The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-17


of the House.
Washington, January H.-In the sem
ate today Senator Nelson. OF Minneso-
ia, called up the bill providing for the
establishment of a department OF COM
merce. He explained the necessity,
which. he aid. existed for the passage
OF such a measure. and vas presented
with questions by several senators,
who sal that sufficient time had not
been allowed for looking into the
merits of the measure.
Senator Teller criticised that feature
relating TO the transfer of the geologi-
cal survey, while Senator Hale said that
the bill provided for a department
which ultimately would be one of the
largest in the government
After some further discussion the bill
went over, subject to call by Senator
Nelson
A resolution by Senator Hale. provfd-
ing for the printing of a number OF
copies of the report of the Schley court
of inquiry was referred to the commit
tee on printing.
Inc SSldlc NdS III executive SESSION
for an hour and a half and adjourned al
1912 o'clock p. m.
House of Representatives.
The house of representatives spent
the day in general discussion of the
pension appropriation bill, the first OF
the annual budgets. The debate took
a wide range.
Mr.. G%rovenor. of Ohio. and Mr.. Hep
burn, of Ia, took occasion to d%enounce
q TanOTf nFaCRnfa1 To tho Loot Gro ~
Army of the Republic encampment crit
1cizing the course of themselves am;
other members of congress on The vet
eran preference" bill which was de-
feated at the las session. They ex-
planned that their opposition to the bill
was due to the incorporation in the bill
or q clause which had not been endorsed
by the Grand Army of the Republic.
placing veterans of the Spanish war IL!
the preferential class.
Mr.. Barney, of Wisconsin, in charge
of the bill. said the estimates for the
payment of pensions had decreased
from $144, 600, coo to $138. 500, 900. He was
asked by Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee
why the amount Of pensions decreased
IS, 500. 600 while the number of pensioners
was said to be larger.
MIR. Barney explained that his was
accounted for by the fact that the ar
rearageS were decreasing and the num-
~ ~ AOAo~ AS-O NAAOIN AAcAAA - ~
SIS a monthly was also decreasing. III
reply to another question he stated thai
the commissioners of pensions believed
that the high tide of pension payments
had been reached and the amount re-
quired would remain stationary for
some years.
Mr.. Talbert, of South Carolina, deliv-
cred q general speech on the subject OF
pensions. to show the growing eXtrava-
gance and fraud of the present system.
He said the pension roll had been a roll
honor. He thought the practice OF
passing special pension hills should be
abandoned.
Mr.. RiXey. of Virginia. took occasion
to submit an argument in favor of a bill
introduced by him today to admit con-
federate veterans to national soldiers
homes and to extend the same national
aid to state confederate homes in the
south was extended to state union
homes. He said that a somewhat SINH
lar bill introduced by him in the las
congress had provoked considerable
hostility and criticism in the south anC
in the north. but he believed the timt
had come when the doors of union
homes could be opened to confederate
veterans.
The restrictions against eX-confeder-
ates participating in the government,
and against eX-C~OnfederateS holding
commissions in the army or navy hav'
ing been removed. ne argued that the
barrier which stands across the Dath Of
ex-confederate soldiers should also hs
removed.
Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee. tn
democratic leader, ~interposed TO declar'
that never would he be willing to see
ex-confederates enter union homes.
The debate grew lively. differences O.
opinion developing on the democratic
side. Mr.. Richardson, of Alabama
sided with Mr.. RiXey. while Mr.. Lamb
of Virginia, Mr.. Bartlett, of Georgia. ant
others opposed the suggestion.
Mr.. Rixey declared that he proposed
to continue to advocate the passage o
the bill he had introduced whether j
proved popular or not.
Mr.. Gaines. of Tennessee. secured tn,
floor and talked for some time abou
the result of his observations in til,
Philippines On his recent trip to tn
archipelago.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Gaines re
marks, MIR. Lever, of South Carolina
formally announced the death of tn
late Representative Stokes of hi
tate, which occurred last summer. an
offered the customary resolutions of re
greet. which were adopted. after whicI
at Ass o'clock p. m, as a further mar
Of roSnapt the hnISa adjourned