Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-07-03
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The seIons Tackle tho Mexican Veterans
Pension Bill.

WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The seIons Tackle tho Mexican Veterans
Pension Bill.
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 27.-I
When Congress is in the mood it can
do great deal of work in short
time, and when it simply wants to
talk, it can go to almost interminabIe
lengths. This manner in which the
House disposed of the Sundry Civil
Appropriation bill, indicated the pres
ent spirit of that body. This measure
might have been tampered with for
two weeks, but its passage without dis
cussion, was one long bound toward
an early adjournment. Of course the
Democratic members do not want the
trouble of coming back to Washington
after the National Convention. There
are many things, to be sure, which
will net be done this session, even if it
were to continue until Fall But there
is this consoling reflection. BY next
winter, many members Of both Houses
will know more than, they do now,
and will act accordingly. Union, sol
diers, Mexican soldiers, soldiers pen
sions, and more homes tor soldiers are
the subjects upon which statesmen Of
the upper House have expended their
eloquence this week. The much abus-
ed Mexican veterans pension bill
passed the Senate, but in condition
SO mutiliated that it could not be rec
ognized as the bill passed by the
House. Republican Senators loaded
it down with amendments in order
that it might be defeated in the House,
which will doubtless be its fate there
This was done to make little politi-
cal capital, greatly needed by them
just now. The ingalls, amendment an
tagonized by the Democrats, dated
pensions of Union soldieas from the
time of discharge or disability. Dem
ocratic opposition was not made be-
cause Of an unwillingness to vote pen
sions for Northern soldiers but be-
cause the Democrats wanted the Mex
lean veterans to go through on their
own merits, unencumbered by partis-
an schemes. Senator Morgan explain
ed that the object in forcing the $780,
100000 amendment on the bill was a
political one, to force the Democrats
to the wall and to make it appear to
the country that they were opposed to
pensioning Northern soldiers. But,
said the Alabama orator, your
present tax laws bear down most
heavily upon the substratum society.
They bear like the waters do upon the
bottom of the sea, growing heavier to-
wards tho bottom; they bear like the
air does upon the earth, growing heay-
ier as it comes in contact with the soil.
AS American Senators, it is our duty
to look to the man who is receiving
bounty from the Government, and
then to turn our eyes to the man who
is to be taxed to raise the money to
pay it. Senator Morgan said he
would be ashamed of himself if he
lacked the courage to vote against
bill the real intent of which was to
get up a make-weight in the pending
political campaign. When you pre-
sent a pension bill in good faith. which
your committee has endorsed and your
people demand, continued he,. l will
vote for it, but shall not be dragoned
into voting for it for fear / may be
placed IN false attitude in the mind
I of any man in the world because ]
once belonged to the confederate
army. In the course of his remarks,
Mr.. Morgan said: "rake your. can
didate for the Presidency. He was
valiant war talksr, but he never went
into it. He remained, at home and
acquired his millions, and his substi-
tute went to the war" )" "No, he didn't'
interposed Senator Williams, ''his
substitute got furlough and remain
ed home" "Well, he ought to have
| gone, replied the Senator from Ala
bama. "One member of that combi-
nation ought to have gone"
Senator Hale got in a resolution for
an investigation of Department frauds
just in time, and torestalled the action
which would shortly have been sprung
| upon the Senate from the Democratic
side. While the Senator from Maine
is entitled to the credit of having
''snuffed the battle from affair." it is of
| no consequence to the Democratic
! party where the resolution came from.
1t is the Republican, not the Demo
cratic, party that is to be investigated.
The committee on Expenditures of
the Public money will sit on this in
quiry during the summer vacation.
s-- 4=t.s.N - FoRsYTH.