The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-19

Washington, April S.--The House to-
day passed the last of the supply bills
of the government, the general def
cheney appropriation measure, after n
stormy session which lasted until Sis
o'clock in the evening. The contest
was a party one over the deficiency
appropriation for pensions, which the
Democrats tried ineffectively TO amend
by Incorporating as a law the recent
executive age disability pension order.
An effort was made by Mr.. Moon
of Tennessee to secure a yea and nay
vote on his amendment as to the age
disability order. but the Speaker re-
fused to recognize him for this pur-
pose. On a pro forma motion to re-
commit the bill the Democrats, anger
ed by the Speakers refusal to recog-
nize Mr.. Moon, secured a roll call but
after the vote had been taken all fur
Their opposition ceased and the bill was
Uassed
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama offered
an amendment reducing the total de-
ficiency appropriation for pensions to
81, 400, 600, and Mr.. Livingston of Geor-
gia offered another providing that no
part of the appropriation shall be paid
to any claimant for pension under he
Presidents order
Another amendment by Mr.. Miers
(DemocraD of Indiana, increased the
appropriation to 100000, while still
another amendment was offered by
Mr.. Moon (DemocraD of Tennessee,
providing that persons who served
ninety days or more in the service of
the United States during the Civil War
shall, when they reach the age OF "
years, receive S. a month; alter 20
years, So a month: after 6S years, $40
a month; after 20 years, $12 month.
1t developed that this last amend
ment was a sharp move by the Demo-
Gratis. Mr.. Hemenway made a point
of order against 1t because he said it
changed existing law. Mr.. Underwood
promptly stated that it followed word
for word the Presidents order, and
inquired If the President was more en-
titled to violate existing law than the
House.
Mr. Hemenway declared that in the
confusion he did not get the drift of
the amendment, and in defending the
appropriation as provided by the bill,
said the Democrats had been wander
ing around for two months for an is
sue IN the coming campaign ana lney
thought they had ii now, but, he said,
the Republicans would meet them on
that issue.
MIR. Williams, of Mississippi, said
the order was another illustration of
executive usurpation. He emphaticaI-
~ declared that the order was a change
of existing law and insisted that the
Commissioner of Pensions had COM
nitted an impeachable offense.
Mr.. Moon Indignantly denied that
he offered his amendment for political
effect. His amendment, he explained,
was offered solely that there may be
no doubt as to what the soldiers are
entitled to, because he believed the or
der a wise and sensible one if enacted
into law in pursuance of the consti-
fulton.
The point of order against the Moon
amendment was sustained amid deris-
i've laughter from the Democratic side.
All amendments were rejected, and
the bill was reported to the House and
passed.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Hit Of
fered his Chinese exclusion bill, intro
duced Saturday, as an amendment to
the general deficiency bill, and it we
accepted.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi sarcastic
oaiiy declared that this amendment
demonstrated how easily it was for