The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-10
PENSION LEGISLATION.
THE QUESTION RECEIVING CON.
SIDERABLE ATTENTION
At the Hands OF COngress-The Pres
ident's Numerous YetOes-The
Main Features.
IcoRRrspoNpEScE or THE APPEAL. J

ICoRREsPoSDKSCE OF THE APPEAL.l
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE question
of special pension legislation is Tecsiv'
ing considerable attention from Con-
gress at this session. Up to the prts.
emit time 565 special pension acts have
become laws, and ninety have been
vetoed. These pension bills are vetoed
for various reasons, the lager number
perhaps falling to receive executive
approval because the disability OF the
pensioner was not occssioned by mill
tary service. The longest message re.
lates TO the case OF Francis Deming,
who, nineteen years after the war,
was stricken down with blindness,
and traced his siiliCtion to rheumatism
contracted during the war. The Pres.
ident shows that the disease was not
consequent upon military duty, and
adds:
"None OF us are entitled to credit for
extreme tenderness and consideration
toward those who fought their coun-
try's battles; these are sentiments
common 10 all good citizens; they
lead TO the most benevolent care on
the part OF the government and deeds
OF charity and mercy in private lie.
The blatant and noisy self assertion OF
those who, from motives that may well
be suspt cted, declare themselves
above all others friends OF the soldier,
cannot discredit nor belittle the calm,
steady and aleCtionate regard OF
grateful nation"
In the case of Lewis W. SCanland,
who filed his claim in 1884, alleging
that he contracted chronic diarrhea
in the Black Hawk war, the records
show that he served from April, Is,
1882, TO MAY %, 1882. In vetoinPIthe
bill for his relief, the President says.
81 am inclined TO think it would have
been fortunate thing il In this case
il could have been demonstrated that
a man could thrive so well with the
chronic diarrhea for fiity.two years, ss
its existence in the case OF this good
old gentleman would prove. We
should then perhaps have less Of II in
claims for pensions. The fact is in
this case there is no disability which
oan be traced to the forty days mill
tary services OF fifty-iour years ago, and ]
think little il any more iniirmity than
is usually found in men OF the age OF
the claimant"
Probably all the vetoed pension
bills which originated In the Senate,
with one exception, will be reported
from the Committee on Pensions with
recommendation that they do pasp,
the Presidents veto notwithstanding.
The one exception will be covered by
a new bill, the vetoed one being de-
fective in consequence OF clerical
error.
One OF the best speeches on this
subject, delivered this session, was
that made by Congressman Blanchard,
OF Louisiana. As II presents true
statement of facts, and the attitude Of
the South on the pension question we
reproduce Its salient features here:
Mr.. Blanchard said; Mr.. Chairman,
as a Southern man and representing
an ex.ConiedeIate constituency upon
this floor, have stood here Tor the
last Ave or ak Year,, along with num-
bers OF Representatives from the
18th, and none OF us haver yet raised
sction to the passage OF these
cial pension acts at these Friday
mt sessions. Speaking for myself,
4 voicing, l believe, the sentiment
the Southern people, l assert that
there is no captious objection in the
South to the granting OF pensions to
soldiers who fought on the side oil the
Union, when proper cases are present
cd TO this House. Sir, the members
on both sides OF this chamber will, !
have no doubt, bear cheerful witness
to Il Q fact that Southern Representa-.
tives have, without cavil or ungener-
GUS criticism, given their votes, and
given them willingly, for large appro.
priAtions to pension the ex-soldiers OF
the Federal army who were disabled
by wounds or sickness in the line Of
duty and the widows and heirs Of
those killed in the war. And, sir, 1t
comes now with very bad grace
from the gentleman from Penn
sylyanis (Mr. Bayne), in the discur-
sion which has been had on this
bill here tonight, TO draw the sectional
line. The gentleman stood in his
place and asked, with great vehemence
and iorcs Of manner, "Who paid these
pensions2" And then he proceeded
to answer the question himself. "They
ara paid" eaid he, "bv the great, rich
North" Does not the Southern sec.
ton OF this country, would ask, pay
a portion OF the taxes levied to meet
these PENSIONS Out Of their opu-
lence, ! grant you, the great, rich
North" pays the most OF these taxes;
but, sir, out Of their poverty the South
ern people pay large part of them
The revenues Of the government, from
all sou ces, sggregate in round mum.
beers from three hundred and fifty 10
four hundred million dollars annually.
And does the gentleman from Penn.
sylvsRia contend that all OF the taxes
which produce this enormous cum are
paid BY 1.-THE great, rich NORTH" In
making such statement, Mr.. Chair.
man. he drew the sectional line; and
this deprecate, whether II be in a
debate ON q pension case or in the
discussion on sny other proposition
which may come before this Housa.
This government OF ours cannot be
Teproached by anybody within
its own limits out OF them with lib
eia'ity as respects voting pensions to
its soldiers. The spectacle Is presented
to the world Of iS5,0C0,0O0 per annum
being voted by the Congress OF the
United States to pay pensions 10 the
exsoldiers OF the Republic, their Wild
ows and heirs. Now, OF this sum Of
$50 100000 raised yearly for this pur-
pose, how much does the South pay,
and pay it out of its poverty? Sir, |
make the assertion and challenge con.
tradciop, that OF this $50, 000, 600 the
Southern settion Of this Union pays
from S25,000,O00 to $3O,00O,000. Let
his words be Bnown of all men. "Who
pays these taxes?" he dec'aims with
energy; and in the next breath de.
olsres, They are paid by the great,
rich North" Now, Mr.. Chairman,
since the gentleman has precipitated
that issue, am at liberty to say, not
only does the South pay $25, 000, 900 OF
ths $4,000, 900 that are voted for pen
sions yearly, but almost every dollar OF
the vast sum thus paid by the people
q a Il. "a