The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-14
pension Bills PASSED
The House, After Much Discussion.
Disposes of Fifty three.
hr. Talbert's Active Opposition Con-
ffnues and Is Productive Of Heated
South Carolina Representative
Several Parliamentary WranGIes.

The House of Representatives yesterday,
| under the rule, devoted the greater part
Of the time to the consideration, in Com
mittee of the Whole, of private pension
| bills. The day was marked by an I'M
usually vigorous opposition by Mr.. Talbert
| Of South Carolina against the passage of
! the bills.
The first pensions to widows of officers
in the Spanish war came up in bills
giving $25 month to Mrs. Agnes Capron,
widow OF Captain Capron, of the Regular
Army, who died from fever contracted in
Cuba, after serving since 1868; and $50
month to Mrs. Lillian Capron. widow Ci
Captain Capron, son of the former, of The
Rough Riders, who was killed in Cuba
after eight years service in the army.
The Committee on Pensions, by Messrs
Lou ensiager of New Jersey, and Brom-
well - Ohio, explained that the discrimi
nation was made because Mrs. Agnes Ca
prom had $4,000 proceeds of her husbands
life insurance policy, while Mrs. Lillian
Capron had nothing. Although it was
pointed out that Mrs. Agnes Capron had lost
her husband and son, and had two young
boys to train and educate. the Committee
of the Whole sustained the Committee on
Pensions in the exercise of it's judgment
and refused to make the amount of her
pension the same as that of her daughter
in-law.
Mr.. Talbert, whose objection to the pas
sage of the pension bills compelled the
abandonment of night session for consid-
Grafton of pension bills, insisted upon the
reading Of the report upon each bill, which
made progress very slow. After while
this aroused opposition and Mr. Talbert
became more urgent and emphatic. He
criticised the passing of bills to increase
pensions while claims for original pensions
were being crowded into the background.
He was on his feet almost necessarily for
the next hour, demanding the reading OF
reports and defending his course.
'raibert Ruled Out of Order
Mr.. Grosvenor, who came temporarily
to the chair, invoked the rule that a re-
port cannot be read if objection be made,
except by consent of the committee He
ruled Mr. Talbert out of order in this re-
gard, and divisions on the votes taken
and appeals from the decision of the Char
amid much excitement followed.
Mr.. Talbert's continued requests for the
reading of reports speedily raised another
breeze and the committee was in a tuml.lt.
Mr. Talbert appealed for consideration OF
the taxpayers which moved Mr.. Sibley to
give figures to show that Mr. Talbert's in
reference with legislation in the past few
years had cost the taxpayers more than
all the pension bills that had been passed.
Mr.. Talbert responding described NJ.
Sibley as the chameleon of politics. coquet-
ting with silver and gold and making so
many changes that he could not follow
him.
Mr.. Norton Of Ohio made a passionate
appeal to Mr.. Talbert TO stop his inef
fective work and legislate along the lines
of 'decency and common sense" He called
attention to the fact that Mr. Talbert was
standing alone, not a single one OF his
political associates supporting him. He
denied that the Committee on Invalid Pen
sions reported favorably unjust unworthy
bills or bills to increase pensions Of mil
lionaires and others living in luxury or
having enough to live in comfort.
Replying TO Mr.. Norton. Mr. Talbert dis
claimed having charged the committee
with dishonesty in its actions; but a min
ute later he was speaking against perjured
pensions.
Mr. Crowley of Illinois-Is not the gem
tleman now imputing dishonesty TO the |
committee?
Continuing Mr.. Talbert said the trouble
was that members with bills te.ore tie
committee induced, by personal appeals, |
favorable reports.
Mr.. Crowley-That is not So
Mr.. Lamb of Virginia asked Mr.. Talbert |
what he expected to gain by his action. |
Mr.. Talbert replied that his position had |
been taken after mature reflection, and he |
intended to stand by it. He had no petty |
little claim for which he was obliged to |
beg for votes and he intended to oppose |
unjust ones whenever they appeared.
Mr.. Lamb-Has not the gentleman any |
heart and sympathy for his colleagues who |
do have claims?
Mr.. LIQUIDS Opinion.