The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-02-23

tue 6rr6aIe act. LUIS meusuTe euouH'
come up ss aseparate proposition, for
the opposition to it is placed upon en-.
tirely different ground from any objection
that could bo offered to the increase oi
widows' pensions. 1t not only endan-
gered its passage 10 the House, hut wonlh
have probably defeated II 10 the Senate
also. That body is slow 10 change i,s
opinion, and II will be remembered that
this same proposition came up IN the
Senate In 1884, and was defeated br quite
majority, Notwithstanding the R"pub-
can platform had so emphatically declar-
ed In favor Of the removal Of the limi,a.
ton but few weeks before.
TIE provisions OF the bill to increase
the pensions OF widows only applies to
those who have married soldiers prior to
the passage OF this act. This limitation
was proposed by Gen. WARNER and in
offering Il be said:
"This ,s an amendment which certainly
is legitimate. think II is right in itself
and ought to be adopted to rertect the
bill. There is certainly d f renee be-
tween the rights OF widow who gave
her husband to the service and who vas
killed In hattie or contracted disability
from which he sfterwsrd died. aud the
rights OF widow who shall marry here
after. There is broad difference be-
tween the two cases, and one which !
think will he recognized by every one
upon the floor. 1t is because Of that
broad difference between the two cases ]
have offered .he amendment /"
The proposition was at irst Tejected,
but was afterwards taken up and incor-
porsled In the bill which passed The
blouse.
The amendment was supported by sew
eral members. among WHOM was Gen.
BRAae, OF Wisconsin, Who 50 gallantly
commanded the Iron Brigade OF the
Union Army during the Rebellion. After
saying that be was opposed TO having ell
widows go on the pension rolls regard
less Of when they married the soldier, be
said:
I'VE are still paying pensions Ia the
widows OF the soldiers OF 1879. and after
time we shall reach like point in re-.
gard to the widows OF the soldiers Of the
last war. For example, you iini widow
Of soldier of the war OF 1872 ou.the
pension roll. and. when you look into the
facts You fnd that some old man, seventy
or seventy-fve wears Of age, married
young girl who took care OF him during
the last two or three weeks OF bis lite.
and then got herself placed on the pm
aIon roll as the widow of q soldier. Nov
this bill should provide only fof. the
widows OF soldiers who we're killed in
action, or, IL n should he further exten.
ded. it should be only to those cases
where the woman was married to the man
before be was on she verge OF The grave
"Mr SrEELE-Will the gentleman
from Wisconsin yield Tor qaes,ion2
"Mr. BRAeG-Certainly, sir.
"Mr. STEELg--I desire TO ask the gen
tlemsn whether he has sDy objection to
old veterans marrying young girls j
Laughter.
rMr. BRAo6 No, sir; no. sir. ],
shows q qrality that everv good soldier
was remarkable Tor. love OF the fair sex,
But, sir. have objections to these young
misses becoming soldiers widows ia
such an extent as to fasien themselves as
pensioners upon the Treasury OF ths
United States. A young girl may marry
an old man, and / think very much o
her when che marries him for love bu
when she marries him for ducats. ther
all my respect for her 10 gone. Laugh
ter and applause. T.
A recent report OF the Commissioned
Of Pensions shows that at the close o
the last fiscal year there we're on the roll
2.945 survivors Of the var OF 1872. ant
1922 widows OF those who served IL
that war. In other words, the widow
lontnumber the surviving soldiers six Il
one, which gives emphasis to Genera
BRAsa's remarks.
| The EDMUNDs bill for the correction
lof the Mormons, 10 the form 10 which !
has passed the Senate, is not likely to b
favorably considered in the House. Th
sentiment In favor Of the suppression o
the practice Of polygamy 10 doubles
unanimous among members of both par
ties; but there are different views ss t.
the btss method of treating the evil
Thers are those who think that the insti
tuition should be gradually destroyed b
process OF absorption, while others he
Iieve that the best way to deal with 1t !
to speedily demollsh the concern by a'
tacking it's foundations.
The EDMUNDs bill is on the absorp
tion plan 1t proposes to place the MOI
mon Church under the control OF four
teen trustees, 10 be appointed by th
President and confirmed BY the Senate
The objection to this feature OF the bill
is that !. will put the government Of tb
!, United States 10 the United Safes in th
attitude Of operating q religious corpors
Etion. A question, also arises whether
. does not violate TIE provisions OF III
Constitution prospecting an establish
iment OF religion" And the question o