The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-03-02
COME TO GRIEF .

Mr.. Ingalls, pension arrears resolu- |
luton came to grief suddenly il the SEN
ate ON the 2lst, a motion to lay it upon
the table having prevailed by 90 ayes
against % nays. We suppose most of
our readers are acquainted with the
origin and purport of this resolution.
It grew out of an incidental attack by
Senator Beck upon the arrears bill in
the course of a speech on the tariff. He
pronounced against the bill in strong
terms, and said its passage had been OBJ
tanned by the grossest misrepresentation
Senator Ingalls,, having been chairman
Of the pensions committee, sprang
vigorously and CALAMITY to the de-
tense OF the law and indig-
nantly denied the charge of the Ken
sense Of the senate he introduced this
resolution, setting forth that in the
opinion of the senate the pension ar
rears bill ought not to be repealed.
Thereupon q rather animated discussion
sprang up, which has extended over
several. weeks at such times as il came
up for consideration in its turn. Up TO
the time of its being tabled the current
seemed TO be strongly in its favor 1t
is true that many of the leading eastern
papers had denounced the arrears bill
as a fraud upon the national treasury,
and reiterated the charge that its pass
age had been obtained through mis-
representation, particularly in the mat
ter of the amount it would require to
pay the claims under the law. ..
The, attempt had been made to en-.
graft on the resolution several amend
ments which tended to weigh it down
Senator Butler proposed TO make the
measure the vehicle for carrying through
the senate q declaration in favor of a
measure to restore 10 the pension rolls
those soldiers OF the Mexican war who
had forfeited their right by enlis:ing in
the service of the Iconfederacy. The
first effective assault upon the proposition
was made by Senator Plat, of Connect
cut, and was followed up by him in a
speech. Before he began the Butler
amendment had been further amended
by q similar declaration in favor of the
soldiers of the Indian wars. The
two amendments together embodied a
declaration Of opinion on the part of the
senate that congress ought TO provide a
pension for the needy and disabled SOL
diers of the Mexican and Indian wars.
Mr. Plat showed that the term "needy"
was a very elastic one, and that Its in
corporation into q general pension law
proportions. He said that in drowsy,
haphazard way the senate was prepar-
ing TO vote away a hundred or hun
dred and fifty million dollars. He de.
clared his intention to vote against the
resolution if any such features were to
be endorsed by it. Several senators fol-
lowed with vigorous speeches in the
same line Of general hostility either to
the original declaration OF TO the riders.
Senator Williams, of Kentucky, himself
a veteran of the Mexican war as we'll as
the rebellion, and one of the firmest ad.
vocates Of the principle embodied in the
Butler amendment, made an earnest
protest against the union of two such
irrelevant declarations as were here
brought together. Senator Window at
tackled the policy of passing declaratory
resolutions. Senator Bayard made di
rect and spirited assault upon the ar
rears bill itself. When Senator Haw
ley made his motion to table the resolu
ton it was passed TO the surprise of the
friends of the resolution. We suppose
its defeat may be taken as an indication
that the senators have changed theil
views somewhat as to the propriety o.
the original arrears of pensions law.