The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. Il, 1888

ASIllNGTON. ID. C.. Jan. IL. 1883.
There will never be an end to the agi-
tation of the pension subject in Congress
so long as there are claim agents in
Washington to stir the matter up. 1t
cannot be honestly disputed that the
government has treated with almost
prohigate liberality those who suffered
Injuries through their service in the late
war. The Justice and proprlety of this
there are few to deny. even though q
large percentage of the money thus paid
by Uncle Sam has gone to liquidate
fraudulent claims and found its way into
the Golfers of claim agents, some of
whom have thereby grown immensely
rich in a few years. But granting that
what has already been done is right,
there is no reasonable demand for fur
ther action. Yet since the present ses-
sion convened innumerable petitions ask
ing an increase of the pension rate and a
change in existing pension laws have
been coming into Congress. 1t appears
from an examination of these documents
thet the body of the petitions were
printed here and distributed throughout
the country for signatures. The petit
tons are alike in form and substance.
and it is intmated that they originated
Washington claim agencies, which sent
them broadcast over the land with the
request that they be filed up and for
wa ded to members of Congress. The
whole purpose of this is to keep the pen
sion business alive for the benefit of
these claim agents.
Another proposition backed by the
same influence is the bill flor the equal
ization of bOuntes lately introduced by
Representative Steele of Indiana. 1t is
a further move in the direction of eXpen-
sive generosity, though doubtless pro-
posed in good faith and having an ele-
ment of equal justice as a basis. The
proposition is that every non-commission-
ed officer, musician, artificer, wagner,
and private soldier, sailor Tor marine. in
Guiding those borne on the rolls as slaves
and Indians. swho served in the Union
army in the late war. and were honorably
discharged shall receive SS.33 l-3 month
for all the time he served between April
IL, 1861, and May ., 1865. This is S400
to each soldier who served four years
and received no bounty. There is doubt
about the passage of this bill, now or at
any other time. But speaking Of claims,
one of the most notorious pending before
Congress is that old one of Ben Holiday
for mail service in the West. 1t has
been on the docket for these many
years, and it is great injustice that
Congress delays action so long. When
Ben gets his claim through he will be
severely missed in Washington. lie is
the hero of the celebrated "stage-coach
story" which goes the rounds every
winter here. He was travelling in the
Northwest once, when the coach was
stopped by robbers and the travellers
ordered to hold up their hands while the
gentlemen of the road event through
them. Mr.. Holiday felt an intolerable
irritation in his eye as they stood up in a
row. Il want to rub my eye he said
to the chief of the gang, who covered
them with a revolver in each hand. "Fll
rub it for YOU" he politely responded
and reaching over he rubbed Mr.. IIol-
iday's eye vigorously with the muzzlc OF
his loaded pistol.
If any American doubts that this is {
republic let him come to Washington anC
see our great men riding about in tho
street cars. On Pennsylvania avenne ;
day or two since saw three justices o
the supreme court, Bradley. Matthew
and Harlan, hanging on to the straps il
a three-cent bob-tail car. while ever,
Seal was occupied ny negro WOrkinel
from the navy yard The justices passe'
up tickets and played conductors for tn
worknen with great amiability. Judg
Payson of Illinois tells new stor,
about Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln durin
the war received news of severe re
verse of our arms. lie was asked by
friend how he felt. He replied, IL fec
very much like great stalwart lllinoi
neighbor of mine who was out loggin
in his bare feet. A log rolled over an
crushed one of his big toes before h
could escape. All drawn up with pair
he replied to the question of how he wa
with, We'll, am too big to cry, but
hurts too damn bad to laugh
JUNIUS.