The Republican journal., 1884-09-04
A Summary of Pension Legislation.

The Republican Congressional Committee
has had great many inquiries from Republic
can orators as to the answer to the claim of
Democrats that they have done more in Con-
gress for the soldiers than the Republicans
have. Secretary Mcpherson of the Congress-
ional Committee has prepared an answer to
these inquiries which is a complete summary
of all the pension legislation in Congress- and
which clearly shows that the Union soldiers
have to hold the Democratic obstrucionists to
account for the defeat of some of the most inn
portant pension legislation. The following is
the text of the letter:
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 1884.
10 Gen. James Mccartney, Fairfield, H.:
Dear Sir You say that you are met with
the claim that The Democrats in Congress have
done more for the soldiers than the Republic
cans have, and you desire to know what are
the facts connected with the passage of the
pension laws and the relation of parties to
them. In reply, have to say that as far back as
1900, IN preparing the fourteenth amendment
the Republicans OF the Thirty ninth Congress
took care to insert in the fourth section of that
amendment the clause. 'Tba the validity Of the
public debt Of the United States authorized by
law, including debts incurred for the payment
OF pensions and bounties for services i'll sup
pressing lhsuffectl0n or febelHOn, snail not
be questioned. This amendment. YOU NAV
| remember, passed both the Senate and the
House by party votes, the Republicans sustain
ing II and the Democrats opposing it, and in the
Stale Legislatures it was ratified by Ike party
votes. Mention this as the first Indication
OF purpose by The Republicans to MAINTAIN IN
violate their position on pensions and bountieS.
During the Fortieth. Forty -tirst, EOriy-Sec0nd
ana I orty-thrd Congresses, IN all OF which tie
Republicans were in the majority, our pension
system Was organized, and from time to time
eAlehueu ana llDerallzed Inc material change
III 'he pension avs made after the loss of con-
trol OF the two houses by the Republicans was
III the passage through the torty-hfth Con
sfe>s when the House was Democratic and
the senate Republican Of the arrears of Zen
SONS bills. This bill was introduced into the
house ON the second OF April, 1915, by Hon.
! Henry j. Is. Cummings, ii Republican member
from iowa. and referred to the Commit ee on
| lhNaild Pensions. That committee having had
me plli IN us possession more than two months
ana iailtd TO report upon II, Dudley ~ flask
ell. Republican member from Kansas. moved
on the 18Th of June, 1873, to discharge that
committee from the further consideration Of
the Dill. to suspend the rules and 70 pass it.
mat motion was agreed to by lt4 yeas to 81
nays. Ol the l64 yeas ll6 We're Republicans
ana ~ were Democrats. three OF the latter be-
/ ing southern. OF the 81 nays all Were Demo-
ocratS, and. with three exceptions, from
lhe southern States. At the next session the
Dill passed the Senate by vote of A yeas TO
nays "l tue Affirmative vote 10 We're Demo
erals. - fcpubilcanS and | independent
Judge DAVIS OF illinois. The negative vote
was eXcluslItly Democratic. The next pen
SION pl!i Wnlch pfOVoked DIVISION OF OPINION
Was II the late session. The House passed, Oh
re 81 OF March last under a suspension Of the
rules. Il Di to pension soldiers and sailors of
the Mexican war, The Senate amended Tbs bin
80 as TO SiN% pension TO those Union soldiers N
me war OF me rebellion Who are or shall become
disabled and are also dependent upon their own
laoor Tor support. at rate proportlonate 70 the
ueSree OF disability 81 month beng given to
'hose VINO are totally ihcapactattd 70 perform
any manual labor, and that amount being
mace uiNlsaht upon thal OASIS Tor amy les Dc
gree OF disability. ltalso increased the pensions
OF WldoWS on MINOR children to 81 per month,
ltpea'eu the unit as 10 age OF chlGren ~ the
cast ol WIDOWS VINO nave MINOR chlldftn OF ln-
SOUND NINA or physlcally helpless, and added
o!htf CLAUSES !or the felIef OF dependent pen
Slohtr>. Inns amendment was agreed TO IN tn"
senate by party Nolc-yeas 81, all Republic
cans nay -, an Democrats. On the linal
passage on lhe OH Tour Democrats voted with
DO Iepuoitcaii> Ill laS or Oh IL. ana TWO lRpubll-
cans Iottu WIN - Democrats against 1t, the
NotV nav my ptth % yeas anu nays Inc Din
va taheh up III liie House on the second or
guy I'VE Gays before Appointment. When m
ouSi'i ny Wa itnoi,tu 70 uiuer tht lea'iofshlp
9 o, non. nola>ihith W: hewitt, 4 Democratic
REPRESENTING from -AIaoaina, 10 prevent con
| curfence IN the amendments OF the Senate.
rms hllpuslerlng was participated in chiefly by
! me southern Democracy As result, no nc
! lloh was taken. and the bill remains undl>p"S-
ca Or From this simple record Of votes and
lacts you VIII see that for the original legi>-
iailoh on thls question the Democratic mn
! hoflly IN the early days after the war can
eiaiHl no GreoU thal upon he Arrearage
| acl OF the fofty-lflh Congress the majority of
their party voted IN opposition, and that forthe
1allure OF legislation recently in the House the