Evening star., 1900-05-02
THE SENATE.

A discussion of the pension roll was
brought about in the Senate this afternoon,
and Mr. Gallinger took occasion to refer
to the criticism TO which he has been sub
jected because of the failure of his COM
mittee to report back favorably to the Sem
ate all sorts of proposed pension legislation.
Mr.. Pettigrew had sent to the clerk S
desk petition signed by r. G. Dyrenforth,
commander-in-chief of the Union Veterans
Union, against the proposition to make the
adjutant general of the army a major gen
eral. and commenting on the present war
by stating that the expense it has caused
had, according to some, been the cause of
preventing pension legislation. because of a
desire of Congress to save money.
Mr., Gallinger said that in view of this
petition he desired to state that in his
opinion, the government had been extreme
ly liberal In its pension legislation. He said
that there were more than fifty general
pension bills before his committee, and
that If they were enacted into law they
would take out of the treasury many mil
lions of dollars.
Il am being roundly abused all over this
country said Mr.. Gallinger. because of
representations being sent out from some
source stating in effect that | am opposed
to granting pensions to soldiers of the
United States.'
introduced in the Senate providing for pen
sions for all civil employees of navy yards
arsenals, naval stations, etc. He called the
attention of senators to this matter and
suggested that 1t would be much better if
they would pigeonhole some of the bills
that are sent them instead of introducing
them IN Congress, and having them come
before his committee. He said that in his
Judgment all the criticisms that have been
made of late in regard to the pension policy
of the government were extremely unjust
and that In his opinion, $14OUUO,O0O that
Is being paid out to pensioners is all that
the government ought to be expected to
pay under existing conditions.
Mr.. SeweH tN.JD asked, at the close of
routine business. that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of bill to establish
the Fredericksburg and adjacent national
battletields memorial park in Virginia
Mr.. Chandler, chairman of the committee
on privileges and elections, asked that the
chair lay before the Senate resolution
Mr.. Clark (MontD.
The chair (Mr. Frye)-"The chair has al
ready recognized the senator from New
Jersey"
highest privilege. and l ask that it be laid
before the Senate. 1t probably will not oc-
cupy much time today
The chair-"The senator from New Hamp-
shire moves that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of the following resolution
Mr.. Chandler-'I do not move to take up
the resolution ! ask the chair to lay it be-
fore the Senate"
The chair-'-The chair will not do it,
Sharply.
Mr.. Chandler dropped back into his seat
He did not say another word, but showed
some perturbation.
After Mr.. Sewells bill had been reported
to the Senate, Mr.. Frye, evidently noting
Mr.. Chandlers feeling, said: 1T is proper
for the chair to say he holds that it will
require motion to take the Montana reso-
luton from the calendar
Fredericksburg National Park
Mr.. Sewell's bill to establish a memorial
national park on the Fredericksburg battle
field in Virginia was then passed.
The bill has for its chief purpose the
preservation and suitable marking for his
torical and professional military study the
famous battlefields in Spottsylvania county,
Va. known as Fredericksburg Salem
Church. Charlottesville. the Wilderness
and Spottsyivania Court House. all of them
within a radius of eight miles, and on
which limited territory the late distin-
guished Union general John C. Newton,
after careful investigation, declared that
more great battles were fought, more men
engaged and more execution done than on
any other spot OF similar area in the
world.
Adulteration of Food.
In accordance with previous notice. Mr.,
Mason Qll) then addressed the Senate in
support Of his proposition to enact legis-
lation to prevent the adulteration of food.