The National tribune., 1884-07-10
WHAT THE REconps snow.

The first session of the 43th Congress. which
came to an end on Tuesday last, was chiefly
remarkable for the multiplicity of measures
proposed in the interest of the soldier and the
paucity of those that were acted upon. In the
House there were long and vexatious delays in
reporting bills from committee, and quite as
notable an aversion was exhibited to calling
them up after they had been so reported. The
Mexican bill was promptly disposed of but it
was not until late day in the session that the
House could be brought to consider any legis-
lation for the benefit Of the soldiers and sailors
of the late war, and it then passed, as a result
as to the effect of the measure, that monstrosity
known as the Warner billn This bill was SO
clearly a snare and deusion that it was
promptly repudiated by the Pension Committee
of the Grand Army as well as our veterans
generally. With this action, however, the
House contented itself, and it soon became
apparent to the friends of the soldier in the
Senate that the only possible way of securing
the concurrence Of both Houses on any pension
legislation for the veterans of 1861 was to offer
it as an amendment to the Mexican pension
bill then pending. 1t has been charged that
this was done in order to defeat the latter, but
| it really only afforded an additional reason
| why every truly patriotic Senator and Repre-
sentative should vote for it. The first amend
ment proposed was that by Mr.. ingalls, extend
| ing the provisions of the arrears act, but the
Democratic Senators voted solidly against it,
and, with the aid of nine Republicans, sue
eeeded in defeating it. Then the Cullom
amendment was proposed, designed simply with
4 a view to relieve the immediate necessities of
aged and infrm veterans dependent parents,
widows and orphans, and incidentally modify
| ing the harsh requirements OF the Pension
OGice, and this amendment, although also OPP
posed by the Democratic Senator'S, was finally
adopted and the bill as thus amended passed
and sent TO the House for concurrence.
What has been its fate at the hands of that
body? The records of the last week show that
! the Democratic majority have availed them
| selves of every parliamentary device to prevent
| a vote upon the Senate amendments, not dar-
ing TO record themselves squarely against the
bill, yet accomplishing its defeat by repeatedly
leaving the House without quorum. Once
indeed, during the consideration of the bill, 81
| Democratic members were recorded in favor Of
a motion to postpone action until the next
session; but, although that motion was voted
down, Mr. Townsend, of Illinois, who had charge
of the measure was unable to bring his fellow.
Democratic members up to the point of taking
a vote Oh the merits of the bill itself.
Thus it his happened that a bill which would
| have done justice to the veterans Of two war;
and relieved vast amount of suffering and
distress, has been ruthlessiy slaughtered BY
those, who, posing as the special friends of thu
soldier, have seized the first opportunity t.
betray him.
Let no soldier forget that this bill was passed
by a Republican majority in the Senate, and me
its death at the hands of Democratic majority
in the House.