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


ssmi-annua returns OF said SCENTS lhs Commissioner Of
Pensions, who shall die them win the oIgns papers Of
pension sna have been originally granted by special act
Of Congress for total disability the loss Of Limb or
la part, the above affidavit shall not be required"
Mr.. JONES, Of Iowa. II the section which the com
mliiee propose amendment is agreed to, can then
The PRESIDING OFFICER, (Mr Fcor) No, sir
alter an amendment has been agreed 10. II cannot be
amended.
shall propose now, 1t is 10 insert in the amendment,
after the words 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 1t read
that; before any payment shall hereafter be made 70
per month, aud whose shall have been upon the
sion s wo years he shall produce 10 The agent Tor paying
of TWO surgeons or physicians" NC.
SO not to have apply 10 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
highest; and want TO except them from the oner-
GUS provision OF this section Let it apply to the larger
class OF pensioners, and not 10 those who get less than
eight dollars a month.
Mr.. HUNTER. Suppose 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 an examination
gone into IL regard 10 them The amount which they re-
ceive is little enough for The services which they have
performed, and the injuries sustained
Mr., HUNTER majority OF the of fraud are
probably IN that very class II we adopt that it will de-
slroy the amendment of the committee
Mr.. SHIELDS. / think the honorable senator from
Iowa is right IN proposing this but al the same time
think It will be much better TO reject the whole section,
and lie. the Committee Pensions mature plan which
MIR, PETIT LIE, us reject the whole section pro-
posed by the Committee on Finance. ..1
MIR. BA4ARD. can see no reason why the amend
meni 10 the amendment should be agreed TO- 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, much fraud in large sum. Nay,
am 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
apt to be brought TO the public notice and
prevented than minor that the smaller may
have deeterous effect on the morals OF the CON-
munity than the larger ones pu, tins not only on the
ground OF pubic money, as saving 10 the government,
but upon that OF the public morals The object is 10 pre-
vent raud and that being so, there no reason why
fraud in obtaining pension of eight dollars four dol
lars, dollar month, should moi just much be
exposed any Of fraud IN obtaining one OF $500
month am therefore opposed 10 the proposition OF the
senator from Iowa. think it goes completely TO destroy
the whole object and intent Of the section reported from
the committee
Mr. TOUCEY. | am in favor oil the amendment re-
ported from the committee as il has been amended lis
object is substantially TO require one examination IN or
der to 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
HE direction OF the Secretary OF the neuo in order 10
ascertain whether the disability existed, whether
continues, and il it does not continue TO stop the
pension. Nov, tits perfectly well known that there are
frauds committed TO very great extent In soma mode
those frauds ought TO be detected and exposed. can
conceive OF direct and efficient investigation than
that which requires thai pensloner shall appear be-
tore two respectable surgeons, and be personally exam
med and when that is done, and the report ia made, The
whole object OF this provision - accomplished IL Is
measure thai is called for by be department. No subst
tute is proposed for III but we called upon TO vote
down this simple and direct application as il is, for
prool-
we want the Committee Pensions, which is the proper
committee consider such subjects 10 mature provs-
ion THE matter and bring Il forward. This is not IN
is proper place ia this bill
Mr. fOUCEY Well, II may not be in It's proper
place. can only say SIR that, IN looking back INTO the
legislation of The couRy, The most effective provisions
are those that have been introduced in this manner
those which cut up frauds BY the foois-hose which re
strain the officers Of this government within the limits
OF law This amendment 81 the committee presented
her. II not out OF orjer; and, for one, cannot vote
against giving the department the power TO examine into
lhs matter IN the simple mode which is proposed Ii il
sald That will be veXaous. agree that The amend
menl originally presented had an objection TO H.
Dad approve OF the provision 10 require repetition OF
The process OF examination and certifying every Two
years. But that stricken onl; and as the amendment
nov stands il provides for but single examination and
single report The opportunity being presented % me,
shall vote Tor i, upon the principle that will IN every
case vote Tor reform OF what know to be existing
abuses.
MI STUART desire to make sisgle remark in
reply 20 the senator from Illinois, Mr. SHIELDS II the
Committee on Pensions OF the Senate should get up a
separate b and i'm ody il The principle OF this amend
ment, the chances not one in fifty that il be
passed in the other House in two years The reason IT,
simply, that such a bill when sent TO the House oil Rep
resentatyss Is referred 10 The Committee OF the Whole
on the STATE 81 the Union, aud whoever has looked into
the legislation Of this government Tor the last few years
will find that whenever measure, and useful in its
character, has been carried through at all. u has been
put upon appropriation BILL which, by the rules Of The
House, can be reached at any time.
MT SHIELDS. In reply to that, | will say, that when
the army bill in, this provision, having been in the
time malured, may be attached TO il, and there il
may be properly placed, bat not this deficiency bill
II belongs 70 hat blll any how and think by The time
reaches us arrange The provision so that il will
accomplish the object we have ia view.
The amendment offered BY Mt. JoEEs, OF Iowa, TO the
amendment was rejected.
The question recurring on agreeing 10 the amendment
reported from the committee amended, taken BY
cas- and aays, and resuted-ysas %, maya 2O-as fol
lows:
YEAs-Messrs Allen. Auhison, Bayard, Brodhead, But
Ter Clay, Clayton Evans, Fessenden, Fitzpatrick Foot
Gwin Hamln, Huner, Mason Norris, Pearce, Pratt Sill
deli, Stuart, oucey, end Wiiams-22
NAYs-Metsrs. Adams, Badger, Brown, Dodge OF Wis
oonsi Dodge Of lows, Everett Fish, Geyer James. Jones
OF Iowa Jones 81 Tennessee Morton Pettt Rssk Shields
Thompson Of Kentucky, Thomson Of New Jersey, Wade,
Weller, and Wrght-D
SO il was agreed to-
Mr. HUNTER The Committee on Finance have in
sructed me 10 offer the following amendment To insert
among the appropriations for The Interior Department,
afiet The one hundred and iory-sxh lne the words;
For contingent expenses in the Office Of the Commits
Of Pensions ior stationery, $1,000.
FOR binding books, 900
For office furniture. 81 600