The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-09-16
WOODsFIELD

$50 month, | suppose.
Mr.. BLANCHARD-And this is prOpo
stion to increase it to $502
Mr.. HEWITT, of Alabama-Yes sir.
There are about sixty cases where Con-
gress has done it tor widows of officers
of the same rank. Congress has never
refused in a single instance since have
been here to pass this kind of bills
Mr.. CuTcHEoN-I wish to ask the gen.
tleman a question l did not catch In
the reading of the report what was the
full rank of this officer when on the act
i've list.
Mr.. HEwIrr, of Alabama-He was q
rear admiral
Mr.. WARNER, Of Ohlo-The gentle
man from Alabama has referred to an
other case in which my objection was
Withdrawn. desire to state the circun-
stances under which it was withdrssas 4
was called out OF the House aud was not
able to come in at the time, The gentle
man from Virginia appealed to me, and
not being able to come in l said | would
not continue my objection, being out OF
| the House.
We are told there are fifty or sixty
precedents for this. / presume there are,
hut they are just tiftv or sixty too many.
If you can give me anv other reason
than that it has been done before for in
creasing the pension Of the widow Of a
general officer of the Army or rear-ad-
miral of the Navy who has received
Government pay all his life, then l might
withdraw my objection.
But, Mr.. Chairman,the gentleman from
Alabama says that Rear Admiral Middle
ton left his widow and children in need.
That was bis fault. He should not have
left them in that condition. Drawing the
salary which be drew for tie twenty or
thirty years he was in the Government
service he should have made saving.
And I say we ought to teach these off,
GERS of the Army and Navy that ou. of
their pay they are expected to make a
provision for their families and learn to
save as other people have to dc.
And further on in the debate General
WARNER was asked this question:
Mr.. HEwrrT, of Alabama-I want to
ask the gentleman il he is in favor Of re-
ducing the pensions Of officers and their
widows 10 the same rate as that now al
lowed to private soldiers and their wild.
owsp
Mr.. WARNER, of Ohio-In reply to
that question | will say that that subject
has been under consideration by the
committee of which have the honor to
be chairman, and think it has been the
opinion of the majority Of that commit
tee that there ought to be no distinction.
While | have not in any speech or in
any report which have made express
ed my opinion upon that point, now that
the question is asked me. | will say that
my inclinations are entirely in that d.
rection.
At anv rate am settled in the convic-
ton that we ought not to grant pensions
Of $50 month to the widows OF officers
of the regular Armv and widows of rear.
admirsls of the Navy, officers who drew
large pay In their lives, and deny the
same rate of pensions to the widows OF
officers who were killed upon the field
Of battle, and also give but SO month to
The widows OF private soldiers. / have
no doubt on that proposition, and hav.
ing none, I must insist upon such ques-
ton having consideration in full House,
Or at least in House with quorum.
The bill lid not pass And this is
the character of the bills which Mr.
BoUrELLE and Mr.. TAYLOR supported
No wonder General WARMERS absence
was "hailed with satisfaction" They
lid'nt want to hear OF the injustice they
we're doing to the memory of the private
soldier.
In the Cambridge debate, in speaking
on this same subject, General WARNER
uad:
"The only pension bills I have resis-
ted in the House, were private jobs, and
obs only. l resisted the passage of
bills giving widows of officers in the
regular army or navy $50 per month,
while the widows of soldiers who had
fought and died in battle get but SS per
month. Bill after bill, which the gen.
tleman Mr.. Taylor) voted for, allo wing
pensions Of $50 per month to the Wild
ows of such officers, came up and pass.
ed. l voted against all such bills. On
what principle can we allow $50 per
month to widows of regular army off,
GERS who died in old age, while we allow
the widows Of the soldier who was killed
in battle, hut SSp | did resist such bills.
and did vote against them, and | shall
to vote against that class of
bulls as long as remain in Congress
Vociferous cheering.