The National tribune., 1885-01-08
FIRST STRUGGLE OVER TIE MEXICAN
PENSION BILL.

As we have stated in our report Of the
proceedings of Congress the Mexican Pen
sion Bill was brought before the attention
of the House on Monday afternoon, by the
motion of Gen. J. W. Keifer, of Ohio, that
the rules be suspended, the bill be taken
from the Speakers table, and the Senate
amendments coDcurred in.
This walked up the opponents Of the bill,
who, led by Hammond, of Georgia, re-
sorted at first to their old parliamentary
tactics TO prevent its consideration. Mr..
Hammond is one of those who are
very eager TO give service pensions with
out discrimination to all who served so
much as Il days in the Mexican war, but
are inaexibIy hostile to the Amendments,
which pension any disabled Union soldier
who was honorabiy discharged after three
months service. He was supported in at
taclling the bin from his standpoint by Mr.
Herbert, of Alabama, and other ex-Confeder-
ates. Gen. A. J. Warner, of Ohio, opposed
the bill on the ground that the Mexican
portion did not make any discrimination
between the men who fought the war
through and those who merely enlisted and
never saw shot fired. He opposed it on
the ground that it furnished a precedent for
service pensions, and also that if it passed 1t
would cost the country 81. 500, 100000. This
statement was conlbatted by Messrs. Keifer,
Reed, Taylor, and others, and Mr.. Warner
forced to retreat from his absurd position.
Mr. Townshend, of Illinois, made
superb argument for the bill, and Mr.. J. d.
Taylor filed the minute that he was allowed
to speak with as much conclusive reasoning
as was ever compressed into so short space
of time. Mr. Cutcheon, of Michigan, also
made splendid use of minute allowed him.
Col. Bsyne, of Pennsylvania, and Mr..
Cannon, of Illinois, each had two minutes,
which they employed to the best advantage
in support of the bill and in demolishing
the arguments against it.
In the midst Of Gen. Keifer's closing argu-
ment the Speaker announced that the de-
bate had closed.
Mr.. Hammond began the ilibustering
tactics of last Summer, by moving that the
House adjourn. This was lost by 81 to 105'
Hammond then raised the question of a
quorum, but it was decided that a quorum
was unnecessary. After some further fill
clustering the Speaker announced that the
question was upon Mr. Keifer'S motion to
suspend the rules. The vote resulted in 129
yeas and IS nays; 100 did not vote. AS it
required two-thirds to suspend the rules the
motion was lost.
The vote indicates pretty clearly that the
opponents of the bill are no less numerous
and determined than they were last July,
but that there is a strong majority in
its favor. The present defeat is only a
SttOEchtul. IL S<-u SGllc up
under the rules of the House and Mr..
Townshend announced in the House that he
would call it up again as soon as the debate
on the Interstate Commerce Bill was ended,
or if that debate should be too protracted,
he would interrupt it TO call it up.
The thing for all friends of the bill to do
is TO hurry forward petitions. The House
of Representatives needs TO have demon
strated to it that the mass of the people and
the old soldiers are earnestly in favor of the
passage of the bill This can be done by the
presentation of svch volume of petitions
as viii make that fact evident beyond
reasonable doubt.