The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-21
soldier community where there is need of a
Post of the Grand Army, and desire to
have one established



A Pretext for Congressional Delay.
Although the present session of Congress
is now pretty far advanced, no action has as
yet been taken on any of the important
pension and bounty measures pending before
it, All the bills proposing general legisla-
ton are still, we believe, in the hands of the
committees, and no agreement has so far
been reached as to what report should be
made upon them. There seems to be, in
deed, a decided reluctance on the part of
some of our Senators and Representatives to
face the issue which these measures present.
They are not insensible TO the appeals which
our veterans are making for prompt and
decisive action, but, at the same time, they
of the newspaper cutlery against pensions of
all descriptions. They are very much of
the same mind as the Irish criminal, who,
when asked whether he would rather be
sentenced to the gallows or exported for life,
replied that he would rather " hesitate"
That is to say, in view of the fact that pres
! idential election is to be held this year, they
would be glad, if decent excuse offered, to
postpone action to another session. But
what excuse can be found for such a delay?
| That is the question which troubles them.
AS yet the only pretext that has been pro-
posed is that of a mixed commission to
examine into the workings of existing pen
sion laws, and, after full investigation,
recommend to Congress such legislation as
in its opinion may be necessary to remedy
any defects or shortcomings that may be
discovered and, at first thought, this may
/ seem to be quite a reasonable and proper
| proceeding. Upon reflection, however, it
viii be seen that it is altogether unneces-
| sary, since it amounts simply to shifting
| the responsibility which belongs to the
! pension committees to a body in no respect
better fitted to discharge the duty. The
most that commission would be able to
/ accomplish would be to examine into the
operations of the Pension Office, interrogate
/ the Commissioner and his subordinates, and
take the testimony Of pensioners and PEN
sion claimants, and this the Congressional
committees can do for themselves at any
time they desire. They can send for per-
sons and papers and, having direct access
! to the records, make as exhaustive investi-
cation as they may think fit. If such an
| inquiry is likely to result in removing the
irregularities in the present laws and insur-
| ing larger measure of justice to the PEN
sioner, it ought, beyond all question, to be
made, but there is clearly no occasion to
/ The fact is, however, that the questions
| presented by the new measures now pend
the cid pension laws are entirely distinct
| and separate, and whatever disposition may
be made of the latter, it is undeniably the
province of the pension committees them
selves to act on the former Here, for In
stance. is the Robinson bill to pension ex-
prisoners. What reason can there possibly
be for referring that to a commission? There
is nothing ambiguous about its provisions,
nor is there any doubt about the necessity
for its passage. AS for the equalization of
bounties and arrears of pension bills, have
they not been thoroughly discussed, time
and again, in both houses of Congress, and
are not the principles upon which they are
based already clearly defined and estab-
lished? What nonsense it is, then, to talk
of commission, except, indeed, IS a pretext
for Sinking responsibility or delaying ac-
toni Instead of wasting tine over such
proposition, it seems to Us that the members
OF the Senate and House pension commit
tees should address themselves to the con-
sideration of the measures upon which il is
their duty to report, SO that action may be
taken by Congress at the earliest possible
moment. The sooner these bills are passed
upon in committee, the more time there
VIII be for their intelligent discussion in
both branches, and the greater the proha-
bility that a vote viii be reached upon them
during the present session. If our veter-
ans would expedite their passage, they
should each lodge with their Senators and
Representatives strong personal protest
against the reference of any of the pending
pension bills to commission
John Bull in Egypt
In very clever French brochure, enti-