Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-12
GEORGIANS FIGHT
AGAINST OMNIBUS
PENSION MEASURE
Insults Heaped Upon Georgia
Congressman Because of
Their Stand, While Under
wood PreSideS ,
ny RALPH SMITH

WASHINGTON, d. c., March 9.-Geor-
gians in both branches of congress had a
field day yesterday in opposition to pri-
vate pension claims. Senator Hoxe Smith
made an assault on a pending omnibus
pension bill in the senate, while in the
house Representatives Roddenbery, How
ard and Tribble engaged in an old-time
filibuster against similar legislation.
They tied up the house for eight hours
and while they made themselves unpop-
ular, they succeeded in making many of
the private claims odious.
Senator Smith succeeded, single-hand-
ed, in preventing the passage of an ON
nibus pension bill in the senate embrac-
ing about 200 private claims He dis
claimed any purpose, however of OBJ
structing all legislation and insisted that
he simply wanted the country to under
stand the nature OF the claims that were
being passed. He will resume his fight
this afternoon and promises to point out
other giaring frauds.
sfI0KE SMITHS ARGUMENT.
He contends that the policy of allow
ing private pensions which has grown up
in congress is unjust to the rank and
file of union soldiers who really fought in
the war and who are actually entitled to
favors at the hands of the government
He asserted that 9.649 special pension
bills were passed by the last congress
and he insisted that it was impossible
that these claims received the careful
consideration they demanded.
Special pensions alone, he cOntended,
cost the federal government $500, 157 an
nually and the money goes to pensioners
who have friends in congress willing to
look out for them while the great mass
of the old soldiers are neglected and
must content themselves with the meagre
allowance of general pension legislation.
Indignities were heaped upon the
Georgians in the house while majority
Leader Underwood occupied the chair
as speaker pro tenn. Members favor
able to pension legislation were permit
ted to sing Marching Through Geor-
gia," "Tenting Tonight" etc. The
Marching Through Georgia song an
gered. the Georgians no little but they
were helpless under the circumstances.
The chair made no effort to prevent its
rendition.
Mr. Speaker" shouted Representa-
tive Anderson, an ardent pension advo-
cate from the "Old soldier state" of
Ohio.
Il note the gentleman from Georgia
is not singing"
81 resent that remark, Mr.. Speaker,
shouted Mr.. Roddenberry.
Meanwhile members were dropping in
one at a time and finally Representa-
tive James of Kentucky appeared There
was loud applause for the presence of
Mr. James made a quorum and the
previous question in the bill was order
ed by a vote of 10 to 10 with IL men,
bers voting present"
DENOUNCED BY RODDENBERRY
Glaring at Democrats whom he knew
were not in sympathy with his efforts.
Mr.. Roddenberry accused them of rob
bling the treasury for political gain"
Some of you have already heard
from home" declared Mr.. Roddenbery,
and if / am pressed I shall call the
names IF the gentlemen whose con-
stiutents have attacked the eXtrava
gnace of the bill you passed two years
ago. God save you when your people
find out just how You are running this
bogus pension system"
Representative Tribble asserted that
the house had cut off public buildings
and battleships and had mangled ap-
preparation bills because of the terri
DC drain of the treasury through in
judicious pension legislation"