The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-20

Curious Debate in the Arkansas Legis,a-
ture About Wooden Legs.


Little Rock Dispatch in Globe Democrat.
A very animated and, at times, angry discus
sion took place in the House to-day over what is
known as the 'wooden-leg bill. measure from
the Senate to provide for furnishing limbs to
resident soldiers who lost their limbs during the
rebellion. A motion to table was lost by vote
of 40 TO Al. The bill excerpts from the benefits
of the bill those heretofore supplied with arti-
fetal limbs, virtually leaving federal soldiers out
in the cold.
Mr. Mcmillan said: This bill is an effort on
the part of Arkansas to comply with precedent
set by the United States and already followed by
several Of the States. Whether man wore the
gray or the blue. the friends of the measure wish
TO compliment him, and not to extend charity
AS an ex. Confederate, | just anxious to
give legs to the honest one-legsed Union soldiers
who live with us. Down in my country is an old
Union soldier, a gallant. noble fellow, who is on
one leg and a stump. honor him for his devo-
ton to his own cause and for his pluck in COM
ing down here to live among US. l want this
House to say whether it is willing to put leg to
the onelegged man, whether he wore the blue
or the gray.
Mr. Harrod-It is just because this bill won't
come up to the idea just advanced that we don't
like it and won't support it, The bill provides
that the soldier who has been supplied already
with leg shall not have any leg under this act
We can't afford to stultify ourselves. We
federate soldier and that the Union soldier shall
have none. tell you we can't afford to GO it.
Mr. Bridewell-Don't these Union soldiers get
pensions which you and help to payl
mr. Harrod-They do.
Mr.. Bridewell-Is there single wounded man
an ex-confederate soldier who gets pensionl
Mr. Harrod-Not one. But that's not the
question. claim to be as good a Democrat as
there is in the State but that's not the ques-
ton. We can't afford to do this, repeat.
Mr.. Baxter-It is true that this question was
brought up in the Democratic convention, and
some of those who feared to do what was right,
whispered that the North would begin to call out
bloody shirt.
question of distinction between the blue and the
gray has been raised. It's true that this bill
does distinguish and discriminate between the
two recognize the fact that many OF those
who wore the blue are now III the Democratic
ranks. I recognize all this and / repeat that we
cannot afford to discriminate in favor Of the
Confederate. soldiered long and hard and
wore the.gray, too but I've got none of the prin-
ciples now which made me 60 into the war
Mr.. Avera-Dont the government favor the
Union soldier all the tine2 Don't they give
them legs and pensions and everything9
Mr. Copeland-Yes. Well what then3
Mr.. Avera--Well, what does the Confederate
soldier get2
Mr.; copeland-we got licked; we got licked,
sir. that's what we got We got well licked.
Mr.. Brdeweli-No, we didn't / say we were
oyerpowered but not whipped.
Mr.. Copa.and-Yes. we did; we got licked and
we've had enough of it.
Mr.. Bridewel-We were not licked.
Mr.. Copeland-H you had gone where and
the Chair went during tho war you would have
been licked, too.
Mr.. Brdewell-I was with Joe Johnston all
through the war. was with him when he sur
rendered, and l say we were not whipped.
Mr.. Copeland-Well, / was licked but per
haps you never got licked. I am glad, how
ever, that I am one Of those men who know
when I'm licked l know how to holler when
I've had enough. We cannot, / repeat. afford
to to this thing, and hope the bill will be post
poned.
The roll was called, and the motion to post
pone it until March IL was lost-yeas 80, nays
| a.
Mr. Corbell moved to amend by including all
unfortunates.
Mr.. Barker then moved a recess until 2:30, and
| pending action on Mr. Corbelrs amendment, the
House took recess