The Washington herald., 1907-03-04
SENATE FREE WITH FUNDS
Sullivan Declares Public Is Mulcted
in Pension Bill.
Tells House He Was Treated with
Contnmesy by Senate COnferees
Who Want Pension Agencies.

A vehement attack upon the Senate as
a profiigate dealer with public funds was
made By Representative Sullivan, Of Mas
sachusetts, minority conferee on the gen
eral pension appropriation BILL In the
course Of the consideration Of the con
ference report on that measure in the
House of Representatives yesterday.
The House had voted to abolish the
eighteen pension agencies existing
throughout the country and consolidate
the paying of pensions at the Washington
agency. This the Senate struck out. and
its conferees refused 10 consider its res
toratlon An agreement was made by
the majority Of the conferees TO maintain
the agencies as now existing with pro-
vision that the expedieuCy of abolishing
them should be investigated by the Secre-
I tary Of the Interior Mr.. sullivan related
/ the experience Of the conferees, and, com
mentlng upon the attitude Of the Sena-
tors, said;
Excuses were made, but they could
not be diguihed by calling them argu-
ments. They reflect no credit upon the
intellectual integrity of the gentlemen
/ who stopped 70 utter them and sought 70
/ have them prevail as arguments addressed
/ 70 the intelligence Of honest men. The ex-
cuse advanced was that the McCumber
/ pension bill would add new pensions and
new legislation, and would result in
placing many on the list, and that We
could not with economy Inconvenience the
old soldier by consolidating these
! agencies
/ 1T was pointed out to the Senators that
( they were confused as to the duties Of
! the Pension Bureau and the pension
+ agency, but instead OF acknowledging
/ their error when Il was pointed out they
chung to the subterfuge that It would
/ cause a delay and inconvenience 10 the old
soldier Appropriation bills leave this
House and they go 20 the Senate with
no or scanty debate; millions are added
upon tine ipse dixit Of this man or that
man who sits in the high chamber. and
the House is constantly compelled to sub
nit and acknowledge in shame and
humility Its inferiorty to the other
branch Of the legislature.
without violating any secret of the
| conference committee, ] must say, hon
! estly, that the House conferees were
treated with contumely from the begin
ming; that the statement was boldly
made that there would be no recession
that We must take the Senatorial mandate
because Of their superiority TO this enc
of the Capitol, and they would force theil
viii on the unwilling membership of this
branch Of the Legislature.
Mr.. Sullivan called on the House not
TO submit 20 the mandate of Senator'S who
compelled Representatives 10 violate their
oath of Office and sQuander the money OF
the people. To abolish the pension
agencies. he said. would save s250000 q
year. His remarks We're applauded.
Representatives Gardner Of Michigan
and Payne Of New York (Reps: urged
the adoption of the report as the only
way 70 secure passage of the bill. BY
a party vote the report was agreed to.
The Senate cOnferees who were Sc
seriously condemned by Representative
Sullivan were Senator McCumber OF
North Dakota and Senator Scott of Wes
Virginia, both Republicans. Mr.. Sulli
van did not intend that his criticism
should apply to Senator Taliaferro, OF
Florida, the Democratic cOnferee, who
explained that he voted TO retain thC
/ agencies merely because he had been in.
structed to do so by the Senate.