National Republican., 1884-06-13
The Senate Resumes the Discussion Of the
Bill on That Subject,
Amendments to Include the Soldiers Of
the Late War Offered.
The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill, With
the Senate Amendments, Finally Passed,
Tho River and Harber Appropriation BIZ
Passed by the House.
LIE SENATE.

rs phssed is almost precisely as reported from the
senate committee on appropriations making an
addition of sS00O0O TO the bill reported from the
house.
THE MEXICAN PENSION BILL
was then takenup
Mr.. Van wyck moved as an amendment the bill
some time since reported from tho pension COM
mittee by Mr. Cullom to provide pensions for in-
valid soldiers aud sailors who have been dis
charged from the army or navy aftor three months
IN the war of the rebellion and for the widows and
dependent parents OF deceased pensioners.
Mr.. Cullom hoped the whole subject would go
over till today, as ho was expecting estimates
amount Of money involved in the amendment.
MIR. Harris felt compelled TO refuse his consent.
He did not wish TO cucumber the Mexican bill by
Mr.. Blair expressed himself as friendly to tho
Mexican pension bill. But having desire to pro.
vide relief ior the soldiers of all our wars who are
in need oil help from the government Mr.. Blair
insisted that the amendment should be supported.
Otherwise II would be equivalent to saying that
no egslation can be had at this session Tor the
relief of the soldiers OF the late war.
Mir. llawley was opposed to service pension; and
would, therefore, be unable to vote for Che Mexi-
can pension bill.
For the wounded, the disabled, and the suffer-
ing soldier, however, MIR. Hawley would give
literally. The time may come when, by reason
Of the old age of soldiers, pensions may properly
be given them, but that timo was not yet.
Mr. Cullom said the people Of the country were
not only of the Mexican soldiers, but the soldiers
of the late war. While the Mexican bill was
uhstu vi lucd Ol u beTVlC6 pension, yet lnO
lapse of thirty-six or thirty.eight years raised
very strong presumption of disability on the part
OF the soldiers to now support themselves. We
ought TO pass the Mexican pension bill, and also
tue amendment providing relief for the soldiers
OF the late war.
Mr. jackson said the pension committee had
only BY bare majority agreed on the amendment.
IL II we've undertaken TO discuss ut this time the
proposition contained in II, 1t had better be done
as IN independent proposition.
Mr. sherman was very desrous that at this ses-
slnli slme satisfactory pension legislation should
be secured, not only lor the Mexican soldiers but
for the soldiers of the late war. The pending
amendment dispensed with proof in certain cases
in which 1t was impossible to produce proof TO
require a man ut the end of twenty-five years to
prove that he was able bodied when he was ac-
cepted us a soldier by the United states was re-
curing something unreasonable. The govern:
lhent accepted him us an able. e.bodied man, and
look advantage of his services. He ought not to
be required TO find proof Loday of his condition
twenty-five years ago. Mr.. Sherman hoped the
military committee would add to tho bill an
amendment OIL another point. 1t would be an
outrage. he said, that thousands Of brave soldiers
VINO served their country faithfully III the war,
aud went to their homes when the war was over,
should stand in the army record as deserters. The
charge that these men were deserters was a lie.
They were not deserters. They had fulfilled their
contIacts with the United States.
They had enlisted for the civil war, and when
the war was over they went home 10 their wives
and children-after having been, in a form, mus
tered out IN a grand parade at Washington. These
on the army rolls as deserters.
Mr. Hawley inquired who, in any country was
10 he judge of the time when q contract should
terminate on which a soldier enlisted "ior the
war;"
Mr.. Sherman answered: 1.-THE congress of the
United States" II was TOO important for an officer
OF the army 10 decide arbitrarily.
hlr. Cockrell said the supreme court decided
when the war closed.
technically decided that the war did not end
until August 1866 but say the soldiers Of the
union that the war did not end until that time
was an outrage and shame, he did not care who
had decided II, and was crying shame to stamp
as deseTteTs the brave men who so long fought
g,lgntly for their country in battles greater than
any In modern history, who crowned their coup.
try with laurels, and saved our nation for, he
trusted many generations yet unborn. Men VINO
relieved OF military duty at the close of the war,
sertiOn, were entitled to relief by law.
