The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-07

California State Home. and charged that
the old soldiers were allowed to draw their
pension money from the Home In most in
| stances only through canteen checks. At
ter extended debate an amendment by Mr..
Bell to correct ths evils complained OF was
adopted.
A violent attack on the Coast and Geo
detic Survey was made by Mr.. Robinson
(ind), who charged that scandal attached
to that Office in connection with allowances
for communication of subsistence. Mr.. Hem
enway, in charge of the bill, Indignantly
denied the charges made.
April Good Friday was devoted by
the Senate to almost continuous discussion
of political questions. The morning hour.
ending at o'clock, was given up to the
consideration of the Carmack resolution
for an inquiry into the legality of the re-
cent Executive old age pension order. MFR.
Mallory was the principal speaker. but he
was frequently interrupted by Republican
Senators. He cOntended that Secretary
Hitchcock had transcribed the limits of
Executive authority in issuing the order.
The latter half Of the day was devoted
to the Post Office Appropriation bill. but
no appreciate progress was made with
that measure. the speeches on it being in
the main political, and of general char
acter.
There was a spirited debate between Mr..
Simmons and Mr. Beveridge on the ques-
ton of the propriety Of Congressional in
vestigation into the affairs of the Post
Office Department, during which the pros
pective Presidential nominees of the two
political parties in the next campaign were
freely discussed. Mr.. Beverage admitted
that the Republicans had agreed upon a
candidate, and named President Roosevelt
as the man.
There also was further discussion of the
IL
an additional Post Office site in New York
City. =
The House passed the Sundry Civil APP
preparation bill, after voting down prop
osition by Mr.. Sulzer to recommit it with
instructions to strike out the appropriation
Of $136,6O0 for rent of the New York
Custom House.
The remainder of the day was devoted
to a discussion of the conference report
on the Army Appropriation bill. With the
exception of one amendment, providing GER
tain increases in the Signal Corps, the
House disagreed to all other important SEN
ate amendments, and the bill was sent Lack
to conference. The propositions to con-
solidate the Office of the Adjutant- General
with that of the Record and Pension Divi-
sion, and make Brighten. Ainswcrth,
Chief of the latter division, Military Secre-
tary. with the rank of Major General, and
put him in charge, and allow officers who
served in the war of the rebellion who re-
tire or who may already have retired, to
retire to the next higher grade, were de-
bated at length, and met with strong OPP
position.
April 2-Mr Warren occupied the
greater part of the day in the Senate with
Il speech on the Gibson bill to repeal most
of the existing land laws. He took sharp
issue with the contentious of Mr.. Gibson.
arguing that the laws were benefcent and
in the main honestly administered and
urging that there was no demand for re-
peal.
Mr.. Mallory concluded his speech on
the old age disability pension order OF the
Secretary Of the Interior.
There were 80 pension pills passed by
the House i'm two hours. Another hour
was devoted to rapid-fre legislation by
unanimous consent. i'm which large num-
Der of bridge bills, and other matters of
minor Importance, were disposed of. At