The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-08

seml-annua returns Of said agents. 10 ih CoolmssIoer
said pensoner, respecttvely. prosasa. That when d,
Of Congress for total disability Tor The loss Of limb o.
other cause which cannot be removed either IA whole
Ia part the above affidavit shall not be required"
II MIR. JONES, OF Iowa. II the section which the COM
milee propose amendment is agreed TO, can ther
move an amendment to itl
The PRESIDING OFFICER, (Mr Foor) No, sir
after amendment has been agreed 10, il cannot be
amended.
Mr. JONES. Then have an amendment to it which
shall propose now. IL Is TO insert in the amendment
after the words g that before any payment shall here
after be made to any invalid pensoner" the words
whose pension exceeds eight dollars per month";" and
that will make II read
invalid pensoner whose pension exceeds eight dollars
per month, aud whose shall have been upon the pen
sion m he shall produce 10 the agent for paying
pensions 10 whom he shall apply for the aiidav
of Two surgeons or physicians" &c.
! SO not 10 have il apply the poor soldiers, whose
pay never exceeds eight dollars and who generally do
not get more than four dollars month This provision
would put them to an unnecessary expense. They do
not get more than ninetysx dollars year, at The very
hlghest and | want 10 except them from the oner-
Gus provision OF this section. Let il apply to the larger
class Of pensioners, and not to those who get less than
Mr. HUNTER Suppose Il, is proved that the disability
OF those who receive less than eight dollars month has
ceased ought they to be entitled still
Mr. JONES. OF Iowa do not want examination
gone into 10 regard 10 them The amount which they
ceiye is little enough for the services which they have
performed, and the injuries sustained
| Mr. HUNTER majority OF the cases Of fraud are
probably in that very class ii we adopt that ii will de-
sroy the amendment of the committee.
Mr. SHIELDS think the honorable senator from
Iowa is right in proposing this but at the same time
think il will be much better reject the whole section,
and lei the Committee on Pensions mature plan which
Mr.. PETIT. Let us reject the whole section pro-
posed by the COMMITTEE on Finance. .....
! Mr.. BAYARD. | can reason why the amend
to the amendment, houd be agreed The object
OF the provision reported by the committee is, as pre-
sumo 10 prevent fraud. fraud IN small sum ought
TO be detected and exposed you look TO the question OF
public morals, as much as fraud IN large sum- Nay,
satisfied that the effect upon the public morals more
requires that you should investigate OF that kind
than where the amounts may be larger The latter
more apt TO be brought 10 the public notice and
Than minor that the smaller may
have more deeierous effect the morals OF the
munity than the larger ones put this not only on the
ground OF pubic money, saving 10 the government
but upon that o the public morals The object 10 pre-
vent aud and that being there is reason why a
fraud in obtaining pension OF egh, dollars, or four dol
lars dollar month"; should not just as much be
exposed any case o. fraud IN obtaining one OF 5000
month. am therefore opposed 10 the proposition OF the
senator from Iowa think /, goes completely 10 destroy
the whole object and intent oi the section reported from
the committee
Mr TOUCEG | am in favor OF the amendment, re-
ported from the committee il has been amended lis
object is substantially TO require one examination IN or
der 10 ascertain whether the invalid pensioners now on
the pension roll entitled to receive the pensions That
IL The substance Of The provision. The objection which
is made 10 il is that II Is requiring too much 10 ask that
here shall be examination before two surgeons under
he direction oil the Secretary OF the nenor, IN order 10
ascertain whether The disability existed, whether II
now continues, and II Il does not continue 10 stop the
pension Nov, it is perfectly well known that there are
frauds committed TO very great extent In soma mode
those fraeds ought TO be detected and exposed can
conceive Of no direct and cien iHvess alton than
that which requires that pens oner shall appear be-
lore two respectable surgeons, and be personally exam
ned and when that done and the report ia made, the
whole object OF this provision ~ accomplished. IL is
measure that is called Tor By he department No subst
tue s proposed for il; but called upon TO vote
down this simple and direct application as II s for
proof
Mr.. SHIELDS Will the senator permit 10 say, that
we want Tie Committee Pensions, which is the proper
committee TO consider such subjects. TO mature proys-
lion this matter and bring il forward This Is not IN
its proper place in thls bill. .......
MIR fOUCEY. Well, it may not be in its proper
place can only say, SIR, that In looking back into the
Legislation Of the couHtry The most effective provisions
are those that have been introduced IN this manner
those which cut up frauds by the roosthose which re
strain the officers Of this government within the limits
OF law. This Amendment ci the committee Is presented
here II s out OF orjer: sad, for one cannot vote
against giving the department the power TO examine into
lhs matter in the simple mode which rs proposed Ii Is
sad that will be yexaliOus agree that The amend.
menl originally presented had an objection 10 IT,
did not approve OF The provision to require repetition OF
the process OF examination and certifying every TWO
years But that is stricken out; and as The amendment
now stands il provides for but single examination and
single report The opporu unity being pfesened 10 me,
shall Tor H. upon The principle that will 10 every
case vote for reform OF what l know 10 be existing
abuses
Nh STUART. desire 10 make sipgle remark in
Committee Pensions OF the Senate should get mp
separate b aud i'm ody Ia the principle OF this amend
men the chances not IN fifty that II can be
passed in the other House in two years The ~,
simply that such bill, when sent 10 the House OF Rep
reseniaiyes, i referred The Committee OF the Whole
on the state o The Union, and whoever has looked into
the legislation OF this government for the last few years
will find that whenever measure, new and useful IN ITS
character, has been carried through al all II has been
put upon appropriation b which, by the rules oil The
House, can be reached at any time
Mr SHIELDS. In reply 10 that, will say that when
the army bill comes in this provision having been in the
mean time maured may be attached to H. and there il
may be properly placed, bat not this deficiency bill
II belongs TO that bill any how and think by The time
II reaches arrange the provision that il will
accomplish The object we have in view.
The amendment offered by Mr. JoEEs, OF Iowa, TO the
amendment rejected.
The question recurring agreeing 10 the amendment
reported from the committee, amended taken by
yeas and nays, and Tesulted-ysas ~, nays 2Oas fol
lows;
YEAs--Nrssrs Allen. Achtson, Bayard Brodhead Bu,-
ler Clay, Clayton, Evans Fcsenden, Fzpatrck Foot,
Gwin Hamln, Hunter, Mason, Norris peace Pratt Sill
dell, StuaIt, oucey, end Williams-22
NAYS-Messrs Adams, Badger, Brown, Dodge of Wis
OF Iowa, Jones of Tennessee Morton, Pett, Rssk Shields
Thompson OF Kentucky, Thomson OF New Jersey Wade,
Weller, and Wngbt-20.
So it was agreed TO.
Mr. HUNTER The Committee on Finance have in
sucled me 10 offer the following amendment To insert
among the appropriations for The Interior Department
after the hundred and forysxth line, the words
For contingent expenses IL tue Office Of the
, OF Pensions Tor stationery, 1000.
For binding books 81 900.
For office furniture, $1,000
For prnng and engraving bonnty yand certificates 800