The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-14
THE MEXICAN PENSION BILL.
Republicans Will Support the Measure
as Amended by the Senate.
Discovery of a Clew that May Lead to the
Arrest of Captain HOwgate, the De-
faulting Signal Officer.
MEXICAN PENSIONS.
House Republicans viii Support the Bill as
Amended by the Senate.
81 tba Ind;

House Republicans Will Support the Bill as
Amended by the Senate.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-General Thomas NJ
Browne of Indiana was one of the leaders of the
Republicans in the caucus, the other night,
called to take charge of the Mexican war pension
bill when it comes up for consideration. Speak
ing of the measure to-day the General said to
the Journal correspondent:
THE Republicans of the House have resolved
to stand by the Mexican war pension bill as
amended by the Senate. The bill is now the
Speakers table as unfinished business and will
be the first thing in order when the table is
reached. 1t came from the Senate with fourteen
amendments. At the last session the first
second and third were concurred in,
and the fourth and fifth were, on
point of order made by Hewitt, of Ala
bama, referred to the committee OF the
whole. The bill now stands on motion to con
cur in the sixth amendment These amend
ments generally look to the revision Of the
existing pensions laws and are in the interest of
the Union soldery and their widows and orphans.
They increase the widows pension from So to
$l2 month, and provide that the acceptance of
facie evidence that he was sound at enlistment
They liberaze the evidence as to dependent
fathers and mothers, and continue the pensions
of invalid infants and infants of unsound mind,
so long as the disability continues. They con-
tnue the pension of deceased pensioner to his
widow and children without proof that the death
was the result of the pensionable disability"
(Which of the amendments do you think the
most Important" I asked
''The one giving pension to the Union sol
dier after six months of honorable service, if he
is now dependent and is suffering from pres
ent disability not the result of the claimants
fault replied General Browne, who was chairman
OF the committee on invalid pensions in the last
Congress, and who has studied pension matters
closely "This amendment" continued he,
will affect the largest class who do not now re-
ceive pensions"
At the last session the opposition to these
amendments was led by Mr. Hewitt of Ala
bama, and General Browne led on the Repub-
lican side in their favor. Mr. Townshend, of
Illinois, has charge of the bill, and it is under
stood he favors q non concurrence in the
amendments, so as TO get them to
a conference committee. Browne of Indiana,
Reed of Maine, Keifer of Ohio, Cannon of Hi
nois, and Cutcheon, of Michigan, have been Sc
lected by the Republicans to put the bill
through. They will insist on the passage of the
bill just as amended by the Senate. If the op
ponents of the bill resort to flibustering as
they did at the last session, it will be difficult to
pass the bill, although it is certain that ma
jority of the House favors it. Southern mem
bers seem particularly anxious to pass the bill
in Its original shape so as to provide pensions
for The Mexican war soldiers only.