The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-19
STILL TALKING
ABOUT PENSIONS.
Appropriation Resolution
May Not Pass House.
CALL 1T UNDUE HASTE
Members Give Their Views on the
Subject.
THE BLAND BILL REPORTED.
The appointment Of Quarantine Officer for
Elizabeth kiver Taken from the
Observation-Disclosures City Made
Hot Fight and Lost.
Live News aud
Gossip.


The vote yesterday by which the House
refused to advance the Senate joint reso-
luton to the calendar, setting aside $780,
Gob as an appropriation for pensioninE the
Confederate soldiers for the next fiscal
year. indicated that the body was un-
dcubtcdly in favor of the appropriation
The vote stood-ayes, Il; noes, ID. 1t re-
quired a twothirds vote to place the Dill
on the calendar without reference, and
it was referred for that reason, but the
Of the measure.
1t may be stated, however that most
OF the members are opposed to making
the appropriation until n new pension law
is put into operation, and many of them
SO stated to representative OF The
Times. 1t is fairly certain that before the
money is actually spent, another and
more equitable bill will be passed, pro-
vidinG for the distribution of the fund.
Capt! j. G. Featherston. of Campbell,
and Hon. S. NJ. Ncwhousc, Of Culpeper,
were among those who fought to have the
resolution placed on the calendar. and
appropriation before the recess.
1t is d. question whether it will be re-
ported from the Finance Committee be-
fore Friday or not. but il does not now
seem probable that it will. Some of the
more conservative members, while not
opposing the appropriation, do not see
any necessity for hasty action and de-
sire TO await the passage of a. new pen
sion act before further action is taken.
Judging from the vote on yesterday, how
ever, the resolution will be concurred in
by the House should it be reported by
the conmittee~before the recess.
Several new pension bills are expected
shortly after the reconvening of the
Legislature.
Many of the members of the Consttu-
tional Convention were asked for their
views as to whether or not it would be
wise or eNpe0ient to increase the pension
fund. They declined to be quoted
Messrs. Withers, BraIton and other
leaders in the convention did not care to
discuss the matter. The members of the
convention. as "a rule. thought this a sub
iect that should be left entirely to the
Legislature.
Senator keezel stated that the minority
report of the Finance Coz mittec fully
set forth his views ".As to the pension
natter said he, II will so as far as
any other man in doing whatever We can
for the old Confederates, but L do think
that there is 10 need of haste in this
matter. If VIC arc going to appropriate
more money 1t should be done in a delib-
crate manner and the bill should be care
fully drawn SO that none but the worthy
and tho deserving should receive the
benefits OF the act
Senator Watkins said he most heartily
favored the increased appropriations I
think however that we should be care
ful in framing a. bill to make it impossi-
bic for any. but the worthy and the de-
serving to receive pensions. It was. in
my judgment. wise and well for the SEN
ate to declare in favor OF this appropria-
ton. We can later on arrange the de-
tails as to how the money shall he cx-
pended
senator Anderson said he was most
heartily in favor of the proposed increase
in the appropriation. but he wanted the
pension list purgcd OF all names tha t.
should not be there.
A special to The Times from Charlotteu-
vile saws: Judge George W: Morris for
mfrly . nler Der CT the Senate, was
ssked as to the sdvisa bility of enlarginS
the pension appropriation He replied:
II heartily approve of liberal aid by the
State to deserving pensioners, but 1t is
a most difficult matter to so frame the
Jaw that the deserving and needy will
get assistance and the loafer and bum
mer be excluded. l think ] know in my
own limited experience of men on the
pension rolls who have no business
,here, and l know / think. OF others who
really need and deserve aid and who
are yet too proud to ask it. The pen
1Al
right, but it should be accompanied by
new and carefully drawn pension law
The present law works very badly
The House Committee on General
Laws, after two hearings 5ester-
day, reported favorably the bill offered
by Mr.. Bland Of Portsmouth, taking
the appointment of the quarantine Off
Ger for the district of Elizabeth River
cut of the hands of the Governor and
leaving it to the Beard of Quarantine
Commissioners. The board is required TO |
alterr ate the appointment between Nor
folk and Portsmouth.
Chairman Hunley called the night ses-
sion of the committee to oroer az e;oo
p. NJ, and Mr.. Charles T. Bland the |
patron of the bill, spoke in explanation
of his measure. Mr.. Bland c9ntended
that his city wanted fair treatment, and
was entitled to have the quarantine ofh-
Ger every other term. Mr.. Bland was
nnt 1hrouch a searching examination |
bv members of the committee dor in
forn,ation). and ,sv the Norfolk city dele
cation led by Messrs Whitehead and
O,,e hour and fifteen minutes We're
given to each side for argument, and |
Ar Whitehead took the floor to. reply
to Mr. Bland. He used the arguments
,6,+anced heretofore in favor of his po-
sition against the bill, and declared that
the health department of great port I
should be far removed from politics. aud /
should. therefore, be left in the hands
OF thn Governor, where it had been made
so efficient