The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-13
PRIVATE PENSION Bills
More Care in Their Pas
sage Urged
TIME TO CALL A Halt


Abrosate b Clayton.Bulwer Treaty.
NiearaguaCanaI Bal Unanished Busi-
ness Before the Senaie-House Passe.
War Deficiency Bill.
SENATE.
Washington, December Sat the
opening of today's session Of the SEN
ate it was decided that the adjournment
today be until Monday next.
1t was 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, Sena-
tor Vest, (Missouri) said: Il do not
want to be captious about this pension
business and do not want to set myself
up as a reformer, but this thing of pass
ing a lot of pension bills simply by the
reading of the titles and when a quo
rum of the senate is not present hat got
to be stopped"
After referring to the methods by
which pension bills are passed by the
senate, Senator Vest said: Men of
the south have sat here and permitted
these bills to be passed, having some
delicacy about entering objections to
tee course of procedure. Recent events
have obliterated sectionalism and we
are once more united and are n
try and one treasury. \ e can, there
fore, come here and object to this
spoilation, and l use the word advised
ly, without fear of having our motives
impugned or our words misconstrued.
We are paying out in round figures
$141, 000, 900 annually for pensions and
it is u duty to find out why it is that,
thirty-three years after the close of the
civil war, this thing of pension claims
shows SO enormous increase. l have
been criticised by some of my people
because l have not taken a nor deter
mined stand on this pension question.
l want, however, to pay literally in
pensions. l regard such payment as a
sacred duty, but l do object to the
passage of these bills without proper
consideration and with the same re-
strictions that are hedged about other
measures"
Senator Gallinger, of New Hampshire,
as chairman of the pension committee,
agreed with Senator Vest in his desire
to have the pension bills carefully con-
sidered. He thought a quorum of the
senate ought to be in attendance when
the pension calendar was considered.
During the consideration of bills on
the pension calendar, Seator Caffery,
of Louisiana, introduced this resolu-
ton:
That it is the sense of the senate
of the United States that the president
enter into negotiations with the gov
eminent of Great Britain for the pur-
pose of abrogating or modifying the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty so far and to
the extent that the same may be deem
ed to prevent the United States from
owning, constructing, controlling or
operating an inter oceanic canal across
the Isthmus of Darien."
At the expiration of the one hour al
lotted to the consideration. of the pen
sion calendar twenty-six bills had been
passed.
At 1:5O o'clock the senate went into
executive session and at 2:15 o'clock
resumed business in open session.
Senator Morgan called up the Nicara-
qua canal bill with a view t. making
it the unfinished business. He moved
hat the senate proceed to the consid-
Grafton Of the bill.
Instantly Senator Pettigrew moved
to adjourn. On this motion the ayes
and noes were demanded. The vote
resulted Ii ayes, AZ noes.
Senator Morgan's motion to proceed
with the consideration of the Nacara-
u 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 SEN
ator Morgan, at 2:25 o'clock p. m, ad-
journed until Monday.
HOUSE OF representatives,
The urgent deficiency bill to provide
for the support of the military and
naval establishments was passed by the
house today, practically without oppo-
sitiOn. A fear had been expressed that
the measure might open up a prolonged
debate upon the conduct of the war, but
the democratic leaders decided that
such a debate would properly come
later upon the regular appropriation
bills OF upon the bill for the reorgani-
cation of the army. There was not a
word of criticism of the war during the
debate. The only point upon which an
issue was raised today was to whether
the bill providing. as it did, for the
pay Of the volunteers until July 1, 1899,
might n be construed as a modifica-
ton of the law under which the VOL
unteers were mustered into service.
Mr.. McRae, of Arkansas, offered an
amendment, providing that it should
not be SO construed and upon it there
was a general discussion as 10 the ad-
visibility of mastering the volunteers
out before the regular army was in
creased.
Mr.. Cannon finally accepted the Nc
Rae amendment and that removed the
only shadow of opposition TO the bill.
A number of amendments were adopt
ed upon the recommendation of the
appropriations committee. which re
/ ceived some supplemental estimates
afte- the bill was prepared. The lar