The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-20
Measure ArouSeS Warm Discus
sion In House.
CHARGES AGAINST EVANS
INTIMATED THAT he NEVER
HANDLED A MUSKET.
Rulings of the Commissioner As
sailed By Curtis of Kansas, Who
Declared the Office Was Not Being
Properly Condueted-The Bill,
However, Is Finally Passed.

washington. Jan. 19.-The pension
appropriation bill, carrying Shops, go.
was passed by the house today Ii
was made the vehicle of an attack upon
the commissioner Of pensions by Mr..
Curtis rep, Kan.). VINO was seconded
by Mr.. Lentz and Mr. Norton OF Ohio
and Mr.. Robinson of Indiana and other
northern Democrats All inveighed
against the lack of liberality in the ad-
ministration OF the pension laws.
The commissioner was ably defended
by a score Of members from both sides
of the house. Mr.. Mahon (Rep.. Pa.)
charged that the assault upon him had
been instigated by the pension sharks
of this city, who were rObbing the old
soldiers.
As 6. result Of the latter's disclosures,
rider was put upon the bill by unaEi-
nous consent, empowering the commits
sioner, IN his discretion, to withhold
the fees Of attorneys Of record in pen
sion cases where ne was satisfied that
the attorneys had not prepared the
cases under their personal supervision.
an Influx Of CLANS.
Mr.. Barney (Wis.), VINO was in charge
of the pension bill, made a general
statement of its contents. He said the
commissioner of pensions estimated
that the amount for pensions during the
coming year would largely decrease,
but owing to the influx Of claims on
account Of the Spanish Was. ne did not
deem il wise to reduce the appropria-
ton this year. There were % GOO Span
ism war claims now pending. The COM
missioner thought 5000 900 or S6,0J0,
600 would cover these claims.
Mr.. Curtis (Kan.) assailed some Of
the ruling of the commissioner of pen
sions, tracing their origin 10 the start
ling, false and fictitious charge made
in 1898 that thousands of fraudulent
pensioners We're on the rolls"
Conduct of Pension Office.
IF the present commissioner is not
conducting the Office properly, is not
the remedy in the hands of the admins
tratiOn p asked Mr.. Bartlett Of Geor-
gia.
I don't believe the president endorses
the acts Of the commissioner, replied
Mr.. Curtis. Il don't believe he knows
what is going on"
Was not the commissioner a soldier
in the Union army"
They say he was" replied Mr. Cur
it's I don't believe he ever carried a
musket"
Here Mr.. GrOsvenOr (O) interviewed
to say that Commissioner Evans was a
private soldier in a Wisconsin regiment
and later Joined the army of the Cum
berland- Before the close Of the war
he was made a clerk in the quarter
masters Office at Chattanooga
Where Trouble Lies.
May not all the trouble be due, s."
asked Mr.. William Allen Smith Of
Michigan. ito the employees in the pen
sion Office who are out Of sympathy
with the old soldiers but who are pro-
tected in their positions by the civil
service law"
I have been told that that was
true. replied Mr.. Curtis but the COM
missioner Of pensions has the power to
remedy that condition"
He inveighed especially against the
ruling which deprived widows of the
benefit of the dependent act Of 1890 if
they had an income Of 500 a year.
Mr.. Robinson Gnd) Joined in the as
sault upon the rulings Of the pension
Office.
Mr.. Gaines CTenn) argued in favor Of
his scheme to break up trusts by de-
nying them the use of the mails.
Evans Is Commended.
Mr.. Sims CTenn) commended AIr.
Evans course as commissioner Of pen
sions.
Mr.. Ray IN. ", former chairman Of
the committee on pensions. character
lied as "unwaTranted and unjustifia-
BILE Mr. Curtis attack upon the COM
missioner Of pensions.
Mr.. Bail Tex raised the question
of expansion and read q speech Of
Abraham Lincoln. made in criticism Of
the Mexican war uDOn q bill voting
supplies to our soldiers III the field.
Upon that occasion. Mr.. Ball said, Mr..
Lincoln had voted that the war was
unnecessary and uncOnstitUtiOnally be
gun. When the bill was reported to
the house the following amendment
was unanimously agreed 10.
Provided. That the commissioner Of
pensions shall furnish all necessary
blanks TO claimants and that slid COM
missioner may, il his discretion, refuse
to pay the fee to the attorney Of record
when he is satisfied that said attorney
failed TO prepare the case under his or
her personal supervision, and did not
discharge his full duty TO claimants.
The bill was then passed, and at 4.05
p IL. the house adjourned.