The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
UNITE TO ABOLISH
Pension AGENCIES
Most OF the Democrats in Both
Branches in Favor Of Sucll
Economy.
-------4
BERRYvlLLE OFFICE FIGHT
Possible That Confirmation Of
Mr.. Elder Will Be
Opposed.
BERRYvlLLE OFFICE FIGHT
Ttmes-Dispatch pursau.
Munsay rluiidi,,e 4,

II
Washington. D. c., Feb s.
Many, II not all the Democrats OF
the House and Senate will vote for
tho bill reported from the appropria-
lions committee recommending tho
adjustment OF pension agencies In
various cities. The bill is recommend
cd by the Secretary OF the Interior and
tho Commissioner OF Pensions. who
claim that 1t will effect an annual
saving of from 100000 to $4,000,
and that pensioners will receive their
money just as promptly from the Bu-
reau OF Pensions direct. But the Re-
publicans. that Is, many Of them. are
fighting the bill, because 1t will do
away with much patronage: Tho sans
bill passed the House last year. but
was killed in the Senate Its advo-
Gates claim to be abla to put 1t through
both houses this session.
Fight Over Bcrryvlllc Office.
Senator Daniel is not yet prepared
TO say that he will not oppose TIE con-
pfrmation OF the appointment of j. r.
Elder to be postmaster at Berryvillo.
IT is rather likely he will oppose the
confirmation. Senator Martin will not
oppose continuation, but t Is not likely
that the latter will undertake to nake
q fight to have the nomination con-
firmet Tho ground Of tho opposition
to the confirmation of Elders appoint
Hent is said to bes.1ls connection with
some business denl in Berryvile. Mr.
Elder says he Is perfectly willing to
have the statement Of the facts con-
nccted with the case stated by the
attorneys who represented the oppo-
NJ 49,
Is he that he did no wrong In the
matter.
IT Is understood that Referee Acker,
OF tho Seventh District, is lighting COM
t1rmation on the ground that Elder Is
not really citizen of Berryville Elder
has lived here a great deal, but he
claims his home to be In Berryville.
Acker and Representative slemp arc
understood to have opposed the ap-
pointment.
Llbcrn1 to the Church.
The liberality OF the administration
In dealing with the Philippines was
again demonstrated, when the Com
mittee on Insular Affairs voted to
recommend the payment OF 100000 to
the Catholic Church for 1lmages done
to churches and converts in the Islands
by American troops during the war.
The board which passed on the claims
did not lind that more than S360.00a
damages had been done. The hoard
found that none OF the vestmcnts and
personal property OF the church had
been stolen or destroyed. Nevertheless,
the majority OF the committee voted
to add $4,000 to the original claim as
representing the. value OF this personal
property said to have been stolen by
American soldiers, ortotherwtse taken
or destroyed.
Representative Jones, Of Virginia. the
senior Democratic member OF the CONF
mittec. fought the bill, land was backed
by the other Democrats on the COM
mittee. Mr. Jones. who has visited tho
Philippines. and became great friend
of Aguinaldo while there, claimed that
the majority of the people of the Phil
lppincs are communicates OF the Inde-
pendent Catholic Church. and there
fore, II the government proposed to
pay any dana ges. they should be paid
to this church, and not to the Arch
bishop Of Manila, who Is appointed
from Rome
Mr.. Jones and other Democrats on
the committee ulso commended that 1t
was not fair to undertake to pay for
damages done to churches In the Phil
ippiaes by United States troops only
q few years ago. when 1t was impose
s!ble to secure the passage Of bills to
pay for damages done to churches by
Union troops In the South during and
after the War be tween tho States.
Secretary Taft urged the passage Of
the bill. It was reported by vote OF
eight Republicans to four Democrats.s