The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-17
Our Washington Letter.
The Mexican Pension Bill--The
Claim Agent Sharks-- Attorney
Fees.-.POlitical Influences rhe
Official Count.

rhe Mexican Pension Bill--The
Claim Agent Sharks AttOrney
Fees.-.POlitical Infiuenccs--- rhe
Official Count.
WAsnINGroN, D. C.. Feb. IL, 1885.
EDITOR SPIRIT: 1t is apparent to every !
one who has given any attention to the
natter, thai the soldier element has been
courted for years by demagognes for
political purposes. AMI these demago
CUES, I am sorry 10 say, are not confined
entirely 10 the Republican party, although
decidedly the greater number is found
In that camp.
The effec, Of this "political wooing"
was especially felt In the late campaign,
and thousands OF soldiers were no doub'
Induced to vote against their party and
their principles by the misrepresentation
and false pretenses OF these demagogues
The Indignation which these soldiers
must feel when they come TO know tba,
they have been deuded and deceived can
better be imagined than described.
TIE RESULT
Or this work Of the demsgogue Is now
beginning to tell on legislation, but not
exactly the way the soldiers we're lead to
hope and bel eve. The absurd PROPOSE
tions which have been put forward from
time 10 time by those so-cslled "friends"
of the soldier. have brought about de-
termination on the part OF some Of the
best men in both Houses to put pension
legislation hereafter on sound principles
The proposition to pension one class of
men for mere enlistment, regardless OF
disability, and regardless even OF length
OF service, or any service whatever, as
was proposed in the Mexican Pension
Bill, was so urj,s and negotiable and
so uusound in principle, that tue Senate,
which passed the bill last session in its
present shape, hqs now virtually absn.
doned 1t. say abandoned, because the
Senate last week passe1 separate bill
embracing, substantially, the amend
ments to The Mexican bill relating TO
Union Soldiers, their widows and or
phans OF the late war.
The truth Of it is, the Senate never
expected the Mexican Pension Bill to
pass the House, and ! doubt not the IA
day amendment was put in for the very
purpose OF preventing its passage. TIE
other amendments to the bill, relating 10
Union soldiers, and which thev have
now incorporated in separate bill. and
which are subs'antially the same that
General Warner passed through the
House last session, we're put on the Mex
ican bill by the Senate for political eff
feet. 1t is an open secret that many oil
the Republicans as well as Democrats in
the House, who have heretofore voted
10 favor of the IA day amendment to the
bill on preliminary questions, would vote
against it il their vote should become
necessary to defeat it. But the bill will
not he reached. and will not pass. Thus
the Mexican Pension Bill, which gave
Joe TAYLOR occasion 10 shed 30 many
tears during the late campaign will never
become law 10 its present shape The
great speeches which Kieter. Taylor and
others talked into the Record some week.
ago In favor OF the bill, 60 for nothing
These speeches, am told. are now cir
cula,ed by Taylor aud Kiefer as q polit
ical document to float their respec' i've
"barks of reputation 1t is about tbeil
last chance at the Government Printing
Office, for both Of these gentlemen re-
tire to private life Immediately after ,h'
4th of March.
/ In proof of all have said in regart
10 the position Of the Senate on the Il
day amendment TO the Mexican hill.
need only mention the fact, that. on Sat
urday last .he proposition was sqnarel'
made in the Senate to grant a pension 4
I every man ,oho servea three mon. hs in III
Union Army. and this proposition tcd
promptly poied do,oa. Here was precise
ly the same principle as that con'aine'
IN the IA day amendment to the Mexi
can bill-only that the Union soldie
was required to serve three months shil
, mere enlistment OF fourteen days 10
/ the Mexican war was allthat was r.qnil
ed for pension to Mexican soldier.
& The Senate has come to recognize tn
: fact that not only is the principle TO per
sion for enlistment without service, vi
sound, but to pension for service merel
n is likewise unsound. The action OF Ii
D Senate settles the question OF servit
4 pensions, and hereafter disability attri'
!. u.able to the service, and that alone vi
9 doubtless bo the basis for granting pei
sions. When legislation inallS SETTLE
upon this principle, there will he less o
portunitv for demagoeues TO ply the
avocation, and consequently better Il
the soldier.
A TIE CLAIM AGENT s9AIKs
! Were given some attention in the Sena
e the other dav. Senator Beck, OF Ke
3 lucky, took occasion to discuss the o
g erations Of the act Of July 4th la'
. which was lobbied through the conte
% ence committee, as ! have slated in
D. former letter, by the claim agents he
at in Washington The Senator oc
,s through both the law and the attorne
ID and neither was left with very enviat
r, repui alton at the end The result OF
discussion was that the Senate prompt
a. passed a bill, which is substantially
same as thst passed by the House u
VS. weeks ago, and which is intended to b
or ter guard The interest OF the soldier
W. The hill limits the fee nf the pensi
D. attorney in all cases to $40, except wh'
as written contract is filed and approx
,ia by the Commissioner of Pensions,
he which cases fee of S25 is allowed
or Bot in order to prevent the attornt
he here at Washington from resplns
en- henefit of this provision, the oct provit
n that the contract for fee OF $25 sh
be be limited TO attorneys residing in
j." State or Territory where the claimant
sides, and shall not extend to a.torn'