The National tribune., 1882-12-14
Reck's Last Hombshcu.
appeals.

Whole Mr.. Beck, Of Kentucky, offered the
following amendment:
P-oyi}Cd. That the Commissioner Of Pensions
. shall. rs soon rs practicable, and once in each
year thereafter, CdUSe separate, distinctly
printed lists Of all pensioners and applicants
for pensions and increase of pensions, both
army and navy. to be made out for each county
in the United States in which pensioners or
claimants reside containing the names of each
pcusioncr and claimant whose poSt-othCe adj
dress is at any pust-oi,icc in said county, and
furnish said list to the postmaster at the county
scat at each county, whose duty it,shaIl be to
keep said list posted in some conspicuous place
in his post-oiiico so as to be accessible to the
public for inspection.
Each list shall contain the full names of the
pensioners and claimants. whether they claim
to be invalids widows. minor children, depend
eut relatives. or survivors or widows of the war
of 1872, stating the amount of pension now
paid to and claimed by each and the total
amount heretofore paid; and the Commissioner
Of Pensions shall append to each list general
request for information in regard to the justice
Of said pensions and claims stating that all
communications to him on these subjects may
bc sent 10 him free Of postage.
And the Commissioners of Pensions shall also
cause the lists for each county to be inserted at
( least once in each wear IN the newspaper pub
ll~ltt III Sslit County, " men mas jlp largest CIT
Cuiatlon therein: and If no newspaper is pub
lishcd in any county. then in the newspaper
published nearest thereto: and in all counties
containing a town or city of 10000 population
/ or upward the Commissioner of Pensions shall
cause the lists aforesaid to be inserted in the
two newspapers, representing different political
parties, which are published in said county,
having the largest circulation; and in all cities
OF 10000 population and upward he shall cause
said lists to he inserted ut least once each year
III three of the leading daily papers published
in said city.
The Commissioner of Pensions may use any
money herein appropriated TO pay the necessary
expenses incurred in carrying out the foregoing
provisions, and may SO organize in his Office
such clerical force as VIII in his judgment best
utilize the information he may receive. 50 rs to
protect the Government against fraudulent
claims. The Commissioner of Pensions shall
keep on file in his Office the pOst-otlice address
of each pensoner and claimant, and shall sus-
pend the payment of any pension or the cOnSid-
GRAFTON Of any claim unless the pOSt-oilice ad
dress of the pensioner or claimant IS furnished
Insupport tofhisamendmentM Mr.. Beck made
a set speech, evidently prepared with great
care, in which he sought to cast suspicion upon
the integrity of the entire pension list, and
took the ground that the publication Of the
list in the manner proposed in his amend
ment was absolutely necessary, in order to
protect the Government against the imposi-
tions alike of pensioners and claimants. His
charges were so infamous in their character
and so clearly malicious in their origin, that
they could not be passed over in silence, and
a heated debate ensued during which Sena-
tors Plumb of Kansas, Logan of Illinois, and
Platt of Connecticut, handled Mr.. Beck
without gloves. They not only pointed out
his inaccuracies of statement and laid bare
the sophistry of his argument, but held him
up to scOrn as an inveterate and unrea-
soning soldier hater. In fact, the thin
armor of Mr.. Becks logic was pierced
through and through in the discussion, and
had a vote been reached on his amendment
it would undoubtedly have been rejected by
a large majority. 1t was ruled out, how
ever, on point of order, so that the senti-
ment of the chamber was not recorded
upon it. THE TRIBUNE, as our readers will
doubtless remember, published at the time
full report of this remarkable debate, and
also took occasion to point out, in its
editorial columns the evil effect which
Mr.. Beck's attempt to put a lasting stigma
upon the character of the Nations pension
ers would have upon their interests. In
congratulating them upon the rejection of his
amendment, it seems, however, that we were
somewhat premature, for Mr.. Beck, even at
this early stage of the session, has set out to
accomplish in roundabout way what he
failed 10 achieve by direct attack upon the
validity Of the pension roll.
On the second day Of the present session,
resolution calling upon the Commissioner
of Pensions for information as to the prob
able cost Of the Forty Dollar Pension Bill
being before the Senate, Mr.. Beck asked that
it lie over until the next day, when he pro-
posed to offer an amendment calling for the
names and addresses of all pensioners and
claimants for pensions. On Wednesday of
last week, in accordance with that notilica-
ton, he offered his amendment and, despite
the protest of several Republican Senator's
it was adopted. The next day a motion to
reconsider was entered, and on Friday Mr.
Beck-having in the meanwhile had an in
terview with Commissioner Dudley-mOdi-
fed his resolution so far as TO exclude the
names of claimants from the information
called for The amendment, as thus modi-
fed, reads as follows:
And the Commissioner is further instructed
without delaying the information called for
above TO transmit 10 the Senate. as soon as
practicable, a list of names Of all persons borne
on the pcnsiOn-rols, classified according to their
pOst-oiiicc addresses by States and counties the
amount paid annually to each, and the disa-
bility for which the pension was granted, Civ
ing the date when they were placed on the
roll.
We have been thus explicit in stating the
facts concerning the introduction, modifica-
tion, and adoption of this amendment, be-
cause it seems destined to be productive of
great and lasting injury to the interests, not
only of pensioners and claimants for pen
sions, but of all exsoldiers who have any
regard for the reputation which they won
! in battle, unless their friends in Congress
awaken to a sense of itS real significance