National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-18
The Arrears of Pensions Bill.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Jan. H. 1879.
To he Editor OF Uc NaiioHai Republican:
SIR: observe in today's Post that Mr. Rice Of
Ohio, is reported in an interview as being very
happy because the Senate yesterday passed House
bill 1891, granting arrears Of pensions To show
how intensely happy Mr.. Rice may be, allow me to
give little of the history Of that bill and Nj
Rce's record In this arrears of pension matter.
on the 18Th Of February 1878, Mr.. Rice, from the
Invalid Pension Committee, reported House bill
1888. Let NE give Il synopsis OF this bill. This
shows what kind of bill Mr.. Rice wants.
The first section grants arrears substantially the
same as the bill which passed both Houses.
The second section provides if applications for
pensions on account OF wounds or injuries wero or
are not filed within five years after the right ac.
crued they shall commence AZ the development of
the disability; but i fled within five years, then
from the date Of discharge.
The third section gives the same reliefin cases Of
disease contracted IN the service.
The fourth section cnuCts that the arrears of pen
sion shall be at the rate granted in original certih
The fifth section directs the Commissioner to
establish rules regulating the payment Of arrears.
The sixth section declares the bill shall not be
construed TO amend or change section i7l0 of the
Revised Statutes This section provides when pen
sion TO dependent relatives, marshAls, tepmSters,
&C., shall begin.
The seventh section begins in this way: "That
the Secretary of the Interior be, and is hereby
authorized and required To rcoyc 10 Me plasion.roR
the names of all invalid pensioners now living Who
lrcrc stricken Hergfom on account ~ dia0yGtB' not
The eighth and last section repeals the following
sections Of the Revised statutes 400 47lG and I7l7
Section INC proposed 10 be repealed, reads as fol
lows:
"No money on account Of pension shall be paid
TO any person, to the widow children, or heirs
of any deceased person, who IN any manner Yolun.
tlriy engaged In or aided abetted the late rebel
lion against the authority Of the United States
on the lst day Of April, 1878 Hon. H. ], b. Cum
mings, of Iowa, being entitled to the floor 10 move
a suspension Ofthe rules sent 10 the Speakers desk
a bill identical with the one passed, except an
amendment qferward added providing that claim
agents should not be entitled 70 fees for procuring
/ arrears, and moved It's passage. The bill met de.
Cided opposition from the Democratic side, Mr..
Rice himself very eNctedly moving that the House
adjourn to prevent action, and the Democrats com.
PEELED yea aud nay vote on the question Of adj
iournment The adjournment was lost. \ yea
and nay vote was then had on Mr.. Cummings mo-
/ ton, but il was lost because not receiving two
third vote the vote IeSultIng-yeas, l0l nays 81.
The next day, April 2, Mr.. Cummings introduced
his bill, and II was numbered 1891 lthe number of
l the bill as passed. and II was read twice and re-
feTred 10 Mr. Rces committee where It slept until
walked thereirom by the motion of Mr.. d. c. Has
/ kell, Of Kansas
| on the l9th day Of June, ls7s Mr. Haskell, being
entitled 10 the floor to move suspension Of the
/ rules, moved to discharge the committee from the
! consideration Of Mr., Cummings bill, No. i23l and
tO pass the same with an amendment before alluded
/ TO- iorbdding payment oi fees to claim agents for
| procuring arrears,
/ Mr.. Rice again showed his opposition to the bill
and stated 10 the House that 1t was not the commit
tee bill, but that lie had been trying TO get action
/ nays, 81 more than tWO.thirds.
/ Perhaps should state one other fact: Every one
~ NE Sicy one ncgdiis p0es irfrf cdi bV Democrats
/ Erery RsDvbiicrn m,latsr rDici for HobW.
! YOu thus see how little credit Mr. Rice can take
| upon himself for the passage Of the biz. .-....
! ONE WHO KNOWS.