full
report of the commission had not been
printed At the meeting next wednesday
the measure will be taken up, section by
section. and the whole matter VIII be very
carefully considered with the view OF pre-
ia the Senate Senator's Cullom and Morgan,
who are members Of the commission and
also members of the committee were pres
emf at tO-days meeting and explained many
of the general features Of the bill. No OPP
position developed at to-days meeting.
while no disposition was manifested 70 make
anv opposition to the Hawaiian bill as
whole some of the members or the commit
fee Indicated a desire to amend II in some
particulars. Senator Turple was among those
tion to the bin as reported is on account
of the provision for congressional dele
pate The supporters of the bill indicated
2 U,ii1ineness 10 strike out this provision and
j.. it looks as if this would be done
Senator Vest to-day followed up the de-
bate in executive session of yesterday con-
cerning the appointment of senators and
members of the House TO positions on presi-
Dental commissions by the introduction of
bill prohibiting the practice OF making such
appointments. The bin is very brief and Is
as follows: That no person while holding
a judicial or legislative Office under the
United States shall be appointed by the
President commissioner or agent of the gov
ernment nor Of any department or bureau
there0f.s