The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-02
Opponents of the Bill I'm the Senate
Attempting tn Bury Ii Under Yards
of Speeches and Amendments.
FLOOD OF PENSION BILLS \
MIR. GALLINGER PROPOSES AN IN
yESTIGATION BY CONGRESS.
Omnibus Bill Covering Southern War
Claims Passed by the House-The
StandardizinS Bureau Measure.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The shipping bill
was kept steadily at the front in the Sem
ate to-day, and to further expedite its
progress a motion was agreed TO for ses-
sion beginning at ii a. m. tomorrow. Mr..
Rawlins, of Utah. and Mr. Berry, of Ar
kansas. occupied most of the time to-day
in speeches of vigorous opposition. To-
ward the close of the day a spirited dis
cussion was precipitated by an amendment
offered by Mr.. Clay, of Georgia, proposing
to link the Nicaragua canal bill with the
shipping bill This was opposed by Mr..
Frye and Mr.. Chandler as calculated to
cmbarrass and delay the shipping bill. Mr..
Frye appealed to senator's to permit the
majority after fair debate to assume its
responsibilities of passing the shipping bill.
Messrs. Jones. of Arkansas. and Teller. of
Colorado. took hand in the discussion, in
sisting that there should be no limitation
Of debate. Mr. Morgan, OF Alabama in
charge Of the canal bill, expressed disap-
rroval OF the plan for linking the canal
measure with the shipping bill, saying
each should stand on its own merits. Mr..
Bacon raised the point of no quorum three
times during the debate.
Mr.. Gallinger presented a resolution pro-
viding for joint committee to be composed
of the chairman of the Senate committee
on pensions and the House committee on
invalid pensions and of pensions, 10 make
careful inquiry into the question of special
pension legislation. Mr.. Gallinger ex-
pressed the opinion that the scope of con-
gressional action IN such matters had been
overstepped entirely. and that under the
present practice a pension bureau is be-
ing established under the dome OF the
Capitol. He said that in the present Con-
gress there had been 2.1Ss special pension
bills in the Senate. and that with the gen.
eral bills and the House bills the Senate
pension committee had been asked so far
to take up about 5000 bills One senator,
he said. had introduced 162 bills, and an
other las. Mr.. Gallinger added that the
business was already as large as the COM
mittees could handle well. He had no doubt
IL would be doubled in the next Congress.
This was due, he said. TO the fact that
pension attorneys are advising soldiers that
ii Is easier TO get pensions through con-
gressional action than through the Pension
Bureau, and he believed. he said. that the
attorneys were getting pay for such adj
vice. He therefore expected to see Congress
Hooded. and he thought there should be
concerted effort TO prevent such action
The resolution was referred TO the commit
tee on pensions. Mr.. Rawlins in his speech
against the shipping bill contended that
our bounty would be met by similar subsi-
dies by other nations. So far as the public
is concerned. the money appropriated by
this bill might as well be cast into the sea.
Mr.. Berry said no measure had been pre-
sented during his service in Congress which
so openely and fagrantly disregarded the
principles OF equality and gave to COM
bination OF wealthy interests millions on
millions Of the public money. He criticised
the manner in which this bill was drawn
by committee composed chiefly OF ship
owners who would be benefited
Mr.. Frye interrupted TO state that in a
bill OF this kind expert knowledge was
absolutely necessary and he hardly thought
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