The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-27
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, May q, 1Ss

Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1885.
The most outrageous pension bill
that ever received favorable notice in
Congress, passed the Senate this week. |
If it could become law it would pro-
vide for the payment of forty or fifty
million dollars year to men who once
fought in the Union Army, for no
other reason than that they are poor.
The bill is. of course, a reckless bid for
votes. The vaults of the United States
Treasury are the resource of bankrupt
politicians in Congress, and the cid
soldiers" are the chips with which
these demagogues play their game.
This pension grab is the project of
Senator Blair of New Hampshire, and
1t is difficult to see how any man of
ordinary intelligence could assume the
championship of such a measure.
There are some Republican Senators
who are compelled to be ashamed Of
their vote for the bill, and doubtless
there are many who would not have
voted for it if they had supposed 1t
could pass the House. 1t practically
gives a pension to every man who is
needy if he served in the Union Army
and is not entitled to a pension under
existing laws. All the impecunious men
who were on the muster roll for three
months would be included in its pro.
visions. Senator Blair thinks there
are quarter of a million of such, but
others think there are two or three
times as many, and that no one can
predict or foresee what the leakage
from the Treasury would be if such
fantastic patriotism and charity were
once commenced.
Senator Logan has also been busy
in efforts to secure pensions for every
body who fought in the late war, oil
who had relative in the ranks. He
also proposes to have it understood
that he is taking great interest in labor
problems that are sgitatiDg Congress
and the country, and has presented q
method of solution. His plan is tC
have permanent commission Of five
members appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate. The
disputes between the employer anC
employed are to be referred to thi.
commission on the written consent O
those interested. 1 cannot mention
the many details of his plan, which
he has offered as a substitute for tn,
arbitration bill which recently passed
the House and is now pending in tn,
Senate.
| Notwithstanding his efforts at pop
ularity there is no presidential candi
date who has SO much opposition il
the Senate as Gen. Logan. More of
fsnss has been shown him on the Re
Rublican side during the past winte
than at any time since he has been il
the Senate. There IL q little coteri
of Western Senators who have mad
q point of antagOnizing him ON eyer.
possible question. The reason VIII,
the Senate has done 80 little this ses
sion is on account of the lack of har
mony among the many Republican
Presidential aspirants. All these can
didates fight each other and only unit
to fight the Senator from Illinois.
OF the 2,l00 nominations sent tn
Senate by President Cleveland, ITO
have been confirmed and but IS re
j ected. Yet no one has heard of an,
consignment of reosons sent to tina
body by the President. And the Con
gressional Pan Electric inquiry ha
closed without any startling develop
ments. The committee will presen
their reports to the House by the mid
die of June, and the majority repor
will exonerate Attorney General Gar
land from all blame On account of hi
connection with the affair.
A bill has just been reported to th
House which provides against defect
in the existing law by creating an
defining the office of a second Vic
President in case of the death, resis
nation or constitutional disability {
both the President and Vice Presider
The proposed second Vice Presiden
shall be voted for in distinct ballots 8
the same time and in like manner an
for the same term as the President an
Vice President.
Secretary Manning continues to i'm
prove in health and President Clevt
land continues to hold his tri-weekl
handshakings at the White Hous,
and to be congratulated on his allege
matrimonial future. Among the fou
hundred people who called yesterda
: to pay their respects to him was q
elderly lady with bent figure. Sal
she, {" L am glad you have con clude
to marry, Mr.. President, 1 think ever
man ought to get married" "Is ths
so ?" replied Mr.. Cleveland, as b
turned his attention and his hand [
, the next one in the line.
UHitY and FFaternitv