The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D c. March lst, 1850.
PROPOSED CHANGES IN PENSION LAWS -
GENERAL PoRTER's CAsE-ELEGIAC Or
ATURY IN THE SENATE-WHAT EN-
SECRETARY DELANO SAW.

There are now on file in the Pension Of
flee near two hundred and fifty thousand
cases awaiting action, while under its pres
ent administration not over thousand a
month are perfected, and at this rate it will
require twenty years and more to perfect all
these claims.
Mr. Coffoth, of Pennsylvania, has inti-
atea two measures in Congress which look
to relief. One of these proposes to place on
the nsion rolls the names of all survivors
of the military and naval service of the
United States during the recent war who
were disabled in the service and the widows
or other dependent relatives of those who
died in the service, and that they shall re-
ceive pensions only from the date of the pas
sage of the law. The rate Of pension shall
be IS month for death or total disability,
and Sc mouth for partial disability,
The second provision of this bill is that
on making proof the aili iavit of the appli-
cant himself shall be received, but it must
be corroborated by the atii lavits of two dis
interested witnessC'. Persons whose claims
are now pending before the Commissioner
of Pensions can withdraw them and take ad-
vantage Of this act.
The other bill provides for the establish
ment of a Court Of Pensions. This court is
to consist of chief and four associate jus
tices This court is to have jurisdiction of
all pension cases decided adversely by the
Commissioner of Pensions. The decision OF
the court is to be final.
Contrary to general expectation, the Dem
ocrats have determined to take up the Fitz
John Porter case in the Senate, aud it is
probable that its discussion will begin next
week and be continued from day TO day UNI
til disposed Of Senator Randolph, who is
charged with the conduct of the bill, sue
ceeded ON Friday in having it formally
taken up, and an understanding was reached
| by which the discussion will begin on Mon
day. Senator Randolph is earnest and en-
thusiastic in his support of Porter, aud ex-
presses confidence in his ability to carry the
| bill successfully through. lie said to-day
| that it was his purpose to press the bill to a
vote without unnecessary delay. He claims
| to have assurances from several Republican
Senators that they will support the measure.
| Porter has been in the city frequently du-
| ring the wiHter as the guest of Senator
| Randolph.
Ex Secretary Delano, who recently ar
rived in Washington from an extended tour
| in the South states that everywhere he went
he found the Republican masses almost solid
g.. - Ealaral nftaarl bpmaVnr
as rule, active for Sherman, and lie be.
leves that their activity and zeal may sue
ceed in securing delegates to Chicago that
will cast their votes, at least on the first few
ballots for Sherman
An interesting episode at the Capitol on
Tuesday was the brief speeches of Senators
Voorhees, and Morrill,, of the Committee on
the Library, on bill to pay the heirs of the
late artist Brumidi, the few hundred dollars
remaining due him, and also to deiray his
funeral expenses. Constantine Brumidi's 5
only reward for the continuous labOrs of a
quarter of a century will be pOsthumous
fame which will probably grow brighter as a
knowledge of art becomes disseminated
among the people he served so well, The
most discriminating Judges award a high or.
der oe merit to Brumidi's work Unfortu.
nately most of his admirable fresco.paint-
ings are hidden in dark corridors or in COM
mittee rooms which are not open tOthe pub
lie Brumidi regarded the decoration OF the
Capitol as his life work, and although his
compensation was so meagre that he dies
entirely destitute, he never seems to have
sought more remuneratiye employment. lie
leaves a daughter abroad who was dependent
upon his remittances, and an adopted son
who was pursuing the study of art under his
tuition. His great value will doubtless be-
come evident to those upon whom it may
devolye to secure competent hand to finish
his uncompleted work.