Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-01-28

FtIktns.
sfMr. Hiscock introduced bill III.
R.-) granting pension TO frea-
erick A. Garlick, which was read u
first and second time, referred TO the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, and
ordered to be printed
The above is single item Cleaned
from some twenty pages OF late
Congregational Record devoted to the
introduction Of bills. There are
thousands upon thousands OF claims
presented TO both Houses of our Fed
eral Legishture-some OF which have
fingered there undisposed Of for
thirty or forty years. Their increase
within the past few years has been
simply appalling. The number Of
bills and joint resolutions introduced
into the House during the first flfty
years after the establishment OF the
government, was 8,777. The number
presented TO the same body during
the Forty-Eighth Congress-the ono
now In session being the Forty-Ninth
was 1880, only l47 less than were
introduced during the first fifty years.
During the Forty Eighth Congress
there were referred to the Committee
ON Claims GAO bills and petitions,
upon which written reports were made
ON 247, no action ON 1903. The reports
made by the Committee on Claims
during the Forty Eighth Congress are
contained in two very respectable
volumes. II is probable that final ac-
ton has been taken in about fifty of
these reported bills.
We have given these data for the
purpose Of showing how notifications
and stupid is this whole matter OF
badgering Congress with private
claims. The government should be
reached as truly and easily by its
creditors NJ a private citizen. Itmat-
ters not II the claim be a thousand or
five dollars, it ought to be possible for
the claimant to present it to some
tribunal to the end Of speedy and
just trial. Most of the urged claims
are as honest as board bills, and
should be met with the same prompt
itude. The poor citizen is kept dane
ing attendance before indolent COM
mittees for long years, often to his
utter impovcrishment. The whole
blame rests upon Congress itself. The
consideration OF vital national ques-
tions is embarrassed, impeded and
often crushed out by the ruthless in
terference OF this wretched private
claim business. OF utmost conse-
quence at the present time is prompt
Legislation upon the tariff, Utah and
currency questions. Representatives
OF large ability are devoting their en-
ergies to the proper calculation OF
s.hese and equally potential topics.
In the midst of the argument Filkins
Of New Hampshire, whose constitu-
ent, Tompkins, has some pension or
other trivial claim, plunges into the
solemn arena, and excitedly demands
immediate justice for suffering Tomp-
kins; and consumes morning SEES
sion in philanthropic oratory
in behalf of his injured
and insolvent fellow citizen.
1t is fine and cheap opportunity for
the vapid and garrulous Filkins to
make character with his distant con-
stituents. He has known Tompkins
from infancy. In beyhood days he
and Tompkins wrestled with each
other and robbed orchards in COM
pany. In their mutual advance in
life he has watched the career OF
Tompkins with more than fraternal
interest. He we'll remembers the in
teresting period when Tompkins EN-
barked in the hazardous peanut bust
ness. His memory equally serves
him when his friend became secre-
tary to hod-carrier. When the toe
sin blast Of civil war ran over noun
tain top and penetrated each valley
Tompkins--the patriotic Tompkins-
cooked his ears as a war horse, and
leaving his family and debts behind
him, rushed to the battle front.
"Was he, Mr.. Speaker, an inditfer-
ent spectator in a fierce conflict in
which gouts Of blood freely and CO.
piously issued from the gored bosom
of the American eagle? Forbid it,
Justice; forbid it, Heaven! Because
of his especial adaptation for the pur-
pose he became an assistant in a
caisson wagon, and was thus ever in
the midst of balls--not fish balls, Mr..
Speaker, but metallic cannon-balls.
The war ended; the negro emanci-
pated the American bird spreading
his healed pinions over an undivided
Republic-Tompkins retired to pri-
vate life-to his family and the NOR
tar business. l ask members in
every part of this chamber if they
will dare TO refuse Tompkins-whom
l am proud to call my friend-the
pittance Of pension. Refuse to
grant Tompkins pension, then
chaos will come again; liberty will
issue its final shrek, and Republic
canism will sigh its last sigh"
But we do not propose to follow
Filkins to the close OF his fiery and
protracted effort. Suffice it to say
that Congressional fiedglings are per-
mitted by the rules OF both houses to
thus squander the precious time to
the obstruction OF serious business.
There is no mode of crushing these
oratorieal tyros SO long as this claim
matter is permitted TO obtrude itself.
1t is the duty-the imperative duty
of our Federal Legislature to thrust
the nauseous subject from their
midst. How easy to organize a
Court of Claims, to include demands
against the Government of every
character, and thus rid Congress Of
the present retarding incumbrance.
There can be no legal objection to the
construction of such tribunal.
Then claimants will become simple