National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-26

~
The debate in the House yesterday after
he morning hour upon the pension oppro-
priation bill was marked by much interest
and some excitement, though comparative
rood nature was preserved at all times
The chairman, Mr., Crisp, Of Georgia, had
much difficulty in keeping the committee in
order, but succee1yd well In his hard task,
hough at times tie confusion was so great
hat the voices of the speakers were
drowned in applause and laughter
MIR. Townshcnd, Of Illinois, who had
rharge Of the bill, explained its provisions,
~ appropriated, he said, $15,T5i,2O0, or
about Sl5,OO0,000 more than was carried by
he law for the current year. This increase
was occasionod by the accelerated work
hat was beingidone In the pension Office
and for this work the commissioner of pen
sions and his employees deserved commenda-
tion.-and by the larger number Of cases that
were now being disposed Of. The amount
of money appropriated by the bill was
large, but II should be as cbeerfully sane
toned by Congress and qorne by the people
as any other sum thai was paid out on pub
lie expenditure. No appropriation was
more Just, and no money paid out of the
eral good than the money expended by this
bill. No better use could be made of the
vast surplus In the treasury than to
pay IL out on meritorious claims
for pensions and other Just dues to the sol
diers. lie then passed on TO q discussion Of
the proposition to repeal the limitation Of
the arrears Of pension act, and advo-
Gated II US a measure demanded by good
faith and patriotism. The question should
mot be how much the measure would cost,
but whether IL was just The soldiers could
never be repaid for the sacrifices they had
made. Yet, when measures were proposed
to pay the soldier what had been promised
him, those who advocated the measures
were denounced as demagogues. Dema-
gogue was a word which, when unjustly
applied, had ceased to be q stigma. "Call
me demagogue, II you please" he said,
"but do not call me unjust or ungrateful.n
Mr.. Henderson, or Iowa, while concur
ring with Mr.. Townshend In his general
remarks upon pension matters, differed
from him when he attributed the increased
appropriation to the accelerated work of
the pension office. 1t was not his purpose
TO attempt to detract In the slightest de-
gree from the good work Of any officer Of
the government, but he did not believe that
the gentleman had stated the correct rea.
son for the increase. The gentleman had
failed to call attention to tine fact that the
commissioner OF pensions had stated to the
committee ON appropriations that there
would be deficiency OF about $4,000, 900
for the current year; SO that the $4,000, 900
which had been appropriated for the fiscal
year 1856 was confessed by the commits
sioner TO be insufficient TO meet the re-
uuiremeuts of law. The average apprOpri-
alton for pensions for the last six years was
S77, 440, 900, showing that the appropriation
contained In the pending bill was 81, 694,-
500 below the average
Passing on to discussion of the general
subject of pensions, Mr.. Henderson said
that there appeared to be well-considered
effort on the part Of some gentlemen in the
House to frighten the country with the idea
that the appropriations for pensions were
now so tremendous that halt should In.
stantly be called. The country had lately
been treated with very large amount of
information In regard TO arrearages. Ithad
nad Siletter from the commissioner OF pen.
ions to the chairman OF the committee ON
appropriations giving estimates as to what
he passage Of the Limitation repeal would
probably cost. Why the committee on ap
appropriations, Or its chairman, should TAXI
his load on its shoulders he was not pre-
Dared to Say. The New York Hefdio
# the 2fth of January had published
he commissioners letter with startling heat
ines and commended the action OF Mr.
randall In the premises. He was glad tina
here was n gentleman in the House patri
ltic and far-seeiug as toreseue the country
rom the danger that seemed TO threaten 1t
Why had the letter Of the commissioner
leen invited and given to the couptr,
wenty-four hours In advance of its cominl
Il o the knowledge of the humble members
4 the committee on appropriations
Mr.. Randall understand your ques
ion to relate to the mannerin which thai
N 9tter got out. ! have answered that 1t die
OF go from my possession. ! have NJ
nowledge Of other persons. Now, as t.
hat the letter was ask ed for, | have NJ
esitation ms saying that ] felt 1t my dut.
S chairman of the committee on appro
Ration to inquire what was likely to b.
nc probable cost TO the government.
Mr.. Henderson. Has the gentleman OK
U,nded his inquiries in regard to other legis
n ton before other committees, or does
e single cut the pansion bill? .r
Mr.. Randall. We had to appropriate
H)r Il.
Mr.. Henderson For n law not made.
a Continuing, Mr.. Henderson said that thu
,mmissioner's letter had not only beef
n legraphed over the country, but tele
II aEhed with q $93.000,000 lie in its stom
n. When he (Mr. Henderson, had OK
mined the letter he had seen that 1t con
ined on its face repetition Of SSO,0OO0OO
id he had written to the commissions
M
Inward he had received letter from tn
mmissioner affirming the correctness o
d S first figures. A day or two afterwar,
9 commissioner had appeared before tn
mmittee and had changed front tire
mes, until every member of the commltte
reed that the point he (Mr. Henderson
d taken was correct. Then the commits
1ner had yielded and written a supple
Nentary letter-a tail to the first great bat
ring ram-to fly up the blunder he Ia,
eyiously refused to acknowledge. Tn
Hsect OF the first letter had aete
;e magic and carried terror to certai
mmittee rooms about the capitol
ID neither It would be finally successful /
Wtimidating any committee from meetin
Me patriotic requirements OF the hour, re
MINED to be seen. He did not believe tina
Wwould, but the truth was finally develope
n At only s222, zoo. 600 would be the eXpen
ure arising from the limitation repeal
en- that was mere speculation. lie de
Wlded cX-Commissioner Dudley, and Will
commended the expressed desire of Com
ssloner Black to make his bureau nor
rtisan, regretted that he had fallen seN
i degrees lower than any other depart
mt or bureau chief appointed under tn
ADMINISTRATION. But the question involve
the limitation repeal proposition was no
"A at II would cost, but was IL Just. If 1
Just, it would be for the committee o
Va and means to say how the none
mid be raised TO meet the expenditure.
dr Henderson then went into an al
sis of the negative vote on the bill t
rease the pensions of soldiers widows
G total vote in the negative, he said, wa
The total Democratic noes were 6C
total Republican noes were none Til
al noes from the south were o. TIL
al noes from the north were g Theyot
the gentleman from New York (Ml
witt) did not disturb him much, for I'll
itleman was not standing authority o
great question. There was not an eco
nic scrap book In the land but had tn
tleman as leading authority ON both side
he tarlff question. lie (AIr. Henderson
little troubled about his friend fruI
Sconsln (Mr Bragg, who had cast til
er negative northern vote. Still, til