Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-23
THE PENSION AGENCIES
oPPosrr1uH 70 REDUCING THE
NUMBER TO NINE.
Spirited contrsversy In the House Of
Representative This Afternoon
Ted By 1T. Dalzsli.

The House today began consideration OF
the pension appropriation bill.
A spirited controversy arose over an
effort to have the pension agencies of the
country reduced from eighteen to nine
The provision was sharply antagonised
by members representing districts from
which agencies would be removed
Representative Gardner of Michigan, in
charge Of the bill. stated that there had
been decrease OF $4,000 pensioners in the
past year. from q million In round num-
bers to 98s.000 He touched upon the va.
rious features OF the measures and then told
now the committee. impressed with the
views set forth before the appropriations
COMMITTEES by Commissioner Warner Of the
pension bureau, had recommended In the
Dill but nine pension agents instead OF
eighteen as at present.
Dalzell Promptly Protests.
Representative Dalzell of Pennsylvania
was prompt to enter protest against the
proposed change In the agency system. He
commended that all of the present agencies
should be retained or that all should be
abandoned. centralizing in Washington the
entire pension department Of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Gardner said that there would be a
very large saving in expense IL pensioners
were paid from Washington and he added
that the pension commissioner had told the
appropriations committee that in q very
few years there would be ample room here
Tor all the clerks now employed in the va
rious. agencies throughout the country.
Mr.. Dalzell endeavored to secure a state
ment from Mr.. Gardner Of the specific
amount that would be saved by the transfer
OF the Pittsburg agency to Philadelphia.
/ To this inquiry Mr.. Gardner replied that
1t was impossible to determine the saving
in that particular instance, but that the
committee knew what would be saved all
along the line. and gave figures from sew
Mr.. Norris Of Nebraska wanted to know
what actual saving there would be II the
payment of pensions was conducted entirely
from Washington.
About q half million dollars" replied Mr..
Gardner.
What objections are there against max
Ing washington the distributing point for
al! the pension business Of the country?''
asked Mr.. Norris.
Eighteen Political Objections.
Theoretically and from a business point
Of view there are absolutely no objections.
but from political point Of view there are
eighteen objections" replied Mr.. Gardner, a
sally that was followed by a hearty out
burst Of laughter.
Mr.. Sullivan Of Massachusetts, a minority
member Of the appropriations committee,
remarked that he had supposed the war
was over, but as he saw the gentlemen on
the republican side laboring to keep their
pension agencies he was led to believe that
while the civil war was over, the war for
patronage was very much In evidence, and
he declared that ''the cohesive power of
public plumber" was the strength Of the re-
publican party, remark that called forth
applause.
The President Criticised.
Mr. Sullivan thought that If the "chief
OF the republican party" the President, de-
sired to reduce the number of agencies he
could have done so by executive order
Mr.. Gardner explained that the President
had said that he was prepared to do what
the commissioner Of pensions had recon-
mended. but that he would prefer to have
congress pass. upon the. matter. -
This gave Mr.. Sullivan an opportunity to
say that the President. who had come into
public Nfs rs arEaunted reformer. had call
ed upon Congress to help. him out when by
a stroke OF Ills pen he could have saved a
hundred thousand dollars. ~
THE Presidents early success in politics
was due in a very large measure" con-
tnued MI: Sullivan. Ito his strenuous adj
vocacy of civil service reform. Now as
President he Is in position to do more in
day than he was in a year when twenty
years ago he was working day and night
for civil service reform.
But" continued Mr.. Sullivan, she has
allowed the power to lie unused, and then
attempts to throw the responsibility of a
change upon Congress, and submit that
there cannot be any other Interpretation Of
the Presidents motives
Gardiner Of Michigan criticised the re-
marks of the gentleman from Massachu-
sets and expressed doubt of the propriety
of his using the words he had employed in
ascrtbing questionable motives to the Pres
ident
"Oh. there is no such thing as lese ma
jeste in this country" quickly responded
Mr.. Sullivan. Il have perfect right on
this floor to criticise the motives Of the
President as well as the motives of any
other man so long as do so courteously
and cling to the facts and believe have
done all these"