The National tribune., 1884-01-31
SMALL TALK
About People and Things.

About People ant Things.
The House Committee on Invalid Pensions
has had several meetings for the consideration
of proposition 70 create pension commission
under the Bill introduced by Congressman
Matson, Of Indiana, who IS chairman Of the
committee.
A member Of the committee said last even
ing that they were not ready to speak authori-
tatiyely get about the matter, but" said he.
- think the COMMITTEES is inclined to report
the Matson bin favorably to the House as
modified to accord with the recommendation
Of the Commissioner Of Pensions as TO the per-
soHnel Of the proposed commission" Mr Nat
sen proposed, first, a commission Of five
something after the order of the late Tariff
Commission, NOT more than three Of whom
were to be membersaf the same political party.
Commissioner Dudley, however, recommended
commission Of eight, to be composed Of two
members Of the House, two Senator's, the Com
missioner Of Pensions surgeon, a medical
referee, and an expert in the Law.
The object Of this commission continued
the Congressman, 8 IS to attempt 70 haraonize
the pension laws, AID recommend at the open
ing of the next session of this Congress what ls
deems to be the best legislation with reference
to the whole subject. Tie law IS now in bad
shape It IS disjointed and conflicting in It's
provisions. Every time we have passed law
for the correction of what was deemed an in
justice toone class Of pensioners we have appar-
emily fixed it 50 that there is an inequality
toward some other class So it goes, and We
who favor this commission want to try to hit
upon some plan by which the best law can Do
found AID do Justice to ALL
#@s
/" You, no doubt. have noticed one trouble We
have in Congress Take Thomas, of Illinois;
he is very anxious to have the equalization Of
bounties bin passed; Calkins thinks the prison.
ers Of war should be pensioned; then Steele,
Dgnfam and various others for various reasons
have their pet measures, which they think ought
to so through There is Senator ingalls,. who
has put his whole soul into getting the time
limitation clause Of the arrears act repealed.
while Senator Mitchell thinks the soldiers
widows should be the first to be taken care Of
This IS the result Of a natural difference Ok
Judgment. What appeals strongest to one
man Judgment or sympathy IS 0utyeigbed by
some other consideration IN the mind OF an
other. The result, we fear. is that a conflict
VIII arise between these various interests as
TO precedence, and al viii fail IN e0nse4
SIS
i think he resumed, q that if the ve9er-
ans were appealed to to take vote upon which
! law they would rather see passed to-day,
/ they would vote for the ingalls, bill 10
remove the limitation clause N the az
rCarage act Still many would prefer the
/ prisoners bin, and the widows w0ald feel
! wronged. Then the men who are only draw
z ~
i think thas their rating shOnId have been raised
7 before anything else-was done. So. while the
majority, perhaps, would be for the ingalls,
t measure a large majority would feel that ius-
/ tiee had net been doae them. They would
j say that it was the fault Of those who did not
I apply in time that they failed to get the ar
reaTs nEder the act as it stands and those WtO
neglected to attend to their business oaght TO
+ keep still TIL they had been given what they
4 deserve. 1t IS impossible 20 do justice ~ all,
we think, so long as we resort to this piece
/ meal legislation, because we never FIX one thing
/ without spelling another.
1T is nor the object to stave off legislation
by means of this commission 1t does not pat
it over till the next Congress- but the report is
/ to be made To this Congress at the opening Of
the next session. What we want IS TO have
+ this body Of men take Up the whole natter
| consider all inequalities Of ratings the ye!a-
! tion Of one law 70 another and bring in some
unbiased proposition having reference not only
to the Just demands of the soldiers but also the
! capacity OF the Treasury. and the financial
effect Of any future acts we may pass"
/ So
81 do not expect It VIII strike the soldiers
favorabIy at first blush, but the more they
\ think about it the more they VIII approve it,
/ believe. They are sensible men. They knew
/ that they must be reasonable IN their demands.
They must not antagOnize the nOn-Gailitary
classes of the people. They must not make
themselves unpopular with the country by
asking for more than re can pay. It IS 10
their interest that the matter SHOULD be tAor-
ousdiy considered and logically presented to
the e0g,atTy, So s,.Gt whatever IS done shah
aave he Endorsement Ct just and tAink
mon. wi.o are rot personally iRterest4d
thlcus, the benefits that nay ar!se from t.
Fsess t5oat rheumatism.
Mrs. General sherman says. Il have frc-
IL. nj