The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-14
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Devotes the Day to Discus
sing Pensions for Union Soldiers.
The House INDUCES in Another Debate Con-
corning Indemnity for 0utrages on Chi
nese-Shall We Have Secretary OF
The General Pension Bill Gives Rise to An
Infarasfing Discussion.


The General Pension Bill Gives Rise to An
Interesting Discussion.
WASHINGTON, May IA bill passed creating
y new judicial circuit of the United States
Under this BILL the Eighth circuit Is made to in
elude Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas and Colorado;
the Ninth to include Minnesota. lewa and Mis-
souri,; the Tenth to include California, Oregon
and Nevada The bill also provides that the
present Judge of tbs Ninth circuit, as heretofore
constituted (being California, Oregon and Ne
vada) shall be judge of the new Tenth circuit,
and the President shall appoint judge for the
new Ninth circuit.
At o'clock the general pension bill was placed
before the Senate
Mr. Blair explained that It was intended to
provide for those disabled Union soldiers of the
late war who had found i. difficult or impossible,
without their own fault whether by loss of pa
pers or death Of witnesses) to prove their cases
under existing law. He said it provided aid for
AL soldiers who, having served six months or
more, had become disabled since their service
for any cause not due to their own vicious con-
duct, and who were now dependent for support
on their manual labor or on the contributions of
others not legally liable for their support. The
highest pension under the bill, Mr.. Blair added,
would be $24 month for total helplessness and
proportionately less for less disability. He de-
Tended the justice and propriety of the measure.
The bill also, Mr. Blair said, included pensions
for dependent parents who lost son In the
Service but who were rot las REQUIRED by the ex
jsting law dependent the son at the time of
the service. He did not think the number of
persons to be added to the pension roll under
this bill would exceed 100000
- MrLogan did not think 1t would amount to
hqI hat I'M har IA
only to persons who had not heretofore been
able to get pensions
Mr. Blair did not believe the amount of money
involved would exceed $50, 100000 year.
Mr. Berry thought it time to call halt He
did not believe the Union soldier wanted this bill
They were men able to take care of themselves.
Democrats and Republicans, however, had Wed
with one another. whether through sympathy or
from desire to secure the soldiers vote in Civ
ing pensions to soldiers of the late war; while the
Mexican soldiers were neglected and ignored. Mr.
Berry judged of the Union soldiers by their OPP
ponents, in saying that he did not believe the
Union soldiers wanted this bill. The soldiers of
the South, he said, returned from the war to
find only lone chimneys standing to mark the
places where their happy homes had Stood yet
those soldiers had worked their way out of their
difficulties. He [Alr. Berry, lad never known
an Arkansas soldier to beg for bread, OF be-
some dependent on the public for sup
port He knew it was regarded as little
less than treason for one who had been in the
confederate army to vote against bill of the
character now under debate, but if Senator'S
through fear of misconstruction, were not at
liberty to vote against a measure they believed
hurtful to the people of the country, they were
not free or independent legislators, and were I'M
worthy of confidence. He Mr.. Berry, was op-
posed to the bill--not that he is not as loyal a
citizen, and as proud of his American citizen
php and of his country as the men that had
followed General Grant, but because the cond-
ton of the soldier did not demand it. and the
Cpnditon of the people and their finances did
not warrant It,
Mr. Logan differed from Mr.. Berry as to the
application of the parallel sought to be drawn
by that Senator between the Mexican soldiers
md the soldiers covered by this bill Mr. Logan
said that every disabled soldier of the Mexican
war was receiving or could receive a pension.
More than that the Mexican soldiers had re-
eeived land, and the officers had received three
months extra pay. The reason attention had
been attracted to the pensions given to the Union
Boldiers of the late because Of the
large number of the soldiers in that war
Mr.. Logan denied that there was the slightest
disposition on the part of anybody to regard it
treason for ex-ccnfederates to oppose this bill
He was glad to know that nope of the confe1er-
ate soldiers were obliged TO lock to the public
for support, but the fact that disabled Union
soldier was TO get pension not to be taken
as any indication that anything wrong was
going to be done Our government would be
unworthy the name of republic if it permitted
the men who fought and suffered for it, and
saved it for us all, to be neglected in their help
lessness AS to the probable expense involved
by the bill, if old soldier, having the seeds of
disease implanted in him by his sufferngs for
country on the field of battle. should come hob
bling up the Capitol steps to-day, would the gen
tlemen ask how much it would cost to relieve
hint Such an argument Mr.. Logan had never
heard without experiencing a cold chill Mr.
Logan would, at the proper time. move that no
pension hereafter paid to any soldier should be
less than So We had some pensions of one and
two dollars month.
Mr.. Teller interposed to say that there were
over &C. 900 cases of two-dollars-a month pen
Bions.
At this Mr.. Logan remarked: What a mag
unanimous pension Great God Mr.. President
Is not this robberya Is not this destroying the
peace OF the people of this countryl 1t is no
wonder that my friend from Arkansas TMr.
Berry was alarmed lest the Democratic party
would be destroyed if pension bills should pass I"
Mr.. Logan suggested that the best way for the
Democrats to keep in power to support de-
serving pension bills The Senator from Ar
kansas has said 1t was time to call halt. Did he
mean to call halt on bills asking pay for prop
crty taken by the armyf Mr.. Logan had heard
nobody asking for halt on that. If, however
the Senator meant to call halt on pension bills,
he should confine the call to bills for undeserv-
Ing pensions, and should support those that were
deserving
Mr.. Logan said the United States government
had agreed to pay a bounty to the Union SOL
diers, scaled according to their service in the
war. snd within few days before its conclusion,
regiment after regiment was mustered out with
In ten days of the expiration of their time for
the purpose of depriving them of that bounty
1t would not be time to call halt, Mr.. Logan
thought until we had done those soldiers Justice
Mr.. Vest obtained the floor, and, after an ex-
ecutive session, the Senate adjourned.