The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-09-16
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY,
HEN r.. WEST.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
A Case in Point.

Mr.. BoUTELLE, Republican OF Bangor,
Maine, who furnished Capt. TAYLOR oEs
OF his certificates OF character to be used
at the Cambridge debate, says:
General Warner was regarded as 8
most persistent obstructor Of pension
Legislation and his absence from pen
sion session was always hailed with sat
isiaclion by those seeking justice for dis
tabled Veterans and their dependents"
The "peusion sessions" referred tc
we're evening sessions of the House, a
which those members who had private
Jobs and other schemes on hands wert
sure to be present, and who attended fol
the sole purpose OF aiding in the passage
OF such bills.
To chow the character Of the bill:
which usually came up in those "pen
sion sessions" and the nature of Gen.
WARMERS objection TO them, we vii
briefly examine the case of Mrs. ELLIDA
j. MIDDLETON, widow of Rear Admiral
MIDDLETON. of the Uaited States Navy
A bill had been reported from the
committee, proposing 10 increase the
pension of the widow of this naval off.
Ger from $50 to $50 month
The report OF the committee shows
tLat Rear Admiral MIDDLETON entered
the Navy in July, 1928, served % years
at sea in all grades up to that of Com
modore that be served a period of nearly
55 years, and that portion of that time
he was in command of the Pensacola
navy yard. He was retired at the age Of
62, and was advanced to the grade Of
Rear Admiral by Congress in 1876 He
died in 1888
The report does not show how long
he drew The pay OF a Commodore, but it
is fair to presume that he held that posi-.
ton for 80 years
Now, the pay of Commodore while
at sea is $4,000 a year, and, while on
shore, $4,000 year For the 80 years
alone, if tue same rate of pay was main.
tanned, he would have received in the
neighborhood of $3.50 900; and ten years
OF that time he was on the retired list.
We are not advised whether Commo-
dore is allowed any "eXtras" or not; but
it seems that man, using ordinary econ
omv, should be able to save fair COM
peteuce out of salary of S5 900 year
without "extras" 1t may be different
with swell Commodores, but, aside from
the fact that it is Commo iore's widow,
the case is no more meritorous than that
of hundreds OF cases of private soldiers
who receive but SS d month.
The obstruction of such favoritism in
legislation cannot fail to meet the appro.
val OF all honest, fair-minded men Of
both parties.
But read the manner in which General
WARNER obstructed this kind of ''pen.
sion legislation" as taken from the Con.
gressional Record of April II, 1884,
which records the proceedings of the
House while the MIDDLETON case was
un(fer consideration.
Mr.. WARNER, OF Ohio--I suggest to
the chairman of the Committee on Inva-
lid Pensions that he move the committee
do now rise and let this case 90 over
until Friday next. 1t is evident that i,
cannot pass here tonight and ought not
TO pass.
This is bill to grant pension Of $50
per month to the widow of naval off,
Ger and while know that there are prec-
edents for such bills no such bill ought
to pass When we grant but 50 month
TO the widow of q soldier who was killed
in battle and $50 per month to the widow
of Major General who was killed iE
battle there is in my judgment no good
reason-none has ever been offered YET
that is satisfactory 10 my mind-for the
granting of pensions of $50 to the wild
ows OF naval officers or officers in the
regular armv.
/ give notice now that there must be
quorum to pass such bill as this. lido
not wish to debate it if the gentleman
will move that the committee do rise. If
not, desire to be heard further.
Mr.. HEWITT, of Alsbama--I think If
nv friend from Ohio would examine
back to see what has been done hereto
fore in just such cases as this, and prob
ably cases not so meritorious, where the
service was not so long at least, that he
would withdraw his objection. / sup
pose there are aixty odd cases, possibly
more. where Congress has granted by
special acts the increase of such pensions
TO $50 month.
Now remember but few weeks ago
the gentleman from Ohio himself raised
an objection to pension in the case OF
the widow of Surgeon General Bsrnee
And l remember when he was appealed
to by the gentleman from Virginia Mr.
Tnckerl to withdraw the objections, he
did so and let it go through. The gen.
tleman is therefore on record as allo wing
one case of that kind to go through
Now, / do not pretend to say that this
sdmirai's services were any better than
those of Surgeon General Barnes; but ]
do say his services for more than fifty
years for his country-his whole life to
his country-e entitle his widow to this
pension. He left widow aud two chill
dren In straitened circumstances, and it
seems TO me, as the Government has
granted pensions in all such cases at $50
month, the gentleman from Ohio ought
to be willing to withdraw his objection
and let this case 60 through.
Mr.. BLANoHARD-l should like to ask
the gentlsmsn from Alabama question.
/ The CHAIRMAN-Does the gentleman
from Alabama yield
Mr.. HEWITT, of Alabama do, very
gladly.
Mr. BLANcHARD-Has not this widow
a pension under the law; and, if so, o,what
is the amount of w