The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-08-19

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missioner before being finally voted on
oy the committee 1t is due 10 the Com.
missioner 10 say that the bill did not &C.
complisb all that he desired. nor did it
accomplish all that the chairman and
3 others desired, but 1t was the best that,
under the circumstances, could now be
secured, and had the hearty support OF
the Commissioner of Pensions.
The irst provision of the bill has beer
most criticised, and indeed is perhaps
the only one on which there has been
much criticism. and that because It did
not carry with 1t arrears. But il must
be remembered that this law is intended
to reach class who are unable to obtain
pensions at all under the present law,
and does not take away the right of any
soldier to prosecute his claim under the
present law and obtain arrears. In that
case be is obliged to prove that bis disa-
bility originated at particular time in
the service, and has continued perms-
nently from that time to this; when be
has done this he becomes entitled 10 a
pension, under existing laws, from the
date Of his discharge because his disa-
biity has been continuous from bis dis
charge. There are probably 100000
claims where soldier cannot prove
specific origin of his disability and its
permanent continuance since discharge,
but who Is no,o disabled, in whole or in
part, from procuring his subsistence by
manual labor, and whose disability there
is probable cause to believe really had its
lofigin in the service that is, the seeds
OF the disease from which be now suffers
were sown there, although the disability
did not develop In pensionable degree
till years after. 1t is to reach this class,
and not to deprive any body OF an ex
isting right, that this section OF the bill
was adopted. And the Com missioner
informed the committee that under it he
could settle SC, 900 cases on his files i'm
mediately. Is not this legislation 10 The
interest of the soldier and in the right
direction2 Would 1t accomplish no
good2
There would, perhaps, be no valid OBJ
lection to giving the soldier right, after
electing to take pension from date OF
application, to still prosecute claim for
arrears, if he conld furnish the proef of
continued disability sEce his discharge.
But this feature of the bill was put in
under recommendation Of The Commis-
sioner. The chairman OF the committee,
ho wever, did suggest to the Senate com.
mittee that il the Senate would amend
the bill in that particular, he believed the
House would accept it. i
But the Senate, in it's amendments to
the Mexican pension bill, in which il in
corporated substantially the bill OF Gen.
eral WARNER in this respect, also contains
provision that the pension OF claimants
who elect to apply under the Senate
amendment, shall commence at date OF
application or election. If this provis-
ion is Objectionable in the bill which
passed the House, is it less so in the bill
which came from the Senate Mr.. TAY
LoR objects to it in the House bill, but
he is in favor Of it in the Senate bill.
Having prepared the bill in the House,
as stated above. the next question vas to
secure its passage through the House.
There was one day, and only one for the
rest Of thel session, and that the third
Monday in April, in which it would be in
order for the committee to move sus-
pension Of the rules and pass bill. 1t
was not deemed best by the committee
to attempt to pass the whole bill under q
suspension of the rules, when there could
be no amendments and only thirty min
utes discussion. 1t was therefore pro-
posed to divide the bill, selecting those
parts which, uuderethe advice OF the
Commissioner, was deemed m ,st urgent !;
accordingly sections l, 2 and 6. as given
above, were taken out and new bill
framed with them. and the chairman au-
thoiizsd to report the bill to the House,
and, on the call of the committee on the
third Monday in April, to move Gus.
pension OF the rules and put the bill upon
Its passage. This was done, ard the
bill! passed the House as reported from
the committee. And il the Republican
Senate had passed this bill, it would have
facilitated the settlement of thousands o.
claims, including arrears, and given pen
sions to thousands more who cannot ge
them at all under existing lave.
The other sections Of the bill, Mr.
GREENLEAF, SECOND on The committee
was instructed to report to the H ,use to
60 on the calendar, and to be called W
at the frst opportunity, when it would
be open to discussion aud amendment.
Besides these bills, the committee pre-
pared and reported TO the House q bill tc
amend the laws in respect TO CLAIM
n agents. The Commissioner, when before
= the committee, reported that claim agents
! at Washington we're ending out circu
o lars all over the country, wherever they
: could ge. the address OF soldier, get
e ting them to put claims 10 their hands
. and then dun them for money in sum:
q varying from City cents up to $40, ant
+ never fling their claims in the pension
Office at all.