The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-18
Topeka HOLDS ON
Reduction of Pension Agencies
Sure to Come.
Believed That Congress Will
Make a Change.
LIKELY TO LEAVE TEN
Kansas Agency Will Be One of
Them.
Senator Curtis Is Satisfied It
Will Be Retained.

| When the annual pensions appropria-
ton bill is reported to the house the
committee will again recommend, for
| economy sake, the adjustment of the
| eighteen pension agencies throughout
the country, and the establishment of
| a general paying agency at Washing
| ton.
! The house has voted twice to aboI-
| ish these agencies, and from the pres
| est outlook, will again do so. Here
! tofore the senate committee on pen
sions has been favorable to the pres
ent arrangement of paying the quar-
| terly allowances to old soldiers and
their widows, but, it is understood
now that a number of the committee
members are showing a strong dis
position to be converted to the econ
omy plan SO insistently urged by the
house in the past.
While the pensions appropriation
bill has not as yet been prepared in
the house, nevertheless the subject of
consolidating the pension agencies
has been the subject of more or less
, discussion among members of both
committees.
It is thought that should the house
follow the committees recommended
tion for consolidation again this ses-
sion, it will be a harder fight than
ever before to restore the agencies in
the bill, or rather provide for them as
they now exist.
Senator Curtis says there is strong
QeSlr0 IN In0 senate COnmlCIe0 TO re-
duce the mum Der of pension agencies
from eighteen to ten. Last year there
were a few members of the senate
committee who favored the reduction
to nine agencies. The interior de-
partment favors a plan of reducing
the number to five, establishing one
agency at Washington. one in New
York, another in Philadelphia, and
two in the west.
Senator Curtis is confident that
711e.v-E E<1f~ ,,;0
duced to nine or ten, Topeka would be
designated as one of the paying offices.
Even if the number was reduced to
five. Mr.. Curtis declared with much
earnestness. that Topeka would remain
on the map as a pension agency just as
it does today. if hissAfforts in the mat
ter would avail anything. Mr.. Curtis
made an effective fight for the Topeka
agency two years ago, and is in a
stronger position in the senate to pro-
tect the states interests than he was
then.
adjournment IN May ere now in seri-
Gus doubt about it. Recent develop
ments in the legislative program have
rendered the time of adjournment de-
cidedly uncertain, and it is now being
predicted that congress will be in ses-
sion until the middle of June, if not
later, notwithstanding the anxiety on
the part of the house members to
back into their districts.
The congressional primaries and con-
ventionS, and after them the fall cleo
tions are giving the members a vast
impatient under any program that
keeps them here later than the first or
middle of May.
The disposition on the part of the
house to completely overhaul the ad-
ministration railroad bill is largely re-
sponsible for the prospect of delay.
Already the railroad bill has been so
modified in some sections that it can
tee is not through with its considera-
ton of the measure. Chairman Mann
says it will not be reported to the house
until the members of the committee
know what is in it. When asked by
the Journal correspondent how much
debate upon the railroad bill he ex-
pected, Mr.. Mann said that two months
would be a fair estimate of the time
necessary. That means two months
from the time the bill is reported
Senator Elkins himself says that one
month for. the senate consideration of
the bill is the minimum, and he would
not be surprised to see the senate de-
bate it two months. He is one of the
leaders in congress who anticipate that
the body will not be able to adjourn
until some time IN June.
The railroad bill is only part of the
legislative program. It has now been
0efnitelv determined that the state
hood bills will be reported out of the
committees. These bills will precipitate
a long debate. For a time it was the
impression that this legislation would
go over until the next session.
The conservation bills have already
been touched. The postal savings bank
bill is far from a settled issue. The
house committee will begin hearings
next week. and then will report a bill.
1t will be the subject of discussion for
at least two weeks.
Up to this time the appropriation bills
have occupied practically all of the at
quirieS now in progress are taking the
time of many individual senators and
representatives who otherwise would
be in attendance upon their regular
CommiT tees.
Congressman Ed Madison has intro
drced bill authorizing and directing
the secretary of the treasury to pay to
P c. Trun- of Larned, Kan, on ac-
count Of PERSONAL injuries suffered by
him while engaged as an employe of
the government on the Oeerfield, (Kan.) |
irrigation project, the sum of $1,000.
Mr. Tramp's injuries were caused by the
breaking Of Jet rope on a pile driver.
James J. Miller has been appointed
postmaster at Crystal Springs, Harper
county, Kan, to succeed l. W. Shafer,
resigned Mary NJ. Pancake was also
ramed for the Office at Sexton, Wal |
lace county. in the place of ]. R. Berry,
resigned
Kansas postmasters commissioned:
John w. Willis. Gypsum; Edwin r.
Smith, Mound City: William ]. Watson.
Pittsburg; Rodnan A. DeForrest, Wet
more; Daniel Slough, Sedan.
Rural letter carriers appointed for
service In Kansas: William L. Hartman