The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-27

Colonel Matson's Inefiiciency as Chair
man of the Pensions Committee.
Joint Discussion at Rockville Between Cam
didates Johnston and Lamb-PrOgreSs Of
the Canvass Elsewhere in the State.
AN INEFFICIENT CONGRESSMAN.
Colonel Matson's Failure as Chairman of the
COmn1itte on Pensions.


Commute on Pensions.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
There are some men who imagine that the sole
aim and object of political parties is to keep
themselves and friends in Office There are others
who suppose that the war was fought for a SINH
lar purpose. To the latter class it would seem,
Congressman Matson belongs. He acts as if ne
thought the soldiers of Indiana ought to be sat
isged with mis- election to Congress. and never
ask anything more at the hands of the govern
ment True he is very suhservient to his i'm
mediate constituents and labors to impress them
with the belief that he is alive only to their in
terests; but his mind really lacks the breadth
and capacity to intelgently serve them. 1t is
said of him that ne never allows personal
letter TO go unanswered, and that he will exc
cute any commission that may be required of
him. But this is the very cheapest sort of dem
agogy; a messenger in any Of the depart Aents
could do as well. What the people of the Green
castle district require--what the soldiers of the
Nation demand at the head of the pensions
committee of the House-is not lackey-boy to
run errands, but a statesman capable Of original
ing legislation that will break down the barriers
that stand between them and the payment of
their just claims. This will never be done by
representative who, instead of pushing legisla-
ton, contents himself with an occasional call on
the Commissioner of Pensions, bearing the re-
quest that certain claims be made special"
That amounts to nothing. is the claimant
any better off for the intercession of the con
gresham. He might have obtained the same
information in answer to a letter written to the
Commissioner What the Pension Office acts
- l..
politicians who sit parayzed at the head of the
very committee empowered to introduce legisla-
ton that will brush aside the unreasonable re-
quirements of the bureau
Col Matson was no doubt as brave and gallant
soldier as he is a courteous gentleman, ard |
would be the last to pluck one laurel from his
brow. But as chairman of the committee on
pensions he is conspicuous failure, weak. tim
orouS and nerveleSs. He is of the same school as
Gen. Warner, of Ohio, whose defeat was hoped
and prayed for by every soldier who watched the
pension legislation of the last session. Warmers
idea is that if a soldier has a perfectly just
claim against the government, proved up to the
point of certainty, but owing to the absurd
technicalities of the Pension Office cannot get it
allowed, then, if the said soldier will forego his
claim to arrears, the technicalities aforesaid
shall be waived and the soldier placed on the
pension roll at the rate warranted by the degree
of his disability provided he is willing to swear
that no is unable to support himself or is. in
other words. a pauper
This is honoring the brave with vengeance;
but for one, before will ever consent to such
establishment, shall plunge into the nearest
horse pond, and put an end to an existence made
miserable by the injustice of my country. If
the government owes me anything want it to
pay me when present evidence that would sat
isfy twelve honest men of the Justice of my
claim. But if it does not owe me would starve
rather than accept its bounty, just so many
of my comrades did at Andersonville, rather
than swear allegiance to the Southern Confed-
eracy. But, comrades, will you believe that
Matson Incorporated this very principle into his
substitute for the Robinson bill 1t is true, as
you will find on reading the bill, and 1 know
that you will agree with me that every consider
alton of self respect on our part demands his de-
feat. The idea of pauperizing the Grand Army
of the Republic, the heroes of Vicksburg, At
lanta and Appomattox! But he can afford it.
He doesn't need a pension He is congressman,
and gets $1,000 q year for pulling the wool over
the eyes of green Hoosiers. H. W.. NJ.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct "a