The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-20
PENSION BILL
 PASSES HOUSE Seventeen Agencies Arc Abolished. TO HAVE GENERAL AGENCY Over One Hundred and Fifty MIL lion Appropriated. srr. Taylor of Ohio oaered an Amsnd-
 ment to Retain the Different Agencies. But It Was Defeated.
TO HAVE GENERAL AGENCY

Washington, March 1s.--Followins speeches by Messrs. Bowers (Miss. and Keller (ol in support of the prop osition to abolish seventeen pension agencies throughout the country and have instead a general agency 10 pc located in Washington. D. C., the House today considered the pensions appro- prIation bill for amendment.
 An amendment by MT. Taylor (o.) to restore the pension agencies which the bill drops in the interest of the consolidation of pension disbursements in Washington, aroused considerable discussion. Mir. Taylor, besides insist ing that the proposed reduction would work a great hardship on large mum Der of clerks now employed in these offices who would be required to come to Washington, declared that the econ omy sought to be effected would not be realized.
 MT. Stanford (Neb.) maintained . similar position that the amendment was opposed by Mir. Gaines (Tenn) on the ground that one general agency would facilitate the work of paying the pensioners.
 ''The rough riders from Ohio are Tn the saddle and they cannot spare any of the places" was the comment of Mr. Fitzgerald, N. F.. in the course or an argument tending to show that the president would not discontinue the agencies even if congress wttheld the appropriation for them. The president he declared. needed the places to pro- mote his political claims.
 LoophoIe Not Wanted.
 sTf," Mir. Fitzgerald said, it was proposed to abolish the agencies, 1t should be done by specific enactment and not leave a loophole for the pres ident.
 s.Dont let the president set away with the c. A. R. on this. he said. "and say why congress was wrong, l have the power to abolish these agen- cies if that is proper and even If l have not. # would not make much diff ference. If thought 1t should De done considering the way have acted pee isxweseigAe eton ascreed that mx ap- posfstees. the men need in this com ink fight shall be out of their rations by the big stick. I would not stand for it.'".
 MT. Fitzpatrick referred to the re- fierce system and charged that appoint msnts were being made wherever pos sible of men not the friends of the speaker of the house. the vice presi- dent or Senator Knox "or some other distinguished and worthy republicans for the purpose of corralling dele gates. ''who if they are not for the president, are for his shadow" He asserted that Secretary Gar field had access 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 sol diers while his confidential young man tries to work Congress on the quiet 'If Mir. Garfield was sincere in Aa the ahnlf- tion of the seventeen agencies. why he inquired, "did he not tell this to the President, the big man, the strong man. Why did not the President do ite"
 Tn the course of a strong plea for the amendment, Mir. Dalzell, (Penn.) was interrupted by Mfr. Edwards (Ga.) with the inquiry if it was not true one of these agencies was in Pitts burg. aYes." hotly retorted Mir. Dalseii. 'and I am pleading for it."
 T just wanted to get you on record" was Mir. Edwards reply. DaIneIl on Record. "oh." shouted Mir. Dalzell. T 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 or tne amendment were made by Messrs. Kahn, Cali fornia: Moore, Pennsylvania; Hale, Tennessee; Campbell. Kansas; Alex ander, New York and sulEer. New York. The amendment was further opposed by Messrs. Cox. crumpacker ana Holiday, of Indiana; Gardner, Michigan and Tawney. Minnesota.
 Arid great confusion and loud cries o, .svote." vote" further debate was c,t ofs and the ballot resulted in the loss of Mir. Taylor's amendment, SC to 1S9. az, ,, .bere was stricken from the bill the nrovisions authorizing the commis- p;o,ar of Pensions to group pensioners for nayrnent on certain dates. author izine the chief clerk of pension agen- cies to act In the absence of the agents and authorizing the agents to desig- nate clerks to sign the agents name to pension checks
 The bin then passed. If carries an annropriation of $150.S69,000.
 At sos p. m. the House adjourned.