New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-10
THE pension SCANDAL.


We print this morning two facsimleS
| which will probably settle the case of Mr.
Beethoven, Democratic member of Congress
| from the XIXth District of Pennsylvania, and
candidate for reelection. This gentleman, hav-
| ing written to a constituent that, with the
| "present Democratic House pension bills do
| mot have much favoI," and that the rebel
| General who is at the head of The Pension
| l." Committee in the Senate is still mole aver ST
to allowing any such bills to pass" afterwards
denied that he had made any such statements.
| and declared that the letter was an infamous
! forgery" A comparison of the original with
| undoubted specimens of Mr.. Beltzhoovers
writing will satisfy anybody that the letter
| is genuine and to clinch the conclusion, here
| comes another witness, Pension Claim Agent
Minnich, who testifes that BeltzhoOyer wrote
| a similar letter to him.
This, we say, puts an eXtinguiSher upon Mr..
| Beltzhoover, and thus one more is added to
the lenghenng line of Democrats who. having
been imprudent enough to tell the truth, have
| tried to escape the consequences by denounc-
ing their own letters and speeches rs IN
famous forgeries," and have been caught in
the lie. The Democratic newspapers of Penn
|
| clans are so angry that there is loud talk-not
| of rebuking Senator Withers and the other
| ConfedcIatcs in Congress who object to the cen
sideration of pensions to Union sodlers-but
of forcing Beethoven of the ticket for telling
| tales But what good would that do them, while
they leave General Withers at the head of the
| Pensions Committee If anybody is TO be forced
| off should ii be the guilty man. or the Northern
| Democrat who merely presumed To complain
| One journal threatens Betzhoover with
| political communication If he does not
prove" by libel suit, that he never wrote
the letter, and moreover that he "neyer enter
. taiped the opinions" expressed in (which
seems to us rather unreasonable. 1t Is n matter
of slight consequence however, to the country
what becomes Of Mr.. BeltzhOOver. The i'm
portance of this scandal Is not III its bearing
upon his conduct and fortunes, but III ITS rela-
ton to the character and temper OF his party.
Colonel j. W. Forney, in his astonishing
Lite" OF Hancock, remarks thai 1t seemed to
be universally admitted on the second evening
of the battle of Gettysburg, that the next day
would decide whether or not the Confectionery
should rule the country. 1t is beginning to APP
near to many people now that the question
III
but that it awaits the issue of the next election.
Mr. BeltzhOOvcr represents an Overwhe mlDgly
Democratic district which sent him TO Con
grcss with a majority of about 5000 at his
back. lie is not an obscure man; he has a
right to speak for his party he certainly ought
To know by what influences il is controlled at
Washington and il is inconceivaDle that he
should purpOSey miSIepreseDt to his conStltu-
| ents the sentiments and policy Of colleagues of
| his own political faith Besides, his testimony
| is confirmed by that of another Democratic
| CONGRESSMAN from Pennsylvania, John w.
Ryon, of Pottsyille, who writes TO Mr. Minnich
(atter falling to secure the passing of a claim)
| the present House is aveise 10 allowing
" claims for services rendered III support of the
United States during the last war The
Democratic Senators, we think, sufficiently
showed what they thought Of pensions to
Union soldiers when they slgnalized Their acces-
sion to the control of the Chamber 10y placing
a colonel from the rebel army at tie head of
the Committee on Pensions.
But, 1t IS objected. the Confedcratcs in Con
er,ss cannot be opposed to pensions, becaus''
the Auoars of Pensions bill last year was
passed by Il Democrat House and Democratic
Senate. Let us see about that:
Mr.. Burchard's bill, app.omiaing 10000 600
for TIE payment Of arrears Of REASONS. Was IA
trodnced February 3, 1879. Ii received the
votes of Jos Republican, ana - Democrats,
aud Of the Democrats only three were from the
States of the Confedcilcy. Aga 81 II were *
Democrats and ; Republicans. two thirds
vote beng required uuder th" niles. the bill
WAS lost. Mr.. Spl'lie introduced twO week
later the bill winch was finally passed. II
appropriated 500, 600, OOO Only hrce Demo-
Gratis from thc Cont,deiacy voted lol II ~ the
House, and they were joined by C2 A-ltne.n
Democrats and lis Republicans. Against It
stood one Republican, and the phhanX OF G6
Democrats, iurudin.. almost The entire "a. !
rrn.rsen!ation. 1 ne most significant votes,
boNrXcr were in the Senate. Here 1t WAS pro-
No .ed hy Sir. Shields, Of Missouri, to extend
tine benefits 81 he bill 10 veterans of the McXi-
can yaI. with the obvious puIposc OF taking ia
Coufederatcs who had forfeited their claims
by participation Ill the rebellion: IS