The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-09
THE SENATE

Washington, December s.-The senate
held a short session today and then ad
journed until Monday, after making the
Nicaraguan canal bill the unfinished bust
ness before the body. Mr.. Morgan called up
the measure, whereupon Mr.. Pettigrew
moved to adjourn. This motion failed, 10
yeas to AZ nays, and the bill was
brought forward Adjournment was
Immediately taken. During the ses-
sion Mr.. 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 pres
ent when pension bills were acted upon.
. Senator Morgan moved 60 take up the
Nicaraguan canal bill in the senate today,
when "a motion to adjourn was made by
Mr.. Pettigrew. The roll was called and the
motion was defeated, l3 TO 43. The bill was
then taken up.
Senator Vest introduced resolution pro-
viding for the appointment of a joint COM
mittee to investigate the charges of corrup-
ton in the conduct of the war with Spain.
The preamble of the resolution recites that
Charges have been made in the public
press over the signatures of responsible
parties that improper and corrupt means
have been used to secure contracts from
the government for the purchase of vessels
for the navy and for the furnishing of
clothing and other necessary articles for
the army of the United States during the
war with Spain at excessive and exorbi
tant rates"
To Seek for the Truth
The resolution calls for the appointment
of three senators and five members of the
house and imposes upon them the duty of
'inquiring as to the truth of all such
charges and make report by bill or other
wise"
The senators are to be appointed by the
praSi6pOt pf he ia MOI
of the house by the speaker of the house.
At the opening of todays session of the
senate it was decided that the adjournment
today be until Monday next.
1t was also determined to give one hour
of today's session to the consideration of
pension bills.
In connection with the consideration of
bills on the pension calendar, Mr. Vest, of
Missouri, said: 81 do not want to be cap
tious about this pension business and l do
not want to set myself up as reformer,
but this thing of passing lot of pension
bills simply by the reading of the titles,
and when quorum of the senate is not
present, has got to be stopped"
After further referring to the methods
by which pension bills are passed by the
senate. Mr.. Vest said: Men of the south
have sit here and permitted these bills to
be passed. having some delicacy about en-
tering objections to the course of proceed
ure. Recent events have obliterated Sec
tionalism, and we are more united and are
one country.
Object TO Robbery
1--WE can therefore come here and object
to this spoliation, and use the word ad-
visediy without fear OF having my motives
impugned or our words misunderstood. We
are paying out in round figures $141 100000
annually for pensions, and 1t is our duty to
find out why ii is that, thrtythree years
after the close of the civil war, this thing
of pension claims shows so enormous
sum. have been criticised by some of my
people because l have not taken more
determined stand on this pension question.
1 want, however, to pay munihcently and
literally in pensions. l regard such pay
ment as a sacred duty, but do object to
the Passage of these bills without proper
consideration and the same restrictions
that are hedged about other measures"
Mr.. Gallinger, of New Hampshire, as
Chairman of the pension committee. agreed
with Mr. Vest in his desire TO have the
pension bills carefully considered. He
thought quorum of the senate ought to