The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-26
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
A Pension Debate in the Senate Calls
Out a Denunciation of Gen. Black.
Commissioner, Who Is Defended by Mr..
VoOrhees-0leomarga in the House.


Commissioners Black.
WASHINGTON, May 25-Mr. Eustis presented
resolutions of the Louisiana Legislature memoir
Rlizing Congress for the establishments of navy
yard at New Orleans. Referred.
Mr.. Harrison reported favorably bill to au-
thorize the appointment of an additional adju-
of cavalry. The bill was placed on the calendar.
In introducing this bill Mr.. Harrison said that it
placed it in the power of the President to recog-
nize the services of Lieut.. A. W. Greedy. He
was therefore instructed to authorize the retire
ment of that officer. The bill was indefinitely
postponed
A resolution offered by Mr.. Call was agreed
to, instructing the committee on naval affairs to
inquire and report whether the interests of the
country do not require the equipment of the
navy-yard at Warrenton, New Pensacola, Fla,
for the construction there of steel ships of
war, and whether an appropriation of not less
than $500. 900 should not be made for the imme-
date commencement of the work of construct
ing such vessels.
On motion of Mr.. Dolph, June was fixed for
the consideration of the bill repeating the pre-
emption and tim ber-culture laws.
On motion of Mr.. Plumb, the Senate then
proceeded to consider the Atlantic e. Pacific
railroad land-forfeiture bill. After few words
of debate by Mr. Plumb and Mr. Call. the bill
was passed as it was reported from the commit
dee on public lands of the Senate. 1t forfeits
AL lands except the right of way adjacent and
esSerminous with the uncompleted portion OF
theroad.
On motion of Mr.. Sewel the Senate took up
the bill heretofore reported by him from the
committee on pensions, ITO amend the pensions
laws by increasing the pensions of soldiers and
sailors who have lost an arm or leg in the
service"
The bill gives $50 month to soldiers and sail
ors who lost one foot or one hand in the servlce
$50 month to those VINO lost an arm above the
elbow or leg above the knee; $45 month to
those who lost an arm at the shoulder joint or
leg at the hip-joint
Mr. Miller offered an amendment extending
The provisions of the bill so as to include among
she $45a-month pensioners the cases or men
whose legs had been amputated so near the hip
joint as to prevent the use of an artificial leg.
The amendment WAS agreed to, and as SO amend
Cd the bill was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Sawyer. private pension
cases were then taken up and proceeded with.
Mr.. Ingalls, severely criticised General Black,
the Commissioner of Pensions, declaring him to
be an impostor, whom Congress granted the
highest pension rate on false allegations of his
being wreck" He protested against General
Blacks enjoyment of such-a pension while oppos-
Mr.. Cockrel defended General Blacks admin
ist-ation of his Office, citing figures to show that
more claims allowed each year under his
administration than in any year in any former
administration. If Mr.. Ingalls, believed General
Blacks pension unjust, Mr.. Cockrell said he
IMr. Ingalls, should introduce bill to discon-
tinue the pension.
NJ. Voorhees, warmly defended General Black
and with energy and emphasis denied that there
had been any false allegations in the matter OF
.oxt0 f1u notn Ia ,tCh
General Blacks condition at the time one of
absolute and complete disability, and his sur
vivas and recovery as wholly unexpected and ex-
traordinary.
Mr. Logan would not say that General Black
was not entitled to his pension, but he expressed
hope that the Pension Office would be admin
Istered in sympathy with the wounded soldiers.
He thought that unfair statements had been
sent broadcast over the country about the action
of Commissioner Dudley. If General Black was
entitled to the pension Mr.. Logan hoped he
would retain it. General Black had been a
badly wounded man, and if entitled to pen
sion, no matter how large, Mr.. Logan would not
reduce it one cent. 1t did not come with the best
pensions by act of Congress to object to others
receiving pensions by similar means The great
majority of men who applied for pensions were
disabled. either from wounds received or diseases
contracted in the service.
Mr.. ingalls, said he did not stand here to dis
parage the valor or courage of General Black,
but merely asserted that that officer had received
his present pension upon allegations Of facts that
did not exist and do not exist to day. Mr.. Ingalls,
was informed-thougn he did not know it when
he had enthusiastically reported General Blacks
application for a pension-tnat, after all the
surgical treatment rendered General Black. he
was active in political and professional life; that
he was a candidate for Congress in 1866 or 1868,
long after the war closed. He had also been in
formed that three times since the granting Of
the pension in 1876, General Black had been a
candidate for Congress and made a canvass;
that he had been candidate for Governor, and
active on the stump; that he conducted his pro
fessional vocation. and had contended for seat
in the United States Senate Yet he had been
informed from many sources that he was a total
wreck intellectually and physically
Mr.. Voorhees, denied that anybody had ever
said that General Black was an intellectual
wreck.
Mr. ingalls, said it had been repeated time and
time again.
Mr. Voorhees, with emphasis of manner denied
this.
Mr. ingalls, said that among the many allega-
tions WAS that he could not practice his pro-
fession
Mr. Voorhees-well, how could he-fat on
bis back and torn with wounds, even if his mind
was as bright as Blackstonesl
Mr. Ingalls, am not here to answer q cate
chsm of the Senator from Indiana about wheth-
or man can practice law on his back or not.
That does not concern the controversy. Mr..
Ingalls, reiterated his statement to the allega-
ton of intellectual" wreck. AS to General
Blacks wounds. Mr.. ingalls, remarked that no
pension could be too large for those wounds. 1t
was not of the largeness of the pension that he
complained No man could be paid with 500 a
month for being torn by shot and she'll What
Mr.. ingalls, complained of was that. having OBJ
tanned that pension upon those pretexts, John
Charles Black should have sienalized his advent
into the place he now held by a protest against
the payment of smaller pensions to who
were as greatly disabled as himself. He
General Black stood to-day cooperating with
the President of the United States in yetoing
little measures of relief at SIS per month TO pri-
rate soldiers who could not secure sufficient evil
aence to establish their claims before the Pen
sion ONCE. He Mr.. IngallsI protested against
John Charles Black enjoying pension of 800 a
month upon pretexts that did not exist. and. at
the sane time using the efforts of his great of
fee TO revent the payment of pensions that had
been La yfElIy nroyided for Ono of his first off