The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-20

regards the ownership of the claim and that 1t has not
been transferred The ninth section declares that TINS ae
shall extend to the OF ocer or his represent
aves who have received either hafpay for life or COM
mutation in lieu thereof under any special act Oh Con-
gress.
The ninth section has been very severely criticised by
the honorable senator from Alabama, and the impression
which his argument is calculated 70 make would De THIS
at least il SO struck my mndhat this bill would really
give halpay for life to the children or grandchildren OF
those who entitled under the original resolutions OF
Congress- after and during the same years that the
officer himself when living drew full pay That agree
would be injustice presume that the honorable senator
did not intend TO make that claim He did not make ii in
by any means but that the impression which his
argument left my mind / certainly would 90 with
him in agreeing that If this bill made provision by virtue
of which deceased officers child grandchd should
hapay for the time that his or her ancestor
received full pay, it would be unjust provision but
there is such thing in the bill. No officer prior to
1926 received full pay except under special act of Con-
gress and IL he is cut of by this bill No officer re-
cevsd full pay under any general law, till the act OF 1928
which took effect from March g. 1896 Those who
under the of 1928 received full pay not exceeding the
pay of captain in the line from the Sd of March, 1926
and the provisions Of this bill cease where the
provision for officers Of the militia that the act OF 1928
made for the officers OF the line To my mind therefore,
this bill does injustice in this respect
Mr.. T0OMBS. From 1926 the officers who were living
got full pay II he lived ten years. you give his children
ten years hapay than he had years of life What
Is the reason for that?
full pay from 1926 II is right to give the hapay up to
that time to those entitled to it under the resolution OF
$780, The hapay stops when the full pay commences II
would be putting them worse ground than the militia
officers if we recall half of their pay after 1926, or make
them accountable for it. 1t really puts them worse
ground than the other officers in the service.
Mr. TO0MBS. This places them on better ground than
those who died.
Mr. FOSTER. Those who lived longest of re-
ceved the most pay. agree that at first blush it would
seem that the hapay after 1926 the honorable gentle
man from Georgia suggests ought to be deducted but
have said nasmuch the other officers of the army not
provided for in the resolve of l780a the officers OF the
militia who served to the end of the got full pay now
to deduct the halpay from those officers under these cir
cumstances would really be making invdious dstine-
ton against them whereas the object of this bill whether
carried out faithfully or notwheher 1t be good object
or not land the senator from Georgia and myself differ
to that)s to do the officers entitled TO the benefits OF
those resolutions full justice and not do
what it seems to me would be an injustice.
The remaining seconsthe tenth, that all persons who
apply and receive the benefit OF the act shall receive
it in full satisfaction of all claims under the resolutions
before recited for all losses els not objected to- AS am
aware of; nor the eleventh twelfth sections.
free to admit that this bill does not do all should
be very glad have done The honorable senator from
Georgia has suggested that the soldiers who served during
the entitled to pay ALSO well as tho officers
agree with him in that opinion but do not suppose we
shall make the bill more acceptable to him if it be amended
in that particular very strong objection to the bill at
the present time is the amount which 1t is said 1t will
draw from the public treasury If therefore, added to
its provisions what would increase the amount drawn the
result would be the inevitable defeat OF the bill.
Mr. TOOMBS 1t would be much more acceptable to me
IL all got it, though think the principle wrong
Mr. FOSTER. It would be acceptable to me If all
got it but if in attempting to give to ALL we should pre-
any from getting it. submit that 1t ia doing more
justice pay what be paid rather than refuse TO pay
any because all cannot be paid.
The bill makes provision for the militia They were
meritorous undoubtedly in many cases. the officers
and of the line 1t leaves unprovded for very many
whom would like to provided for but inasmuch as
this is claimed to be than ought to be grant
ed we should but embarrass the BILL and eectualy de-
sroy all hope of doing anythng, if we made any attempt
in that direction. am content, if not content am
willing do all the good which this bill does regrettng
only that it does not do more; and regreng also that
good which it will in my Judgment passed. otherwise do
The objections that made in regard to the character
Of those who the recipients of the bill seem to not
entitled great weight 1t gives the amount which may
be due the widows Of the deceased officer and to the
children and the grandchildren These the persons
who in my Judgment ought to receive it. No doubt there
wealth but hen it is insisted that the poverty OF those
who will receive under the bill something of what is due
them is reason why il should be passed surely the
wealth OF OF those who will receive is certainly
reason for passing it. That there has been any
binea effort in different sections of the country, under the
pressure Of which this bill is to be got through Congress-
is matter which had not learned The honorable sem
from Alabama took pride he declared Ia saying
that he had been pressed or asked by the citizens OF his
State vote for the BILL can say very nearly the same
thing 80 far any attempted influence me is
cerned have received scarcely request upon the sub
ect The pressure that is spoken OF have not felt
Scarcely letter has been received BY me the subject
will read very few words from one for it presents what
seems to me proper view to take of the subject 1t is not
from who justly be characterized some of those
have been characterized who it Is said desire to have the
bill passed. unworthy of unworthy sres. This is
from man who served through the whole of the last
with Great Britain beginning service as sergeant and
ending captain, serving through the whole war with
galantry and with high reputation He is not therefore,
who wishes to be moth upon the treasury to con-
sumo without producing lie writes that
Immediately after the solicited TO apply to
Congress land pension de- refused to have anything
to do with il on the that we were not entitled TO
voluntarily, generally soliciting employ ment il was bust,
Of seeking and the was all they expected
deserved They are not On the same footing Is the men
great hardshp for course Of years, poorly paid, poorly
clothed and dismissed n last without compensation or means
Of support"
This is almost the only letter have received upon the
subject and it is from gentleman who certainly is not de-
serving Of any himself submit Mr.. President that this
bill will do to certain class of the officers of the army
the revolution and their descendants ardy act of justice
Mr.. PRATT obtained the foor.
Mr. PUGH. desire to withdraw the pending amend.
ment with the consent of the Senate Tor the purpose
offering another which deem pertinent at present
The The PRESIDENT pro tempore The amendment will be
considered as withdrawn
Mr PUGH now move to strike out the first and sec
ond secong OF the bill after the enactng clause and inser
in lieu of them:
That there shall be allowed and paid out Of any moneys
in the treasury not otherwise appropriated to each OF the
surviving officers Cor in of his DEATH to his legal rep
embraced by the resolution of Congress da
ted the 22d day Of March, in the 1885, the difference
between the amount specified in the certificate issued TO hin
under the Of said resolution and the vape OF said
tfcate in money at the time when 1t was issned and re-
| wed.