Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-25
PENSION AGENCIES TO col
House Votes to Consolidate Work Of
Eureau at Washington.
PENSION APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED
hr. Norris Amendment Granting PEN
siOns to All Soldiers widows
Goes Out on Point of
order.

WASHINGTON. Jan. A-The house to-
day voted to abolish all the pension
agencies throughout the country, eighteen
in number, and centralize the payment of
pensions in the city of Washington. This
action was taken on the pension appro-
priation bill after spirited opposition on
the part Of those having pension agencies
in their states.
BY a vote OF So to ia an amendment
offered by Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania,
restoring the number of agencies to eigh-
teen, as at present, was defeated. and ar
amendment offered by Mr.. Gardner of
Michigan, consolidating all the agencies
in one, was adopted without division.
The pension appropriation bill, carrying
$685. 10000 in round numbers, was passed.
A message from the president was read
relative to insurance, and at 2:90, out Of
respect to the memory Of the late Senator
Alger Of Michigan, the house adjourned
Norris Offers Amendment
Mr.. Norris of Nebraska offered an amend
ment to the bill providing that hereafter
any widow of a soldier applying for a
pension under the general law shall not
be required to prove that her husband s
death was the result OF his army service.
While the amendment was ruled out on
| a point of order, Mr.. Norris had an OPP
portunity to state the object of his amend
ment, which was to make II easier for the
widows of soldiers to get a pension. The
general law provides that a widow must
show that her husband died of disabilities
incurred in the service, and he wanted a
change, requiring the proof only to show
that the husband was soldier and that
she was his widow.
When Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania offered
,f.t...
! eighteen agencies, the present number, he
said that IL the number were reduced to
nine, the agents at the discontinued agen-
recover their salaries, as the law provides
for eighteen agencies.
IF the president has the power to reduce
] these agencies" remarked Mr.. Dalzell, "he
should exercise the power without any ad-
vice of congress-"
Representative Gardner of Michigan
offered substitute to Mr.. Dalzelrs amend
ment, abolishing all the agencies except
one and fixing Washington as the location
of that agency.
Mr.. Tawney chairman Of the appropri-
| atoms committee, was emphatic in his dec
laration that upward of $4,000 would be
saved il the agencies were abolished, ex-
cept the one at Washington. He quoted
Commissioner Warren as saying that II
| would greatly add to the efficiency of the
| service IL the agencies were all consoli-
dated in Washington.
Hull Leads Opposition.
Mr.. Hull of Iowa, Mr.. Campbell OF Kan
sas, Mr.. Powers Of Maine and Mr.. Olsen
of Wisconsin pension agencies being located
| in their respective states, were united in
| their opposition to the abolition of a single
| agency.
Mr.. Sullivan of Massachusetts, took ex-
ception to the statements of those opposed
! to the reduction by stating that there
would be no Inconvenience to the old SOL
der In getting his pension except in the
first instance as stated to the committee by
the commissioner of pensions. IF the
| to save the treasury could dsconnect them
selves from the political pie involved" IA
| cetiously remarked Mr.. Sullivan, there
would be no difficulty about the reduc-
! tlon contemplated. 1t would probably mean
| the dlsmantlement of some political ma
chimes"
| By a vote of la to So the amendment
proposed by Mr.. Dalzell was defeated and
| then the substitute presented by Mr.. Gard
ner abolishing all pension agencies except
one at Washington was adopted by prac-
tically unanimous vote. The pension APP
preparation bill was then perfected to meet
the reduction in the number of agencies,
after which the committee rose, the bill
was reported to the house and passed with
| out further amendment.