New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-16
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
PASSAGE OF THE PENSION BILL.

fASSAGE OF lHE BENSlON
WASHINGTON, July 15.-The Senate to-day at the
close OF the morning hour proceeded to the consider
alton Of the Pension Appropriation bill the Internal
Revenue bill having been laid aside informally
On point of order raised by Mr. Plumb, the COM
Interior to transmit annually to Congress list of
all pensions borne on the rolls was stricken from the
bill.
Mr.. Beck offered amendment requiring the
Commissioner of Pensions in each year to cause
list of all pensions and applicants for pensions for
each county in the United States to be made out and
published in at least one newspaper in such county.
He contended that the adoption of the amendment
would prevent, in great measure, the perpetration
of fraud upon the Pension Office.
Mr. Plumb opposed the amendment and cOntended
that the pension roll on the whole represented men
who were ent led to pensions. He did not deny
that there some frauds under the pension laws
but he asserted that it was practically impossl-
BILE to construct pension list without frauds
creeping in. The amendment offered by the gen.
tleman from Kentucky sought to say to every
pensioner "P rma facie you are frauds and your
friends are invited to come up and say what they
think about you.' 1t focused all eyes upon the
pensioner; and laid him open, unless he publicly
paradcd his wounds OF bodily infrmities to the
ignorant declarations and attacks of his neighbors'
The war had cost six thousand millions of dollars
1t had been big job, and thank God it lad been
well done and if it cost six billion dollars more to
support the men who had carried the flag. IL would
be money well spent, and 1t would be money well
spent as long one of these veterans remained 10
drag his emaciated body through the country which
he had helped TO keep intact.
Mr. Beck agreed in this view but stated that he
would always oppose the fostlug upon the pension
rolls of men who claims to have been soldiers; but
who had never served in the army or navy.
MIR. Logan opposed the amendment and claimed
that the bill as reported from the Committee on APP
preparations threw safeguard around the pension
office. He disllked this annual attack made upon
the pen ion list, aud these charges OF fraud.
Mr. Platt also opposed the amendment, ana IN the
course of his remarks conended that the Pension
Bureau free from fraud as any other bureau
of the Government
The amendment was finally ruled out upon
point of order raised by Mr.. Anthony. The bill was
then passed.
The bill as 1T passed the Senate makes no change
in the amount Appropriately the House. which re-
mains at $l0O.00OOOO. No amendments except
those recommended by the Senate Committee on
Appropriations we're adopted. Outside OF mere YER
bal changes these amendments authorize the Com
missioner OF Pensions TO appoint surgeons 10 MAKE
sncn examination OF pensioners and applicants as lie
shall require and TO organize boards 0f surgeons, TO
consist OF three members each at such points In
each State he shall deem necessary to conduct
sucl examinations, subject TO the revision Oh a
special board OF three surgeons TO be appointed
wnen the eXlgencles OF the service require IT, lhe
Tee Tor such examination shall De p2 Tor eacn NELL
Der of the board An amendment was also adopted
prohibiting the payment OF double pension