Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-12
THE PENSION EVIL.
FEDERAL SENATE ON PROVISION
FOR SOLDIERS DAUGHTERS.
C VII SERVICE DEBATE ENDS.
The AssaiIants of the Law I'm the
House Fail mt the Last to Carry
Their Point-The Ohio situa-
ton Referred To.

| transaction Of some routine business In
the Senate to-day. Mr.. Gallinger. chair
man of the Committee on Pensions, re-
ported adversely from the committee
bill TO grant a pension Of 500 a month
each TO Margaret Butler Meade and Hen
rietta Meade, daughters Of the late Ma
jor-General George Gordon Meade, and
asked that the bill be indefinitely post
poned
Mr.. Allen, OF Nebraska, asked what rea-
son there was for requesting the indefi-
mite postponement of the bill.
Mr.. Gallinger explained the terms OF
the bill, and said that the committee had
taken adverse action on the bill because
1t did not believe 1t proper for the coun-
try TO enter upon the experiment of pen
sioning the daughters of soldiers.
Mr.. Allen said that he had a distinct
recollection Of several instances of pen
slons being granted to the daughters OF
soldiers, and expressed the opinion that
this bill ought at least to go to the calen-
dar for discussion. He thought he could
not be accused of too great lberality, but
in this case the soldier, General Meade,
had performed remarkable service. In
his (Allen's) opinion it was serious ques
| ton whether, If General Meade had not
been at the battle of Gettysburg, we
should have had a government to-day
In reply Mr.. Gallnger said that he had
not the slightest objection to the con-
sideration of the bill but he desired TO
say to the Senate and to the country
that if the government enters upon the
business of pensioning the daughters of
soldiers, the pension list would be swelled
to billions instead of millions Of dollars.
Mr.. Allen thought that might be better
than TO throw the governments money
into mill-ponds and unknown creeks
throughout the country.
THAT Is a matter" said Mr. Gallinger,
bringing the coloquy 10 an end, with
which the Committee on Pensions has
nothing to do
Mr.. Wolcott, Of Colorado, gave notice
that he woull on next Monday address
the Senate upon the work Of the none
tary commission.
The bill restricting immigration was
then called up, and Mr.. Fairbanks. or
Indiana, addressed the Senate in support
of the measure.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Fairbanks's
speech. Mr.. Caffery, of Louisiana. an
nounced that on Thursday next he would
address the Senate upon the immigration
bill.
On motion of Mr.. Davis, the Senate
then, at 1:35 T. NJ, went into executive
session, and at 1886 p. NJ. adjourned.
House of Representatives.
The civil service debate which was in
augurated in the House "A week ago ended
to-day. 1t opened with a row, but ended
very tamely There was not even a vote
on the appropriation in the legislative,
executive. and judicial appropriation bill
for the commission, upon which the de-
bate was predcated. Those who are
seeking to modify or repeal the law de-
cided TO let the debate come to a close
to-day. but it required the casting vote
Of the Speaker TO accomplish this.
There are conflicting statements as to
the condition in which the civil service
law is left. 1t is stated by Mr.. Pearson
Republican), Of North Carolina, that as
surances have been received from those
in authority in the House that an OPP
portunity will be given in the future for
the consideration Of a bill to modify the
law, but from other sources the statement
cannot be confirmed.
The debate to-day was quite dull until
the closing hour, when Mr.. Simpson, the
Kansas Populist, enlivened il with some
references to the Ohio senatorial cleo
ton.
Mr.. Bailey. the Democratic leader. made
a clear statement of the minority posi-
ton, which indicates that the minority
will vote TO repeal, but not TO modify the
law.
The principal speech of the day vas
made by Mr. Brosus, chairman OF the
Civil Service Committee, who defended
the law in a two-hOur speech. Mr.. Bro
sius opened the debate with an elab-
crate defence Of the merit system and
an argument for sustaining the law. Mr.
Pearson Republican,. of North Carolina,
asked how the statement that the civil
service law was economical would be
reconciled with the fact that the
employees Of the government had
almost doubled since 1888. Mr. Bro
sius denied that this was true. The adj
vocates Of the spols system. he said had
so repeatedly made this statement that
they believed it. He produced figures
from the report of the committee to
show that the number of employees in
the classified service in the eight execu-
tive departments in this city had de-
creased 3 per cent, while the number i'm
the unclassifed service had increased c.
per cent.
DEFENCE OF CLEVELAND.
Mr.. Mcguire Democrat of California,
defended the last administration against
the charge of wholesale removals. and
commended the efficiency of the service
especially in the Public Printing Office,
which had been an especial point of as
sault from the other side.
White Republican), of North Carolina
the only colored member Of the House.
spoke in favor Of a modification of the
law. but if il could not be modified he
said he would join the Democrats in an
effort to repeal it.
After some remarks by Messrs. Bell
PopulsO, of Colorado. and Mr.. Eddy
Republican), of Minnesota, Mr. Simpson
PopulsD, of Kansas. enlivened the
closing hour OF the debate by a refer
ence 10 the senatorial contest in Ohio He
said the debate had been prolonged. while
the Republicans out i'm Ohio were making
promises TO the boys in the trenches in
the interest Of Senator Hanna.
1t was all a blun. said Mr.. Simpson.
Nothing was to be done, and now that
Senator Hannas election was secured.
the mask was thrown off and a vote was
TO be taken tonight on this bill. Whether
the House would have an opportunity
later to consider a bill for the modifica-
tion or repeal OF the law would depend