St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-06-24
The Mexican Pension Bill to be
Disposed Of To-day at
8 O'clock.
Senator Ingalls, Amendment Voted
Down Under the Leadership
of Senator Sherman.
Mr.. Hiscock introduced Bill in the House
Authorizing the Funding of the Bonded
Debt of the United States.
The Sundry Civil BiII-Army Appropria-
observation-disclosures Work in
Both Houses.
The Senate.

The Senate.
WASHINGTON. D. c., June pa resolu--
ton was adopted directing the committee on
expenditures of public money to investigate
the recent defalcations in the departments
and the frauds upon the navy department,
and to inquire into the system Of making
disbursements and purchases of supplies,
with q view of determining whether it en-
braces sufficient safe guards against defa lea
tious and frauds.
The Mexican pension bill was then taken
up and its consideration proceeded with,
Mr.. Plumb giving notice that whether that
bill be finished to-day or not he would to-
morrow move to take up the Atlantic and
Pacific land grant forfeiture bill
The pending question in connection with
the Mexican pension bill, was on the amend
ment of ingalls, dating the pension of union
soldiers from the date of their discharge or
disability, and extending TO October 1st,
1884, the Limitation of time to file an appli-
cation for arrears.
Senator Sherman very much regretted to
be obliged to oppose any proposition favored
by union soldiers, but he knew the soldiers
lilCiuSClNSS NOlC QiflucQ dUOuI ILLS
sition. His heart and his feelings were all
with the soldiers. He appreciated the value
of their services to the country for genera
tions yet nborn. This proposition, how
ever, affected the interests of all people of
the United States, not only soldiers
but citizens. The committee on pen
sions had not recommended it, and the
house OF representatives had not recommend
ed it. It was based on the motion of sin
gle senator. The commissioner of pensions
had estimated this proposition would involve
payment of s246, 900, 900. He asked the
senators whether this was time to so greatly
enlarge the demands upon the treasury.
When the act of 1879 was passed, it was
time of great plenty. After specie payment
had been resumed, and when this surplus in
in the treasury was fast accumulating, and
the treasury oVerhowing. That time was not
this time. Our revenues were rapidly falling
OH. great shrinkage in values was going
on, and securities which in 1879, were con-
sidered good, were now believed worthless.
| At time that no man can doubt to be one
of severity we were called on to pay out these
enormous sums. The mere amount would
not deter him if there was legal promise to
pay, if a promise had been made by the
! United States to the soldiers that we would
pay them from the date of their discharge to
this time. In that case he would say, to the
winds with all considerations of severity up
on the people. But there was no Law, and 10.
moral ground for that argument to apply to
! pensions. No government in the world
could endure if it should attempt to pay all
the claims and arrears of claims arising out
of its misfortunes. Senator Sherman put
himself on the broad ground that soldier
who has for twenty years waived his right to
a pension, either because he did not
desire it, or was too proud
to claim it, had no legal or even moral of
equitable right now to embarrass his govern
ment He believed the adoption of this
amendment would be an embarrassing thing
for the people of the United States. 1t would
break down all restrictions on all sorts of
claims. He would like to see the pension
law so amended as to provide for cases of
hardships. He was willing to respond as
quickly as any man to any reasonable de-
mand of Union soldiers, yet when an un-
reasonable demand was made for them, he
would have courage to vote against it even
at the risk of being understood
Senator Conger said there were many
thousands of soldiers who had no opportunity
to present their claims within the time fixed
in the act Of 1879, and there was no reason
in law or equity why they should be discrimi-
mated against. The amendment of ingalls,
was just and equitable and should be
adopted.
Senator ingalls, said it would be gratifying
to the country to understand that Senator
Sherman held that pensions were not a con-
tract, but gratuity or charity which the United
st ates could give or withhold as it pleased
He called Sherman's attention to the fact
that the Republican platform of Ohio two
years ago, and that of the Republican national
convention this year, declared for the very
thing which this measure embodied, yet the
senator from Ohio, Sherman, deliberately
disavowed that declaration, and declared it
was not binding upon conscience nor upon
the political action of those who may be
called on to vote on the question. Senator
ingalls, favored liberty of opinion, but If the
declaration referred to were to be declared by
those in authority not to be binding, then it
would be well for the party managers to put
up notice as the railroad managers did,
that passengers are not allowed to stand on
the platform
Senator Sherman deprecated the introduc-
ton of the party platforms to guide the sena-
tors in the performance of their sworn du-
ties, when he remembered that the platform
of the late Republican convention had been
made up in few hours time on a sweltering
hot day, by forty-two men suddenly called
together, most of whom never saw each
other before. He did not think it should be
called guide for the senators in the perform
ance of their public duties here. He thought
it an extraordinary spectacle that it should
be attempted to so make it guide. He
had as much respect as anybody for
the opinion of his party, but
it was 9 congress that under the
constitution must prescribe the law for our
country. Our Democratic friends would be
in sorry predicament if he should present
to them their party platform for the last
twenty years as a guide for their actions
here. 1t fact they were in a sorry predicament
any way. But a senator must have some
better guide than hastily arranged party
platform. He would not be afraid to go be-
} fore any crowd of soldiers in the United
States and make the argument he
) had made to-day. He believed
the Judgment of the prudent and
fair men among them would be with
him.
Senator ingalls, amendment was voted
down. Yeas 26; nays 80, as follows:
Yeas-Allison, Blair, Bowen, Cameron of
Wisconsin; Conger. Cullom. Danes, Dalph,
Frye, Hale, Harrison, ingalls,, Lapham, Lo-
i, pan Mcmillan Mahoue Nauderoop M;IIo.