The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-24
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Rejection of Mr.. IngaIIs's Proposition to Pay
Pensions from Date of Discharge.

duOpIeu untClluS Uilt CpuuiulJlGc Ou NptLulbuICS
of public money to investigate the recent defal
cations in and frauds upon the Navy Depart
ment, and to inquire into the system of making
disbursements AID purchases of supplies,
with view to determine whether it embraces
sufficient safeguards against defalcations and
frauds.
The Mexican pensions bill was then taken up
and consideration proceeded with, Mr.. Plumb
giving notice that, whether this bill be finished
to day OF not, he would tomorrow move to take
up the Atlantic & Pacific land grant forfeiture
bill. The pending question l conn ction with
the Mexican pensions bill was on an amendment
by Mr. ingalls,, dating the pensions of Union
soldiers from the date of dischar ge disability.
and extending to Oct. l, 1884, the limitation of
time to file applications for arrears.
Mr. Sherman very much regretted to be
obliged to oppose any proposition favored by
Union soldiers, but he knew the soldiers them
selves were divided about this proposition His
heart and his feelings were all with the soldiers.
He appreciated the value of their services to the
country for generations yet unborn. This prop
ositon, however, affected the interests Of all
the people of the United States, not only sol
diers but citizens. The committee on pensions
uilU uOI ACKNOWLEDGEMENT the House Oh Hepr6
ssntatives had not recommended it. 1t was
based on the motion of a single senator. The
Commissioner of Pensions had estimated that
this proposition would involve the payment Of
$246 600 600. He asked senators whether this
time to greatly enlarge the demands
upon the treasury. When the act of 1879
was passed it was time of great
plenty, after specie payments had
been resumed, and when the surplus in
the treasury fast accommodating and the
treasury overhowng. That time was not this
time. Our revenues were rapidly falling
off, great shrinkage of values going on,
and securities which in 1879 were considered
good were now believed worthless. AT time
which no one can doubt to be one of severity,
we are called on to pay out these enormous
sums. The mere amount would not deter him
if there was legal promise to pay; if the prom
Use had been made by the United States to the
soldiers that they would pay them from the date
OF their discharge to this time; in such case he
would say, ito the winds with all considera-
lions of severity upon the people," but there
no law and no moral ground for that argument
to apply to pensions No government in the
world could endure if it should attempt
to pay all claims and arrears of claims arising
out of its misfortunes. Mr.. Sherman put him
self on the broad ground that a soldier who has
for twenty years waived his right to pension
either because he did not desire it, or was too
proud to claim it. had no legal moral or
equitable right now to embarrass his govern
ment would be an embarrassing thing for the
people of the United States. 1t would break
down all restrictions all sorts of claims He
would like to see the pension law so amended as
to provide for the cases of hardships. He was
willing to respond as quickly any man to any
reasonable demand of the Union soldiers; yet
when an unreasonable demand was made for
them, he would have the courage to vote against
it, even at risk of being misunderstood.
Mr.. Conger said there were many thousands of
soldiers who had 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 Disseminated against. The
amendment of Mr.. Ingalls, was just and equitable,
and should be adopted
Mr.. ingalls, said it would be gratifying to the
country to understand that Mr. Sherman held
pensions were not a contract but a gratuity
which the United States could give or withhold
as it pleased He called Mr.. Sherman's atten-
ton to the fact that the Republican
platform of Onio twelve years ago and
that of the Republican national convention of
this year, declared for the thing which
this measure embodied; yet the Senator from
Ohio (Dlr Sherman) deliberately disavowed that
declaration and declared it was not binding
upon the conscience nor upon the political action
of those who may be called on to vote on the
question Mr.. ingalls, favored liberty of opinion,
but if the declarations referred to to be
declared by those IN authority not to be binding,
then it would be well for the party managers to
put up notice, railroad managers did, that
passengers are not allowed to stand on the
platform"
Mr. Sherman deprecated this introduction of
party platforms to guide Senators in the per-
Torrance of their sworn duties. When
he remembered that the platform of
the late Republican convention had
been made up in a few hours time, on
sweltering hot day, by forty two men sud
denly called together, most of whom had never
seen each other before he did not think it should
be called guide for senators in the performance
of their public duty here. He thought it an ex-
traordinary spectacle thatit should be attempted
to so make it u guide. He had as much respect
as anybody for the opinion of his party but it
was the Congress of the United States, that, I'M
der the Constitution must prescribe laws for our
country. Our Democratic friends would be in
very sorry predicament if he should present to
them their party platforms for the last twenty
years as guide for their action herein fact
they were in u sorry predicament any way.
But a senator of the United States must have
some better guide than a hastily arranged party
platform. He Mr.. Sherman would not be
afraid to go before any crowd of soldiers in the
United States and make the argument he had
made to-day. He believed the Judgment of the
prudent sensible, candid, and fair men among
,, them would be with him.
Mr.. Ingallss amendment was voted down,
yeas twenty six, nays thirty SEVEN as follows:
Yeas-NTessrs. Allison, Blair, Bowen, Cameron (of
Wisconsin, Conger, Cullom, Dawes, Dolph, Frye,
Hale, Harrison, Ingalls, I4apham, Logan, Mcmillan,
Mahcne, Henderson, Millerof California. Miller of
New York, Mitchell Palmer Pike, Plumb, Sawyer,
VanWyck and Wilson-26.
Nays-Messrs. Aldrieh, Bayard, Beck, Brown, Call
Cocllrell Coke, Colquitt Edmunds, FaiF Farley Gar
land, George, German, Groome, Hampton, Hurts
Hawley, jackson, Jonas, Jones, of Florida, Kenna
Lamar Mcpherson, Maxey. Morgan, Morrill,, Pendle
ton, Pugh, Ransom, Riddleberger, Salisbury
Sewel, Sherman Slater Vance, Vest Walker and
Williams.
Mr.. Mitchell offered as amendment the sub
stance of the pension bill introduced by Mr. Cul-
lom early in May, providing pensions for all in
valid soldiers and sailors who We're discharged
from the army navy ofthe United States after
three months service in the war of the rebellion
and for widows and dependent parents of de-
ceased pensioners. Adopted, Thirty-two yeas,
twenty-seven nays, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs Aldrieh, Allison, Blair Bowen Cam
eron of Wisconsin, Conger Cullom, Dawes, Dolph
Frye, ale Hawley Harrison, Ingalls,, Jones of Ne
vada, Lapham, Logan, Mcmillan, Malone, Mander.
of Of Nn,u