Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-29
PENSION DAY IN THE HOUSE
Over Two Hundred Bills Of This Kind Are
Passed.
PRESIDENTS yEToEs ARE DISCUSSED
Chief Executives Adver Policy on
Removing Charge of DesertiOn
from military Records
Leading Topic.
PRESIDENTS wTOEs ARE DISGUISE

WASHINGTON, March 2s.-The house
spent today passing private pension bills.
In all BIS we're passed. With one exception
this Is the record for the number Of such
bills passed at a single session. The presi-
dents policy with regard to the veto OF
bills to remove the charge OF desertion
from the records of soldiers came in for
considerable discussion during the day.
Early in the session a number Of minor
bills were passed. The sundry civil ap-
preparation bill was reported and Mr.. Can
non gave notice that he would call It up on
Monday.
A resolution wal adopted which called
upon the secretary OF war for certain infor-
nation relative to the condition Of the Mis-
souri, river Improvements below st. Joseph,
No.
Mr.. Littleheld Of Maine asked unanimous
consent for the consideration NJ a bill to
confer Jurisdiction upon the court Of claims
to sdjudicate the lain for duties col
lected on goods going into the island OF
Porto Rico between April IL, 1899, to May
l, 1900. The bill provides that the claims
found due should bear interest at 6 per
cent.
Payne Says Refund Is Necessary.
Mr.. Payne Of New York explained that
the refund Of these duties was made neces-
sary by the decision OF the supreme court.
The claims for interest he thought we're
just, because General Davis, the military
governor of Porto Rico subsequently went
to the Philippines and service could not be
obtained upon him. The bill was passed.
Bills were also passed to allow the com
mutation Of homestead entries in certain
cases upon the coded portion of the Sioux
T. 0--.L AN-N a.
grant a right-of-way through the San
Francisco mountain reserve to the Central
Railroad Of Arizona and to authorize the
loan Of revolutionary trophies to the Nor
gan association Of Winchester. Va.
The presidents veto Of the bill to remove
the charge OF desertion against Emanuel
Klauser was laid before the house and re-
ferred to the committee on military affairs.
The house then proceeded to the considera-
tion Of private pension bills.
The first bill on the calendar was to cor
rect the military record of Calvin A.
Rice, and Mr.. Talbert of South Carolina
made 1t the text of a speech against this
class Of bills. He referred to the veto Of
the president just read and to his other
vetoes OF like bills. II am glad" said he,
Ito see that the chief executive has come
to my assistance to keep the roll Of honor
from being besmirched by deserters. While
l disagree with the president In almost
everything else, I heartily endorse his posi-
tion in this matter. 1 have protested
against the passage of these desertion bills
for ten years" He moved to lay aside the
bill with an unfavorable report.
Rice UnJustIy Dismissed.
Mr.. Mondell Of Wyoming declared that the
bill did not seek to remove the charge Of
desertion. Rice, he said. was an oficer
and had been u~njustly dismissed for being
absent without leave.
Mr.. Mann of Illinois declared that con-
gress should consider the attitude Of the
president toward a certain class OF bills.
He denied that the president had declared
that he would sign no bills correcting the
military record of soldiers. The president.
he said, had objected to the form Of some
Of these bills, which instead Of permitting
the secretary OF war to change the mill
tary record required him to make the
change.
Mr.. Robinson OF Indiana interrupted to
say that the congress should act as an in
dependent branch OF the government and
should not abdicate its power. II the presi-
dent did not approve an act Of congress
the responsibility would not rest with him.
Mr.. Mann thought 1t a waste OF time for
congress to pass bills knowing they would
not be signed. He thought the bills should
be placed in such form that they would
command the presidents approval. He did
not know what the president would do, he
said, but II he was consistent he would
veto every bill which was directory in form.
Mr.. Hay OF Virginia commended that II
special bills we're only to be permissive
not directory. then congress had as well
pass a general law giving the secretary Of
war permission to change military record
OF any soldier.
The bill was laid aside with a favorable
recommendation-64 to 2.
PR0SEClJTES CARL E COMPANY