The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-01-07
wAsmISGrOS LETTER.
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wAsuISoros, D. @, Dec. i2, iss

erations Of Congress, though some bnsi-
ness Of u semi-routine character has
been quietly transacted. The Demo
Gratis are not disposed TO permit any
more time to DO consumed over the
electoratcount resolution If they can
prevent it. There will be strenuejs
effort to pass itnfter the holiday recess,
when all the members are hero, and /
think the effort must succeed. As a
prominent Democrat said yesterday,
1--WE have majority, and we mean to
adopt this rule, not so much because
there is likely to be any dispute over
the count this time, but because il is a
proper and constitutional provision and
because we do not intend to leave it in
the power Of Chester a. Arthur TO
elect President in 1884" Aside from
this subject, appropriation bills have
chiefly occupied the attention Of the
House. Chairman Atkins, Of the Ap-
preparation Committee. set out at the
beginning to have iyo Of their bills
passed before the recess, and he has
nearly succeeded. There arc thirteen
appropriation bills in all. The holiday
recess is not to DO as long as last year,
though quite long enough-from tho
23d inst. to January 5th.
Pension Commissioner Bentley is
preparing to make a strong push after
the recess for the passage Of his bill
now pending before the Senate. Bent
ley is right with respect to only one
feature of the subject he urges upon
the attention Of CongIess-its import
ance. There are 100000 pensioners on
the rolls, and az many more entitled
under the laws to be there so that it
is matter Of consequence, not only to
this large number Of people, but to the
public at large, as witness the appropri-
alton Of fifty millions for annual Ray.
ments just passed by the House. But
in all bis schemes and plans Bentley Is
wrong. lie is selfish, narrow gauge
man. His notions are wholly selfag-
grandizement and the qualification Of
little, personal spites. an not start
ing out for an attack upon public Off
cial, but stating things AS they are gem
orally understood here. Bentley claims
to be the friend and protector Of the
soldier, when in fact be assumes that
every claimant for a pension is thief,
and has delayed the business Of the
Office to secure his own purposes, stand
ing as an impassable barrier against
the execution Of plain laws OF Congress
Some idea OF his Character and methods
may have been obtained from his circu-
lars to pension claimants during the
campaign, of which gave yon some
account in former letter
Last year he had before tho Senate u
bill known as the Sixty Surgeons bill,
but after n thorough examination into
It's provisions and probable workings,
taking the testimony of men thorough
ly posted in pension matters, the Sen
ate committee politely invited him to
Withdraw it. That bill was pretty
thoroughly written mp at the time. II
provided for sixty examining surgeons
and sixty clerks to travel over the
country investigating claims, each draw.
ing salary of s2, 900 per annum. II
was an expensive and most pernipioui
arrangement. Now BENTLEY has bill
somewhat different, but if anything
moro OBJECTIONABLE. and dangerous in
its scope. 1t provides for a Commits
sion in each Congressional District
which shall, in effect, constitute a sort
of irresponsible, itinerant court TO take
evidence in pension cases, with sur
geon to examine applicants. There are
fees for examining witnesses, land feei
for this, that and the other, and three
dollars to the surgeon in each case
These courts have no power to compe
the attendance of witnesses, and ther,
is no provision made for securing th'
evidence of witnesses who may reside
in different State from the claimant
These "Courts" ievolve around to thu
different county seats and 60 bag an'
baggage TO visit a sick or disabled ap
plicant, with charges accordingly
There are 29a Congressional District
and these six or seven hundred ap
pointees of the Commissioner woul,
cost Uncle Sam a pretty snug sum eacl
year. And the worst Of it all is thei
findings are not final. The determine
tion of the case comes back to Bentle.
himself after all, and he would hav
just as much power to delay. obstruc
and defeat as he has now. In futur
letter something further on this sui
ject may be given, Meanwhile let an
one interested write to his represents
tive in Congress or send for copy {
the National Citisen Soldier, pape
devoted to the interests of soldiers an
the people generally. Its editor know
all about Bentley's schemes and explain