The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-20
Pension Agencies Are Reduced
 To the Minimum
.HARB F|GHT IN THE HOUSE
Fitzgerald of New York Argues That Agencies Should Be Abolished Because of the Big Stick
 Behind Them. y

Washington. March 19. - Following speeches by Messrs. Bowers of Mississip- pi and Keller of Ohio, in support of tho proposition to abolish + pension agencies throughout the country and have instead a general agency to be located in Wash ington, the House today considered the pension appropriation bill for amend ment.
 An amendment by MT. Taylor of Ohio to restore the pension agencies which the bill drops in the interest of the consolida- ton of pension disbursements in Washing ton, aroused considerable discussion. MT. Taylor. besides insisting that the proposed reduction would work a great hardship on a large number of clerks now em- ployed in these offices. who would be re- quired to come to Washington, declared that the economy sought to be effected would not be realized.
 MT. Stanford of Nebraska maintained a similar position, but the amendment was opposed by MT. Gaines of Tennessee on the ground that one general agency would facilitate the work of paying the pensioh- CTS.
 "The rough riders from Ohio are in the saddle, and they cannot spare any of the places" was the comment of MT. Fitz- gerald of New York in the course of an argument to show that the President would not discontinue the agencies even if Congress withheld the appropriation for them. The President. he declared, need ed the places to promote his political clainis.
 If. said MT. Fitzgerald. it was proposed to abolish the agencies, it should be done by specific enactment and not leave a loophole for the President
 FltzgeraIds Argument.
 Don't let the President get away with the G. A R. on thls'' he said, and say, Why, Congress was wrong; I have the power to abolish these agencies if that Is proper, and even if I have not it would not make much difference. If I thought 1t should be done, considering the way have acted in the past, and Congress without proper investigation decreed that my appointees, the men l need in this coming fight, shall be cut out of their rations by the big stick, I would not stand for it. |"
 MT. Fitzgerald referred to the referee system and charged that appointments were being made wherever possible Of men not the friends of the speaker or the House. the vice president or Senator Knox, Tor some other distinguished and worthy republican" for the purpose Of corraling delegates "who If they are not for the President are for his shadow"
 tad hot Garfield reflected at all times to "the cabinet room and tennis court of the White House." and said "don't let the President weep tears for the old soldiers while his con- fldential young man tries to work Con gress on the quiet" If MT. Garfield was sincere to recommend to Congress the abolition of the IT agencies, why did he not tell this to the President, the big man. the strong man? Why did not the President do it?"
 Passage at Arms.
 Tn the course of a strong plea for the amendment MT. Dalzell of Pennsylvania was interrupted by MT. Edwards of Geor- gia with the inquiry if it was not true one of these agencies was In Pittsburg.
 .'Yes" hotly retorted MT. Dalzell, and l am pleading for it."
 "I just wanted to get you on record, was MT Edwards reply
 "Oh," shouted MT. Dalzell q never aim to go on record" and continuing he said if these agencies were to be dropped he wanted them dropped in an open, manly way.
 Speeches in favor of the amendment were made by Messrs. Kahn of California, Moore of Pennsylvania, Hale of Tennes- see. Campbell of Kansas, Alexander or New York and Sulzer of New York The amendment was further opposed by Messrs. Cox, srumpacker and Holiday or Indiana. Gardner of Michigan and Tawney of Minnesota.
 Amid great confusion and loud cries of "yote," 'vote," further debate was cut of and the ballot resulted Tn the loss of Mir. Taylor's amendment-Se to lSs
 On points of order by MT. Dalzeli there was stricken from the bill the pro- visions authorizing the commissioner or pensions to group pensioners for payment on certain dates, authorizing the chief clerk of pension agencies to act In the absence of the agents, and authorizing the agents to designate clerks to sign the agents name to pension checks. The bill then passed. It carries an appropriation of $50, ,s6s 900. At 6:os p. m. the House adjourned