The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
THE G. B. R. PENSION BILL
1t Goes Through the House Under
Suspension of the Rules.
The Aggregation of Disabilities in
Determining the Rating of Claim
sions-The National Guard Appro-
printiOn Measure Also Passed.

! Under the rules in the House yesterday
/ was suspension day. and advantage was
| taken OF that fact to pass the Grand Army
| Pension bill. 1t was drawn pursuant to
resolutions offered by General Sickles. at
! the last encampment OF the Grand Army
/ Of the Republic and adopted. The bill re-
| quires the Pension Commissioner to aggre-
/ gate disabilities Of claimants in fixing their
/ rating and requires the Commissioner to
| grant pensions to women. otherwise pen
/ sionable. who may have an income not ex-
ceeding $3.50 a year
/ By a ruling of the Bureau widows hav-
| ing an income OF 500 year are denied pen
sions The provisions OF the bill are
I amendatoTy Of sections and Of the act
1 Of June p, 1890. General Sickles, one Of
the authors Of the bill was present during
| the consideration of the measure and at its
close was warmly congratulated by many
Of his old colleagues Oh the floor The bill
| apprOpriating 81 1000 coo to the National
Guard Of the several States was also
passed,
The House first took up House bill 951O
70 amend section of the act OF Congress
approved February Y. 1887. entitled AN
act to amend section 1861 Of the Revised
Statutes, making an annual appropriation
to provide arms and equipments for the
militia" This bill was introduced by Mr..
Marsh of Illinois. on March 10, referred TO
the Committee on the Militia. and favor
ably reported back TO the House on April
o.
Provisions of the BILL.
The bill provides: That section l Of
the act OF Congress approved February
u. 1887, entitled An act to amend section
1861 of the Revised Statutes. making an
annual appropriation to provide arms and
equipments for the militia be, and the
same is hereby amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows
That the sum Of one million dollars
is hereby annually appropriated, to be paid
out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated. for the purpose of
providing arms, ordnance stores, quarter
master stores, and camp equipage Tor issue
to the militia
The passage Of the bill was advocated
by Mr.. Marsh. Mr.. Clayton of New York.
and Mr. Stark. 1t was opposed by Messrs.
Hay, Steele, Slayden, and Newlands. 1t
was argued that the bill conficted with
militia reorganization bills now pending
Mr.. Steele offered an amendment pro-
viding that the money should be ?ppro-
priated under such direction as the Sec
rotary OF War should prescribe in the mat
ter of discipline and equipment. and that
officers Of the Regular Army should be
detailed as inspectors OF militia Mr..
steele's amendment was rejected, and the
bill was passed
The Pension Bill.
IN
The House then took up Senate bill l4iI
which passed the Senate on January ).
The act provides that all persons who
served ninety days or more in the military
or naval service OF the United States dur
ing the civil war, and who we're honoraoIy
discharged therefrom. and who are now or
m NOV hereafter be suffering
from any mental or physical dis
ability or disabilities OF a permanent
oharoc,ar M, the result of their OWL