The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-18
SHERWOOD BILL
FORCES SENATE
LOOKS A. THOUGH PENSION MEA-
sURR WILL PUT CON.
aREss TO TEST.
DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT
TAFT GOING EASY ON ExPENDI-
TURN FEARING FOR SAFE
TT OF HIS ELEC-
TON.
DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT

WASHINGTON. Dec, l7.-Senators
who vote for the Sherwood pension
bill will do 20 with the knowledge
that their action will swell the APP
populations Of the present Congress
to a billion and a quarter.
II is evident that the efforts OF the
Democratic leaders In the House to
cut down on expenditures for rivers
and harbors and public buildings in
order to Offset the pension appropria-
ton, will not be successful. The pub
lie building committee 10 already
firmly determined to get $16.000,00o, no
matter what the leaders think about
It, and there are indications that they
will get backing on the floor OF the
House. II they are successful the
rivers and harbors committee will have
an excellent argument to ask for a
big appropriation. The expenses OF
the country, including cost OF pub
lie buildings and OF river and har-
Dor Improvement which is estimated
at approximately a billion. will thus
be met AZ usual. This with the one
hundred and fifty millions now an
nually paid for pensions. and the one
hundred million added by the Sher-
wood bill. places on the Senate the
responsibility for billion and a quar-
ter dollar Congress IL the Sherwood
bill IL passed.
President Taft has given no direct
intimation as to what he intends to
do about the bill. Tremendous pres
sure will be brought to bear on him
to ~"rsAude him to sign 1t in the event
OF Its approval by the Senate. Mr..
Taft is extremely DESTROYS OF secur-
ing another term. Events OF the last
week have convinced him that he had
better not do anything to endanger
his chances. His political advisers,
being stand-pat Republicans and
Enthusiastically for the Sherwood bill.
and 1t will require remarkable firm
ness to resist their demands that he
sign the bill.
Made Without Bitterness.
The Democratic opposition to the
bill in the House was made without
bitterness, and solely on the grounds
Of the necessity for economy. No
opponent OF the bill denied the de-
STABILITY OF a liberal pension sys-
tenn. but the party was put into
power largely on Its promise OF re-
respect has thus far been unassatl-
able
Tho Republicans delight over the
fact that they so readily secured
democratic support, for the bill has
been ooundlsss, Whatever political
capital 10 to be made out Of 1t will
be claimed by the Republicans, as
the bill Is theirs. and received far
| more Republican than Democratic
support. Indeed. there was little ex-
pectation on the part Of the Repub-
licsns at the beginning Of the ses-
sion that the bill would pass either
mo
sentativos wrote home to their con-
stituents that 1t would be impossible
for q minority party to pass any bill
carrying more than $4,000 Of appro-
priation.
Insurgents Oppose Bill.
In the Senate most OF the insur-
gent Republicans are against the bill
-outspokenly against It. At the same
time one of the best known OF these
senators said that he believed the
| bill would come out Of the commit
tee and pass the Senate in exactly
the form in which 1t has come from
the House.
Il am heartily in favor Of a lib
eral treatment Of the veterans of
the war" said this senator today.
Il believe that any man who was
| disabled In the service OF the coun-
| try ought to receive compensation.
But I do think that this present bill
Is greater expense than can be
borne by the country. In framing
| any appropriation bill It is our duty
| to the public to keep expenses within
a reasonable distance of the receipts.
and this bill will do nothing Of that
sort. Nevertheless I am persuaded
that the bill Is going to pass the Sem
ate, and that 1t will get enough Dem
/ OcratiC votes fo mars II 7 Anp'f anA