The Republican journal., 1886-02-04
Pensions and Reciprocity.


HOW uUR CoNGREs>NIAN STANDS ON THESE
QUESTIONS.
The act giving arrears of pensions WAS limit
ed to those who filed their claims before the
year 1850. Mr. Brown, Of Indiana. gave no.
tce that he would otlcr an amendment to the
bin before the House for increasing the pen
>ion> of widows and soldiers. repeating this
limitation clause 50 that those filing their
claims for pensions since 1SSO should not he
debarred by law from receiving arrears. Mr..
Nllikon moved pro forma amendment in
order to Get the floor for five minutes, and ad-
vocated Nj. Browns amendment rs follows:
do not understand, Mr.. Chairman. if that
amendment is Il lust one. as seems 10 have been
generally conceded during the course Of this
discussion. why this is not the very best time
in the world to pass it. The action of gentle
men IN this respect seems to be Il good deal
like that OF Old Judge Stebbins, of Maine, at
one time, who stated that he was thoroughly
in favor Of the prohibitoIy law, but that he
wa, absolutely opposed to enforcing it. Cen
telnen seem to be universally in favor of this
proposition, but they seem to be opposed to
passing it through this House.
There are, >ir, three CLASSES of men who are
especially interested in this amendment. There
is Il class who did not, when the war closed.
apply for pensions because they We're too
proud to do 50. The same spirit that >llstain-
ctl them in fighting upon the pcrotlS edge of
battle that carried them to the front to defend
thcir cOumtrN'> life also inspired them when
the war was over not TO ask 4 pension at their
comtrY'> hands. But many of these men have
crown old; they have grown poor and helpless.
and they tinI themselves absolutely in need of
4 pension to enable them to live. There is
another class of men who We're not in need of
pension or governmental aid AT the time the
war closed. Ihey had what seemed to be a
competence and made no application for PEN
Sion.
The same patriotism that inspired them to
take up arms i'll support of their country also
inspired them not to ask for a pension until the
hour came when poverty and old age forced
1t upon them. There is another class vet
who came out of the war when it was over
with wounds and injuries which at the time
did not entirely disable them. But time has de-
veloped the extent of the injury; old are has
crown upon them. and they have become dis
qualiticd from earning livelihood by manual
labor For these men / appeal to the House
and i'll their behalf ask you not to say that they
shall not have their arrears of pensions be
cause they We're too modest or too proud or
too patriotic to be among the first to rush to
the Pension Office and apply for pension
when the war was over. | repeat, sir. | be
lieNe this amendment to be an cmincnty lust
one; and do not know why this House, if it
80 believes, as indicated by this discussion.
should not pass it now aS well as at any other
time. APPLAUSE.
withdraw the pro .folila amendment.
The special Washington correspondent of
the Portland Advertiser sends to that paper
The following report of an interview with Hon.
$. l.. Mlikcn;
THE great majority of the people along the
New England coast are strongly opposed to
the appointment of Joint fish commits sion"
said Representative Milliken, of Maine. TODAY.
The people farther inland, having no interest
i'll the fisheries, ''>hoW little concern about the
lnat1ef. Those who favor a new treaty do so
on the ground of reciprocity. But there are no
advantages which can get from Canada at
all to be compared with those We should lose
We can now fish anywhere along the Canadian
coast providing we do not get within three
miles Of the Shore.'
'What about the claim that Canadian fish
should be admitted free of duty in the interest
of the con>umerS% was asked.
20. that is the Old cry of free traders" re-
piled MIR. NlIiken. And it is t. be answered
a> all Tree trade pleas are answered. The con-
stllnern of fish are the producers of something
else that the fishermen want. Whatever helps
the fishermen helps those from whom the fish
crmen buy. And besides. the Canadian fisher
| melf, like the English iron manufacturers,
when once they get control of the market
would put up the price of fish so that Ameri-
can consumers would get no benefit from the
repeal of the duty.
''-\nd there is another point The American
fisheries are the nursery for an American navy
suppose we should undertake to build up a
great navy. Where are we going 10 get our
sailors? We can't take andubbcrs. We must
have experienced seamen, and fishermen are
the hardest kind of seamen. Suppose we had
a war with England and wanted to raise 10000
| >camen i'll six months. The protection of our
fisheries is not merely a question of saving a
great industry. Ii is Il question of national inn
portance even touching the question of ma
| tiona safety If we make a reciprocity treaty
with Canada and allow those Canadian fellows
to drive our fishermen OFF the sea, we thereby
furnish Great Britain nursery for her navy
while running our own"