The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-09

by Mr.. Vest in connection with considera-
ton Of bills on the pension calendar. Mr.
Vest said: II do not want to be captious
about this pension business and 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 a
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 sat here and permitted
these bills to be passed. having some deli
cacy about entering objections to the course
Of procedure. Recent events have obliter-
ated sectionalism and we are once more
united and are one country and one treasury.
We can therefore come here and object to
this spoliation. and / use the words advis-
edly, without fear of having our motives
impugned or our words misconstrued. We
are paying out in round figures Sal, ,0O9o0e
annually for pensions and it is our duty to
find out why it is that, thirty-three years
after the close Of the civil war; this thing
of pension claims shows enormous a sum.
1 have been criticised by some Of my people
because have not taken more determined
stand on this pension question l want,
however, to pay rnunifcently and literally
pensions. regard such payment as sacred
duty, but L do object to the passage OF
these bills without proper consideration, anc
with the same restrictions that are hedged
about other measures
Mr.. Gallinger, as chairman of the pension
committee, agreed with Mr.. Vest in his de-
sire to have the pension bills carefully con-
sidered. He thought quorum of the Senate
ought to be in attendance when the pension
ton of bills on the pension calendar. Mr..
Caffery, of Louisiana, introduced this reso-
luton: THAT it is the sense of the Senate
that the President of the United States
enter into negotiations with the government
of Great Britain for the purpose Of abro-
eating or modifying the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty so far and to the extent the same
may be deemed necessary to prevent the
United States from owning, constructing,
controlling or operating an interoceanic
canal across the Isthmus of Darien."
The antl-scalping bill passed yesterday by
the House was received and at the request
of Mr. Cullom, chairman of the committee
on interstate commerce, was laid on the
table instead of being referred to the COM
mittee A similar bill has already been re-
ported by the Senate committee on inter-
state commerce.
A considerable number OF pension bills had
been passed before the senator's one or two
at time began to leave the chamber.
Finally, true to his warning, Mr.. Vest
raised the point of no quorum. Forty-eight
senator's responded to their names and con-
slderation of the pension bills was resumed.
At the expiration of the one hour allotted
to consideration of the pension calendar
twenty-six bills had been passed. AT lis the
Senate went into executive session.
At 2:15 the Senate resumed business in
open session. Mr.. Morgan called up the
Nicaragua canal bill, with a view to MAX
ing it the unfinished business. He moved
that the Senate proceed TO the considera-
ton of the bill. Instantly Mr.. Petugrew
moved to adjourn. On this motion the yeas
and nays were demanded The vote resulted:
13 yeas, AZ nays. Mr.. Morgan's motion 10
proceed with consideration Of the N1cara-
guam canal bill was then carried and after
the bill had been laid before the Senate,
thus becoming the unfinished business, the
Senate. on motion of Mr.. Morgan, at 225
D. m, adjourned until Monday.