The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-14

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 a month to Mrs. Agnes Capron,
widow Of Captain Capron Of the Regular
Army. who died from fever contracted in
/ Cuba, after serving since 1863; and $50 a
/ month TO Mrs Lillian Capron. widow Of
/ 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.
| Loudenslager of New Jersey. and Brom-
well Of Ohio explained that the discrimi-
| nation was made because Mrs Agnes Ca
I prom had 81 00O proceeds OF her husbands
/ life insurance policy, while Mrs. Lillian
! Capron had nothing Although it was
/ pointed out that MrsAgnes Capron had lost
her husband and SON and had two young
I boys to train and educate. the Committee
4 Of the Whole sustained the Committee on
/ Pensions in the exercise Of its 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 a 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.
TaIbcrt Ruled Ont Of order.
Mr. Grosvenor. who came temporarily
to the chair, invoked the rule that q 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 Chair
amid much excitement followed.
Mr.. Talbert's continued requests for the
reading of reports speedily raised another
breeze and the committee was in tumult
Mr. Talbert appealed for consideration OF
! the taxpayers which moved Mr.. Sibley TO
give figures TO show that Mr.. TalbeTt'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 M
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 min
ute later he was speaking against perjured
pensions.
Mr. Crowley Of Hlirois--Is not the gen
tleman now imputing dishonesty to the
committee?
Continuing. Mr. Tslbert said the trouble
was that members with bills te.ore tLe
committee induced, by personal appeals,
favorable reports
Mr. CroWley-That is not So
Mr. Lamb OF Virginia asked Mr. Talbart
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 claims2
MIR. LIQUIDS Opinion.