The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-14
RiNeys Attempt 10 ObIiterats
All Sectional Lines Meets
With Opposition
RICHARDSON OF ALABAMA
AGREED WITH VIRGIN|AN
Pension Bill Causes Wide Range of
Debate In the House-Grosvenor
and Hepburn Explain About
Veteran preference"

Washington, January 13.-The House Of
Representatives spent the day in gem
era discussion of the pension appropria-
tion bill. the first of the annual budgets.
The debate took a wide range Mr. Gros-
venor of Ohio and Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa
denounced the report presented to the
last G. A. R. encampment criticising the
course of themselves and other members
of Congress the veteran preference
ni which was defeated at the last ses-
sion. They explained that their opposi-
ton to the bill was due to the incorpora-
tion in the bill of clause which had not
been endorsed by the G. A. R.. placing
veterans of the Spanish war in the prefer
entail class. Mr.. Rixey of Virginia caused
something of a stir on the Democratic
side by advancing proposition to open
the doors of National Soldiers Homes to
ex- Confederates and to furnish Federal
aid to state Confederate homes.
Mr.. Richardson of Alabama was the
only Democrat who Joined Mr.. Rixey in
support of 1T.
This was District of Columbia Day in
the House, and Immediately after the
reading of the journal Mr. Babcock of
Wisconsin. chairman of the District of
Columbia committee, claimed the day
and the House proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the District business
Took Up Pension Bill.
At the conclusion of the District Of Co.
lumbia business the House took up the
pension appropriation bill. Mr.. Barney
of Wisconsin, in charge of the bill, ex-
planned that 1t carried $3.50. SAG, 4s0, against
$145.245.23o appropriated for the current
year. The estimates for the payment Of
4 pensions decresn5d from s144.00O,00O to
/ 13S,5O0,0O0. He was asked by Mr.. Rich
ardson of Tennessee why the amount
for pensions decreased five and a half
millions while the number of pensioners
was said to be larger.
Mr.. Barney explained that this was ac-
counted for by the fact that the arrear-
ages were decreasing and the number of
large pensions (those from $50 to s75 per
MONTH was also decreasing. In reply to
another question. he stated that the
commissioner of pensions believed that
the high tide of pension payments had
been reached and the amount requested
probably would remain stationary for
some years.
Mr.. Bell of Colorado made speech de-
nouncing the pension sharks" He said
many soldiers returning from the Philip
pines discharged in perfectly sound
condition were being induced to apply
for pensions by these attorneys
Extravaganza and Fraud.
Mr. Talbert of South Carolina. deliver
ed general speech to show the growing
extravaganza and fraud of the present
pension system He thought the practice
of passing special pension bills should
| be abandoned.
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa. again brought
up the report made to the G. A r. en-
campment in criticism of members of
Congress who voted against the veteran
preference" bill. He said the bill as
endorsed by the G.. A. r. and as origin
ally introduced did not contain the pro-
| vision giving preference to veterans of
the Spanish war. Some of the veterans
of the Spanish war, he said, were as
much entitled to be in the preferential
class as the veterans of the Civil war,
but the vast majority Of the 100000 Span
ish volunteers had not heard a hostile
gan fired and he was unwilling that they
should be placed In a preferential class
from which the civil service would be
recruited for the next 25 years.
Mr. Bromwell of Ohio. who was on the
committee which reported the veteran
preference" bill explained that the bill
as introduced did not contain the pro-
vision relative to the Spanish war vet
| Grams. He expressed the hope that the
bill would be reintroduced and passed.
Want Certificates In Union Homes.
Mr.. Rixey. Virginia, submitted an argu-
ment In favor of a bill introduced by him
| today to admit Confederate veterans to
national soldiers homes and to extend
the same national, aid to state Confeder-
ate homes in the south as was extended
to state Union homes. Mr. Rixey said
| that somewhat similar bill introduced
by him in the last Congress had pro-
voked considerable hostility and criticism
| In the south and in the north. but he be-
lieved the time had come when the doors
of Union homes could be opened to Con-
federate veterans.
The restrictions against ex- x-Confederates
participating in the government and
against ex-Confederates holding com
missions in the army or navy having
been removed, he argued that the SOL
diers' home barrier. which stands across
the path of ex-Confederate soldiers. also
| should be removed.
Mr. Richardson, Tennessee, the Demo-
cratic leader, interposed to declare tnat
never would he be willing to see ex-Con-
federates enter Union homes. The debate
| grew lively with differences of opinion
developing on the Democratic side. Mr..
Richardson. Alabama, sided with Mr..
| Rixey while Mr.. Lamb Virginia, Mr..
| Bartlett, Georgia. and others opposed the
| suggestion. Mr.. Rixey declared that he
| proposed to continue to advocate the pas
| sage of the bill he had introduced
whether 1t proved popular or not.
Mr.. Gaines. Tennessee, secured the
| floor and talked for some time about the
result Of his observations In the Philip
pines on his recent trip to the archipel-
| ago.
! Mr.. Levy South Carolina. then formally
announced the death of the late Repre-
| sentative Stokes OF his state, which oc-
| Cured last summer. After adopting the