The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26

will leave the Appropriations COMMITTEES
dent has long been established of advanc.
ing members to the head, if the Chairman
feii by the wayside, O;long as a party re-
NAMED in power, it does not follow that
this will be done by Mr.. Cannon. Mr.
Reed ignored the precedent in several in.
stances, and there are ample reasons to
beiieve that Mr.. Cannon will do the same.
All the legislative machinery of the
House, such as election of officers, etc.
will have to be set up, and these raw
hands at the business, for there are great
changes in the personnel of the, House.
Will tackle the legislative business.
IL Is true that appropriation bills will
be the only bills necessary to take any
action upon, but there is no way of con.
inning the legislation of the House to the
one subject, if the members choose to en-.
ter into general legislation. There is an
arbitrary way, and Mr.. Reed used it to
good effect. He refused-or at least
failed to appoint the committees of the
House, at the opening of the new Con-
gress, ~nly naming the members of those
committees actually necessary to conduct
the business in hand. Those members dis
posed to get gay and introduce bills on all
sorts OF subjects and to discuss every
subject but the important one in hand
their bills were referred to committees
which did not exist, hence could not report
them, ana there was no recourse, because
the majority of the House being with the
Speaker, refused to censure him for neg
fecting so important duty as the appoints
ment of committees.
1t remains to be seen if Mr. Canpon
will follow this precedent.
The business of the House is very we'll
In hand, and far ahead of the Senate.
Ihe conferees on the Senate bill to in
crease the pensions of those who have
lost limbs or are totally disabled in the
Military or Naval service of the United
States have reached an agreement The
rates fixed by the House amendments are
IN general acceded to.
The measure as agreed to provides that
those who have lost one hand or foot. or
been totally disabled, shall receive a PEN
sion at the rate of $40 a month. OF
these there were 1868 in April. 1902.
Those WHO have lost an arm at or aboYa.
the elbow, or leg at or above the knee,
shall receive pension of SAC month.
VI these on the same date there were
1881 on the pension rolls.
Those who have lost an arm at the
shoulder, or leg at the hip, or where the
same is in such condition as to prevent the
use of an artificial limb, $50 a month.
Ut these there were in April, 1902, 1,724
pensioners. Those who have lost one
arm and one foot, $50 a month.
The House amendment providing for an
increase to $50 for those drawing pensions
under the act of June q, 1890, who need
he constant attendance of another per-
son, was stricken out. Senator Gallnger
opposed this amendment from the very
irst. This was the Calderhead amend
nent. 1t is thought that this provision
will be adopted by the next Congress, as
he sentiment in its favor is very strong.
The conferees' report will be accepted.
The Fowler Credit Currency bill will
,e talked to its death. There is no pos
Utility of its passing.
There will be whole scad of little bills
passed by the House between now and
he closing, March 4, but they will never
,et any further than the House, and no.
,ody expects that they will when they are
nut up. 1t is largely done to let members
tand well at home. They cannot be held
accountable for things that the Senate will
ot do.