Evening star., 1900-12-17
DENIED PREFERENCE
Defeat of a G. A. R. Bill in the
House.
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL PASSED
The Montana Case Causes Stir
in the Senate.
CANAL TREATY TAKEN UP

CANAL TREATY TAKEN UP
This was individual pension day in the
House of Representatives. The Speaker
first recognized Mr.. Bromweil (Ohio), who
moved to suspend the rules and pass the
bill reported by the civil service committee
to give preference to honorably discharged
soldiers in the executive departments OF
the government. 1t provided that honor
ably discharged soldiers of the civil war
and after them honorably discharged SOL
d!erS of the Spanish war and the war III
the Philippines be given preference both IN
Appointment to office and retention therein.
anG that loss of limbs or other physical I'M
parment which does not incapacitate shall
not disqualify them.
Mr.. Richardson CTenn) demanded a sec
ond.
Mr.. Bromwell asked that a second be
sidered as ordered, but Mr.. Fowler IN.
j. objected. A second was ordered by u
to "a.
Mr. Hepburn Qowa) asked if it would be
in order to move amendment to strike
out that portion of the bill providing thas
persons thus preferred shall not be re-
moved except for cause, upon charges anu
after hearing.
The Speaker replied that it would not.
Mr. BromweH explained that the bill as
originally introduced was the bill prepared
by the G. A. r. 1t simply extended the
provision of the existing law, giving pref
erence to honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors of the civil war MANNED or surer-
ing physical impairment to all soldiers holl-
orab.y discharged. The committee had fur-
ther extended 1t to veterans or the war
with Spain and of the war In the Phllip-
pines
Mr.. Richardson asked why the soldiers of
the Mexican war were not Included In
this of good feeling why not lnclude
the soldiers and sailors of all the wars?
Mr. Bromwel replied that there was less
reason for including the soldiers OF the
Mexican war now than when the original
Mr. Clayton IN. W said that substantially
the provisions Of the bill were in effect In
New York state, and that the law had
worked satisfactorily.
vigorously Opposes the Bill.
Mr. Gillett (Mass). the chairman OF the
civil service committee. protested vigorously
against the bill. He declared that the Dill
was improperly before the House. Speaking
directly to the merits of the bill. he said
that it was vicious, although drawn, doubt
less. with good Intentions. 1t would, ne de-
clared practically shut civilians out or tue
government service for years to come. II
would place at the top of the preferential
list all the soldiers and sailors OF the war
with Spain. regular and volunteer allKe,
amounting to 100000 the 10000 now In the
service and the 30 600 who would soon be
enlisted under the army reorganization bill:
1t would therefore give preference to ooo,oOO
men and for many years would keep civil so,.
ians off the rolls. The regulars, he SAID.
were not entitled to be in preferential
class The soldiers of the civil war enlisted
as a sacred duty. The regulars did not en-
list for the same reason. Many OF them
went into the army because they liked the
service. Why should they go to the top OF
the list? They were rewarded with pen
sons Why also reward them with prefer
ence for appointment in the civil service.
Mr. Hepburn Gowa) also opposed the bill
on the ground that 1t made an appointment
a vested right.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio) took the same po-
stion. and asked Mr.. BromWell to with
draw the bill
Mr. Sulzer On. W supported the measure,
which. he said, had been asked for by every
Grand Army post in the country.
Mr. Mccall (MasSD opposed the BILL be-
cause, he said, 1t would create military
caste The soldiers fought to maintain
free government the fundamental principle
of which was equality before the law. He
believed the soldiers Of the country were
entitled to the most liberal treatment, they
were entitled to liberal pensions, but the
government service should be open to all.
1t was slur upon the intelligence OF the
soldier to give them this preference.
Mr.. Fowler On. j. also opposed the bill
The Bill Defeated.
Mr.. Sulzer attempted to force a. yea and
nay vote upon the bill, but failed. and on a
rising vote the bill was defeated-51 to 100.
Urgent Deficiency Bill Passed.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the appropria-
tions committee. reported an urgent de-
aciency bill. CARRYING s1S2, 500 for contingent
expenses of the House of Representatives,
Indian affairs, District Of Columbia and the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Sol
diers.
The bill was passed
Bills were passed to divide the states OF
West Virginia and Kentucky each into two
judicial districts.
Military Academy Bill.
Mr. Hull Uowa) from the committee on
military affairs, reported the Military Acad-
emy appropriation bill.
The Senate bill to provide for an addl-
tional district judge for the northern dis
trict of Ohio was passed. The bill Is de-
signed to relieve from duty Judge Kicks,
who has been incapacitated for some time.
Mr.. Lanham CTexD moved the passage
under suspension of the rules of a
bill to authorize the Secretary of the In
terror TO fix the boundary between Texas
claims OF the state Of Texas for moneys ex-
pended while Greer county was part OF
Texas The bill was passed-110 to 36.
Private Pensions.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole, and entered upon the considera-
ton Of private pension bills.
THE SENATE.
Soon after the Senate convened today a
bill extending to homestead settlers on the
Chippewa Indian reservation In Minnesota
the right to commute their entries was re-
ported by Mr.. Nelson Of Minnesota. After
a half hours discussion OF the measure. in
an effort to make it general In Its applica-
ton, it was recommitted to the committee.
The Montana SenatOrship.
The Montana senatorial case again was
brought to the attention of the Senate by
an inquiry of Mr.. Chandler. chairman Of
the committee on privileges and elections,
as to whether the committee on contingent
expenses was ready to report back the res
olution authorizing the committee on priv
ileses and elections to send for persons and
papers in the investigation of the right of
w A. Clark and Martin Maginnis to seat
in the Senate.
Mr.. Gallinger (N.H.) explained that no ac-
ton had been taken by the committee. be-