The record-union., 1898-12-09

u SAc <1PPAUpildtlolS OOIIlullLlG6s QlI-
fered from his colleague, Livingston.
He did not believe that the pending bill
could possibly be construed to mod
ify the Volunteer Act.
Fleming declared that the volunteers
had enlisted under the promise that
they would be discharged when the war
was over. He could not understand
why the Chairman of the Appropria-
tions Committee should oppose the Nc
Rae amendment, which simply provid-
ed that nothing in the pending bill
should construe or modify the Act of
April 22d.
Cannon said he saw no good purpose
that would be subserved by it's incor-
poration- 1t would simply give some
gentlemen on the other side an oppor-
tunity to flap their wings and proclaim
with sound and fury their friendship
FOR the volunteers. Gaughter.)
De Almond CD of Missouri advocat-
ed the adoption of the McRae amend
ment. The President, he said, could
not transform the volunteers into uni
formed policemen, If Congress in its
wisdom decided otherwise. The whole
question was a mere quibble as to
whether the universal understanding of
the 100000 men who had enlisted that
they should be discharged when hos
tilities ceased was now TO be abandon
ed and the volunteers held to do police
duty in different parts of the world.
General debate upon the bill was then
closed upon Cannon's motion. and the
bill was read for amendment under the
five-minute rule.
Cannon offoro5 -
ment for an emergency fund of So, Co.,
900 for the War Department He said
it was impossible to see what contin-
gencies might and probably would
arise in the next six months. An emer-
gency fund of $1,0O0,OOO was provided
for the Navy Department.
The amendment was adopted.
King CD of Utah offered an amend
ment to limit the appropriation for the
payment of the volunteers for the per-
iod prior to March 81, 1899. He thought
1t the imperative duty of the President
to muster out the volunteers as soon
as peace was declared.
The amendment was lost without di-
vision
Allen Cd Of Mississippi offered an
amendment providing that the money
appropriated in the bill for the pay of
volunteers should not be available lon
ger than three months after ratifica-
ton of treaty of peace. It was de-
feated-51 to II.
On motion of Cannon, several com
mittee amendments We're adopted.
The appropriation of the current ex-
penses of the ordnance service was in
creased from $4,000 to 100000: for
the manufacture of metallic ammuni-
tion, marksmen's medals. insignia, etc.
from 100000 to 100000; for the pur-
chase and manufacture of ordnance
stores, from $62, 900 to $3.50. 900: for in
fantry, cavalry and artillery equipment,
from 100000 to $15O,OO0, and for the
manufacture Of arms at national arm
ories. ETC., from $2T5,0 600 to 1926, 600.
These increases, Cannon explained.
had been recommended by the Chief of
Ordnance.
Cannon then accepted the McRae
amendment
Without further amendment the bill
was reported to the House and passed
without division
Cannon moved that when the House
adjourn to-day it be until Monday
next, explaining that the adjournment
would give the committee an opportu-
nifty to work. The motion was agreed
to-
Shafroth of Colorado asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration of
the bill for the reclamation Of arid
lands
Hepburn of Iowa objected.
conference report on the bill re-
lating to the bonds of Consuls. Vice
Consuls and Consular Agents was
adopted.
AT 4:20 p. m. the House adjourned
until Monday.
IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The Senate
held a short session to-day. and al
journed until Monday, after making the
N1caraguan Canal bill the unfinished
business before that body Morgan
called up the measure, whereupon Pet
tigrew moved to adjourn This motion
failed, thirteen ayes to forty-two nays.
and the bill was brought forward. Ad-
journment was Immediately taken.
During the session Vest stated his
opposition to the hurried manner of
passing pension bills in the Senate. and
gave notice that he would insist upon
a quorum being present when pension
bills were being acted upon.
In connection with the consideration
of bills on the pension calendar, Vest
said: Il do not want to be captious
about this pension business, and Go not
want to set myself up as a reformer,
but this thing of passing lot of pen
sion bills simply by the reading of the
titles and when quorum of. the Sen
ate is not present has got to be
stopped"
After further referring to the methods
by which pension bills are passed by the
Senate, Vest said: Men of the South
have permitted these bills to be passed,
having some delicacy about entering
objections to the course of procedure.
Recent events have obliterated section
alism, and we are united. We can,
therefore, come here and object to this
spoliation, and I use the word advisedly.
without fear Of having our motives i'm
pugned or our words misconstrued We
are paying out in round figures Sill, :
100000 annually for pensions and it is
our duty to find out why it is that
thirty-three years after the close CT the
civil war this thing of pension claims
shows so enormous a sum. / have been
criticised by some of my. people because
have not taken a more determined
stand on this pension question. /
want, however. to pay munificently
and literally in pensions. regard such
payment as a. sacred duty, but do OBJ
ject to the passage of these bills with
out proper consideration, and with The
same restrictions that are hedged about