Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-03-04

But will not consent tnat lne dis
abIed and still unpensioned. soldiers of
the Union Army shall be told that there
is no chance for their claims to be heard,
and, If Just, allowed; shall be told, if
these claims by reason OF some technical
defect in the evidence are rejected by
the Pension Office. that this Congress is
too august body or too busy discussing
theoretical finance-on which 1t has
wasted weeks-to hear the claims for
simple Justice of the men without whose
sacrifices we would to-day have no Con-
gress, no Government, and no Treasury.
Within the last year the Pension Of
ice has granted ten thousand pensions,
eight thousand have been increased. and
fifteen thousand arrears. Congress,
since 1852, has granted, by special acts.
relief to fourteen hundred sufferers, and
now it would require but few weeks
to settle every case worthy of attention.
1t has no work which is so much its du-
ty; soldiers claim is not a mere money
title. 1t is not only justice, but appeals
alike to the nations honor and Its pride.
Eighty-six years ago day after to-mor-
row this Government, under Washing
ton, inaugurated the plan of sending
pension claims to a committee OF this
House organized for that purpose. and
has followed it ever since. Forty-nine
years ago Committee on Invalid Pen
sions, as now organized, was regularly
charged with its present duties.
Ny colleague says he has better plan.
If it be such will gladly accept 1t. But
while this is the only mode known to our
Government let us go faithfully forward
in it to do what little we may of justice
to the men and the families of the men
by whose valOr and sacrifices the Nation
marched to victory ami peace.
Here the hammer fell.
The Chairman.-The time of the gen.
tleman has expired.
Mr.. Updegraff-Well, there was a
word or two more, but Will write out
the rest as others do. Laughter.
Mr.. Warner-I wish to reply only to
the arithmetic of my colleague from
Ohio, Mr.. Updegraff. | assumed that
the report that the number of pension
bills pending before this House and the
Senate was between three and four
thousand was correct. If there are
three thousand and ten minutes be given
to each bill, it would take, as figure it,
thirty thousand minutes to consider
these bills alone. That would be five
hundred hours. and supposing three
hours day be given to them, it would
take one hundred and sixty-Six days, and
giving twenty days to a month, which
is as many days as the House is In ses-
sion on the average, it would take some
thing over eight months. My arithme-
tic, therefore, was right.
Mr.. Updegraff-How many days in a
month do you say there are?
: Mr.. Warner.-I am calculating on the
basis of twenty days in a month, as the
average number the House is in session.
MIR. Updegraff-You said "every day."
Mr.. Warner.-Twenty legislative days
in month. 1t would take them about
eight months to go over or pass three
thousand pension bills, giving ten min
utes only to each case. And there will
be twice three thousand bills here before
this Congress terminates, if it is under
stood that the time of the House is to be
taken up in this way.
Mr.. Wright.-What arithmetic is the
gentleman referring TOP
Mr.. Warner-I suggest to my friend
from Pennsylvania that when he gets
nOHlo lie Qultlly LAKE up Hlo paper diiu
figure this out for himself. | suggest
that my colleague do the same
Mr. Updegraff.-I have done it.
Mr. Warner.-Mr. Chairman. | have
no desire to make reply to anything
further; but still insist tlat the rule
proposed here the other day would be
entirely inadequate as i means to cor
rect the evils complained of. This
House is not the place to consider pen
sion claims. A commission ought to be
established and hope will be to decide
such eases under the law; and if my
colleague will permit me-and | mean
no personal offense-I will say further
that all this talk about rushing pension
bills through here is in my judgment
mere demagogism-nOt action dictated
by wisdom or sound policy, or even good
common sense. The object too mani
festly is to catch votes and not to pro-
mote the real interests of honest pension
claimants.
Mr.. Updegraff.-If anybody under
stands the demagogue business, l think
it is my colleague. [Laughter.]
Mr.. Warner.-I did not hear the re-
mark of the gentleman.
fuara tbo ha nnuaar foil