The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
THE CD R. PENSION BILL
1t Goes Through the House Under a
Suspension of the Rules.
The Aggregation of Disabilities in
Determining the Rating of Claim
ants Required Under It's PrOvi-
sions-JEe 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-
| rating, and requires the Commissioner to
grant pensions to women, otherwise pen
sionable, who may have an income not ex-
ceedng $3.50 a year
BY ruling of the Bureau, widows hav-
ing an income of 500 year are denied pen
| sions. The provisions OF the dill are
amendatOry of sections and of the act
| of June q, 1890. General Sici les, one of
the authors of the bill was present during
the consideration of the measure and at its
| close was warmly congratulated ny many
Of his old colleagues on the floor The bill
appropriating 81 900 600 20 the National
Guard of the several States WIS also
passed.
The House first took up House bin S51O
to amend section of the act of Congress
approved February r. 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 bach to the House on April
q.
Provisioas of the bill.
The bill provides: That section l of
the act of Congress approved February
r. 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 for issue
to the militia"
The passage of the bill was advocated
by Mr.. Marsh, MIR. Clayton of New York.
and Mr.. Stark. 1t was opposed by Messrs.
Hay, Steele, Slayden, and Newlands. Ii
was argued that the bill conficted with
militia reorganization bills now pending
Mr. Steele offered an amendment pro-
vlding that the money should be appro-
priated under such direction as the See
rotary of War should prescribe il the mai
ter of discipline and equipment, and thai
officers Of the Regular Army should b.
detailed as inspectors of militia. Mr..
steele's amendment was rejected, and the
bill was passed.
The Pension Bill.
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 were honorably
discharged therefrom. and wLo are now or
who may hereafter be suffering
from any mental or physical dis
ability or disabilities OF a permanent
character, not the result OF their Own