Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-14

pensions Jne governments VI EurOpe udu
paid their soldiers.
Mr.. Blair did not know, but said
England never permitted an old soldier to
want. This bill stopped short of the MeXi-
car bill which Mr.. Blair believed Mr..
Brown favored.
Mr.. Brown said hevery heartily favored
the Mexican pension bill,
THE SENATE BLINDFoLDED.
Mr.. Berry said the Senate was asked to
vote on this bill with its eyes closed.
The committee gave no estimate of the
amount of money il involved. Even the
personal opinion of Mr.. Blair upon / was
admittedly indefinite. Mr.. Berry said the
Senate could not cay whether the amount
called for by the hill would be $25, 100000
or $50, ZOO, 900. We were not informed
whether additional taxes would not have
to be levied or new bonds issued in order
to provide the money. Itthe bill became
law two years would not elapse before 80,
if not SO, per cent. OF the soldiers of the
late war would be proving themselves en-
titled to a pension under it.
TIME TO CALL A HALT.
MIR. Berry thought it time to call halt.
He did not believe the Union soldiers
wanted this bull. AS rule they were
men able to take care or themselves.
Democrats and Republicans, however,
had We'd with one another, whether
through sympathy or from desire to Sc
cure the soldier vote, in giving pensions
to soldiers of the late war, while the Next
can soldiers were neglected and ignored
MIR Berry judged of the Union soldiers
by their opponents IN saying that he did
not believe the Union soldiers wanted
this bill. The soldiers of the South, be
said, returned from the war to fnd only
lone chimneys standing to mark the place
where happy homes had stood, yet these
soldiers had worked their way out of their
difficulties.
THE ARKANSAS CONTINGENT.
He Berry had never known an Arkau-
sas soldier to beg for bread or become de-
pendent on the public for support. He
knew it was regarded as little less than
treason for one who had been in the Con.
federate army to vote against bill of the
character now under debate, but if Sena-
tors through fear of misconstructiOn
were not at liberty to vote against
the measures that they believed hurtful'
to the people of the country, they were
not free or independent Legislators, and
were unworthy of confidence. He Berry,
was opposed to the bill-nOt that he is not
as loyal citizen and as proud Of his
American citizenship and OF his country
as the men that mad followed Gen. Grant,
but because the condition of the soldiers
the people and their finances did not war
rant it.
LoGAN's CRITICISM.
Mr.. Logan differed with Mr.. Berry as to
the application Of the parallel sought to
be drawn by that Senator between Mexi-
can soldiers and the soldiers covered by
this bill Mr.. Logan said that every dis
abled soldier OF the Mexican war either
was receiving or could receive pension.
More than that, the Mexican soldiers had
received land and the officers had re-
eeived three months extra pay. The
reason attention had been attracted to the
pensions given 10 Union soldiers OF the
late war was because of the larger num-
Der of soldiers in that war. Mr.. Logan
denied that there vas the slightest dis
position on the part OF anybody to regard
it as treason for ex-Confederates TO op-
pose this bill.
THE BASIS or HIS DENIAL.
He was glad TO know that none OF the
Confederate soldiers were Obliged TO look
10 the public Tor support, but the fact that
disabled Union soldiers were TO get pen
sion was not TO be taken any Indication
that anything wrong was going TO be
done. In all nations and by all govern
ments pensions had been given to the
wounded aud disabled. Our government
would be unworthy the name OF a repub-
lie II 1t permitted men who fought and
suffered for II and saved IL for us all to be
neglected In their helplessness. Mr.. LO-
gan would az the proper time move that
no pension hereafter paid 10 any soldier
should he less than IS. We had some
pensions OF 81 and 81 per month.
2GO00 81 PENSIONERS
MIR. Telleg interposed TO say that there
were over 10000 cases Of 81 month
pensions.
AT this Logan remarked, "what mag
unanimous pension! Great God, Mr.. Pres
ident. ls not this robbery? Is not THE
destroying the peace 0: the people OF this
country lt is no wonder that my friend
from Arkansas Berry, was alarmed lest
the Democratic party would be destroyed
II pension bills should pass" Mr.. Logan
suggested that the best way for the Dem
Ocrats TO keep m power was 70 support
deserving pension bills. The Senator
from Arkansas mas said IL was time 10
call halt. Did he mean time 10 call a
bait on bills asking pay for property
taken by the armyi Mr.. Logan had heard
nobody asking for a "halp' on that.
THE PENSION BILL HALT.
II, however, tho Senator meant TO callia
halt on pension bills he should contne the
call 70 bills for undeserving pensions and
should support bills for those that we're
deserving. Mr.. Logan said the United
states government had agreed 10 pay
bounty 10 Union soldiers, scaled accord
ing 20 their sefyice in the war, and
within a few days before its cOnclu-
sion regiment after regiment was
mustered out within ten days
Of the expiration Of their time for the