Mr., Hawley said that afor the surrender there
was great menace TO the republic to be guarded
against There was no date when Iouble might
not have occurred; There was great police duty
TO be performed. Was 1t for tho individual SOL
dler To say, 81 Will go home now and leave my
comrades to remain on duty" The precise de.
gree OF moral guilt of the soldiers who ran home
Mr.. Hawley would not attempt 10 fix, nor would
he for moment compare them with the rascals
period proper, but no man could convince him
that the class OF men first mentioned had been
just TO their comrades
Mr.. Plumb said there was q great difference be-
tween the man who deserted and the man who
went home in 1865, as referred to by Mr.. Sher-
n pSoae leaves Snohe4 thing On. aS Of
the most crael things that Mr.. Plumb knew
OF was the sending men out on the plains, after
the expiration OF the war, to fight Indians. Those
soldiers were deiectiyely armed, being instructed
togo without their carbines, and being armed
been with Sndseons ony OF as sorsn ws hSeS aSsS
Mere er Ibo the was nG
murdered, but went home TO their families,
iSrleIISd 'heit pay, ano upon those men.
the pride OF the army; there now rested the
Df uESertllp a n
was an outrage 10 put those men on par with the
men who basely deserted the cause during the
MIR, Farley inquired why this question had not
beeu raised before the Mexican pensions bill
came up
Mr. Plumb said the senator need not sneer at
the man TO whose wrongs he lMr. Plumb had
Mr. Farley protested that he was not sneerlng
at them.
Mr.. Harrison said the question had been before
brought up.
Mr. Butler thought the soldiers of the late war
could easily he provided for in an independent
Mr.. Harrison saw no difficulty in uniting in one
bill provision tSr both classes OF soldiers.
Mr.. Dawes remarked that the Argument that the
bii would not 'pas the house applied TO every
biii, even me appropriation bills.
Mr sherman did not think the amendment
would weaken the bill in the house, especially II
provision were added to relieve the class of sol.
derS lhboring under the wrongful charge Of
d. scrtioh,
MIR. Miller of California, was friend of the bill.
ifthey didnot agree to the amendment.
Mr.. salisbury was opposed to pensions for any
cause but for disability. The money of the tax
payers should not be used to support able-bodied
men. There were hundreds of thousands Of peo.
pie contributing TO taxation who had hardly the
neCe,salies of lle.
Mr.. Van Wyck agreed that taxation was too
hign, but the treasury was oyetlowing; one polill
cal party had just resolved TO Increase pensions,
and he nad no doubt the other party would in
its tuln pass a similar resolution. 1t was the
Judgment of the nation and We might as well
good' nnturedy assent.
Mr., Harris urged that the bill be passed without
amendments, letting the amendment proposed be
taken up and acted on as independent measures.
MIR. Van WyCk insisted upon recognition Ol the
claims OF dependent relatives and widows OF the
union soldiers.
Mr.. Slater did not think anybody could measure
the expense that would be incurred il the bill be-
would doubtless be 100000 names added to the
pension list, Since this bill had been reported
from committee voice had come from Chicago
commanding that arrears of pensions be paid. and
that would ndd probably 100000 more names TO the
roll, Inc andacty OF the whole thing was the only
feature in It's iavor. Ii was a mere political flank
movement u cover up excessive taxation.
Mr. Blair had no doubt that II this amendment
were adopted IL would add about 100000 600 year
10 the pension bill, but tnut amendment was
based on the principle of eternal Justice which all
ought TO recognize. IL did not propose that any
niun who could drive his coneh should draw
tension, but II proposed that those who had de-
Tended the country, saved its nationality and so
made II possible TO collect taxes at ALL should not
when in need, be forgotten by the country they
had saved The principle was one We could stand
by, aud we should be held ineNcusable II we did
not adopt such provision.
Mr. ingalls, moved as an amendment senate bill
n 1nAIh hp IA Inn a. g.at