Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-06-04
Washington Letter.
Prom cur Regular Correspondent
W,sulNorox, May n, lsSG.

Prom cur Regular correspondent.
W,sulNorox, May a, lssG.
The most outrageous pension bill
that ever received favorable notice
in Congress. passed the Senate tins
week. II II could become a law II
would provide for the payment OF
forty or Fifty million dollars year
TO men Who once fought IN the
Union Amy. for no other reason
than they are poor. The bill is, OF
course. n reckless bid for votes.
The vaults Of tho United States
Treasury are the resource of bank
rupt politicians in Congress. and the
old soldiers" IRE the chips with
which these demsgogues play their
game.
This pension grab is the project
OF Senator Blair OF New Hampshire.
and it ia difficult to nee how any man
Of ordinary intelligence could assume
the championship Of such meas
urc. There arc some Republican
Senators who arc compelled to be
ashamed Of their vote for the bill.
and doubtless there arc many who
would DOT have voted for it il they
had supposed it could pass tho
House. II practically gives pen
sion TO every men who is needy, il
he served in the Union Army aud IN
not entitled 10 n pension under
existing laws. All the impecunious
and incapable men who were on tho
muster roll for three months would
be included in the provisions. SEN
ator Blair thinks thero are quarter
OF q million Of such. but others think
there are two or three times as many,
and that no one can predict or fore
SEQ what the leakage from tho Treas
uIy WOuiu DO u bucu iuuthsic ph
triotism and charity were once COM
menced.
Senator Logan l,as also been busy
in efforts TO secure pensions for
everybody who fought in the late
war. or who had relative In tho
ranks. He also proposes TO have II
understood that lac is taking great
interest in labor problems that was
agitating Congress and tho country,
and has presented a method of soIu-
ton. HIS plan is to have n rerma-
nent commission OF five IN, mbers
appointed by tho President aud con-
firmed by the Senate, the disputes
between The employer and employed
TO lie referred to this commission on
the written consent Of those inter.
ested. ] cannot mention the many
details of the bill no has offered ~
a substitute for the arbitration bill
which recently passed tho House and
IL now pending in the Senate.
Notwithstanding his efforts al
popularity there Is no presidential
candidate who has 80 much opposi-
ton in the Senate as Gen. Logan.
Moro olfsnse has becn shown him on
the Republican side during the past
winter than at any time since 10 hai
been 10 the Senate. There IL little
coteris Of Western Senators who
have made q point Of an.agonizine
him on every possible question
Tho reason why the Senate has don,
10 little this season is ON account o.
the lack Of harmony among The
many Republican Presidential as
pirants. All Of these can didatss
fight each other and only unite tc
fight the Senator from Illinois.
OF the 400 nominations gen,
the Senate by President Cleveland
100 hsvs been confirmed and bu
ID rejected. Yet no one has heard
Of any consignment Of reasons son,
TO that body by the President. And
tho Congressional Pan Electric in
quiry has closed without any start.
ling Developments. The committed
will present their reports to the
HOUSE BY the middle Of June, and
The majority report will exonerats
Attorney General Garland from all
blame on account OF his connection
with the affairs.
A bill has just been reported Ia
the House which provides agains,
defects in the existing law by Great.
ing and defining the Office Of a
second Vice President in case the
removal from Office. death, resigna.
ton or constitutional disability ol
both tho President and Vice Presi.
dent. Tho proposed second Vice
President shall he voted for on dis
tinct ballots at the same time and il
like manner and for the same tern
a. the President aud Vice Presi
dent.
Secretary Manning continues I,
improve in health and Presidsn
Cleveland continues 10 bold his Fri
weekly hasdshakisgs ~ The Whit,