Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-10

oiuc WIS making b OluuOer III Trying
TO make the discussion party question.
the pending bill, and veto message OF the
President thereon, except to call attention
to the factj that it was first vetoed i'll the
pension Office in 1882 by Commissioner
Dudley. but the gentleman on the other
side had taken advantage OF the discussion
to attack the President and the Democrat
party, and to charge that they were op-
posed to granting pensions. Nothing could
be further from the truth. During the en-
tire eight years of Gen. Grants administra-
ton only 542 private pensions were grant.
ed. During the Forty-seventh Congress.
which was Republican in both branches,
only 151 private pension bills were passed,
but during the Fortyeight Congress. which
contained n majority OF Democrats in this
Honse and when the gentleman from
Indiana sir. Matson) was chairman Of
the Committee on Invalid Pensions there
were 552 Of such bills passed and became
laws and during This Congress since Decem-
Der last. Congress had passed G65 private
pension bills of which about SIS had either
been signed by President Cleveland or had
become laws without his action. He had
vetoed about ninety private pension bills,
but thirt y.three more had passed and be-
cemei avs during his administr alton up
tuthis time than were passed during the
eight years Of Grants administration
Gen. Black. Commissioner OF Pensions, had
granted over l10, 600 certificates to pen
si"ners since he assumed the duties Of
office. heing 10 per cent. more than had
ever before been issued by any OF his pre-.
decessors during the same length OF time.
The Treasurer OF the United States at.
tested the effect OF General Blacks in
creased efficiency in the administration OF
the Pension Office for the payment OF PEN
sioners during the fiscal year just ended,
exceeded those OF the previous fiscal year
by S86O.OOO, but notwithstanding this
Increase in pension payments there had
been q net reduction in the expenditures
dnrins the past fiscal year OF over s1G,-
OOO,O 900 as compared with the fiscal year
OF 1886. Excluding the pensions, the re-
duction OF ordinary expenses for 1886 as
compared with 1885 amounted to S24,-
500, 900. This statement was made from
the Treasury Department. Mr.. Springer
asserted that the Pension Office had been,
previous to Gen. Blacks administration,
run in the interest ofthe Republican party.
During the last Presidential year the
OF claims OF applicants rpensions
considered by the examining surgeons in
certain States was very significant. In
Maine, contested State, there were TO
case. considered in each Congressional
in massachusetts,. reliably Repub-
lean, where no special political efforts were
required the number 50 considered was
ouly POI in each district. In Illinois, re-
liably Republican, the number 80 consid.
cred was only AGO in each district. Thus
it would seem where there were great politi-
eal contests during the last year the bust
Ness OF the pension Office was concentrated
10 the neglect OF worthy applicants who
happene to reside in States reliably Re-
publican or hopelessly Democratic. The
bill was referred--yeas 13O, nays 11S. This
cleared the Speakers table of veto mes
;ages. The House then resumed the con.
'ideration OF the General Deficiency bill,
md by vote OF yeas 124, nays S6, |
confirmed the action OF the Com
nittee OF the Whole on agreeing to the
making appropriations to !
meet the Fox and Wisconsin River claims. |
Pending further action the House took a |
'ecess until 8 p. Ill. for the considerat ton
of pension bills.
MR.. LoGAN's CORRECTION.
Senator Hoar. Chairman of the Commit |
ZEE on Privileges and Elections furnishes,
With the request for publication, the fol- |
owing to the public: The published state |
oent that Senator Logan requested. that |
he vote oi members OF the Committee on |
Elections as to investigate into the |
means, II any, in the election OF |
senator Payne should be kept secret, is |
1ithout any foundation whatever. Mr.. |
logan made no such request, nor did any |
senator on this committee make such re-
uest. i do this by the unanimous auth. |
rity of the Committee