The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-22
SENATE PASSES
 THE TWO B|G ONES
Pension Appropriation Bill Car
 ries Sl37,000,000
MR. GORMAN CRITIClSES
Says No River and Harbor Measure Was Passed Because of Decree From the All Powerful
 Source.

Washington, April 21.-The pension ap- propriation bill, carrying $l31O0o,OOO, and the emergency river and harbor appro- priation bill, which carries S3,0OO GOO, were passed today by the senate, leaving only the general deficiency and the military academy bills of the entire list of supply measures still to be considered by the senate. The house bill increasing the size of homestead entries in Wastern Nebraska to $40 acres, also received fa- vorable consideration. While the river and harbor measure was under consider ation Mr. German sharply criticised the failure to bring in a general river and harbor bill.
 Speeches were made on the pension bill by Messrs. McCumber and Scott the lat ter declaring that he favored service pension of $25 per month.
 When the emergency river and harbor appropriation bill was taken up MT. German asked why no general river and harbor bill was to be passed at the pres ent session.
 MT. Elkins, in charge of the bill, re- piled that the judgment of the commit
 
 bill had been that a general bill could not be passed and that the state of the treas ury and of the public business would not justify such a measure. There was a controversy between MT. Aldrich and Mir. German. the latter charging the re- publicans with a determination to force an early adjournment for political pur- poses and MT. Aldrich asserting that MT. German could discuss public questions as long as he chose.
 German Criticises Republicans.
 MT. German criticised the republicans for not passing a general river and harbor bill, which was due to a decree coming from an all-powerful source, the policy of which none could resist The bill was passed and MT. McCumber reported an amendment to the pension bill appropriat- ing $4,O00,O00 in addition to the sum car ried by the bill as reported, of which sum $l.5000 900 Is to pay increased pensions to July next under the old-age order and s2,50OOO0 to meet the defnciencies.
 MT. Hale made the point of order that the amendment belongs on the deficiency bill, where 1t had been taken care of, and the chair sustained the point.
 'It makes no difference whether the deficiency Is four millions or four hundred millions, I am for the soldier and ais widow and children, and if l could do so by vote of mine, I would pay pension of $25 a month to every soldier, whatever his term of service, and whether he was rich or poor.'
 pension laws. saying they now stood be- tween the soldier and his just rights. The pension bill was passed.
 The senate at 5:02 went into executive session, and at 6:15 adjourned.
 THE HOUSE.
 Washington, April 21.-The house to- day gave evidence of approaching ad- journment by passing a large number of bills. among them being one to provide temporary government for the Pana- | ma canal zone.
 A rule was adopted after the democrats had forced a roll call for the considera- ton of the bill creating commission to | investigate the merchant marine Of the United States and the bill was then laid | aside.
 The following bills were passed:
 Providing for the collection of certain census statistics of births and deaths.
 Amending the law authorizing the con- struction of bridge across the Missis- sippi river at Memphis, Tenn.
 Amending the law in reference to the reimbursement of governors of states and territories for expenses incurred in lending aid to the United States in or ganizing volunteers during the Spanish | war.
 The house got into a wrangle over a resolution to pay MT. Stemp, republican, of Virginia $500 on account of expenses incurred by him in defending before the Virginia courts his title to his seat
 The opponents of the resolution con- tended that as no contest had been waged in the house the appropriation was not proper.
 The resolution was voted down s4 to PA. | At 5:25 the house adjourned.