Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-14
nix. c0SGaExx.
WASHINGTON, May Is, 1886.
senate.

SeDate.
Mr.. Frye called up the Staten-Island
bridge bill, but the Senate decided in
stead to proceed to bills on the calen-
Oar in their order.
AT . o'clock the general pension bill
was placed before the Senate. Dir.
Blair explained that it was intended to
provide for those disabled Union
soldiers of the late war who had found
it difficult or impossible, without their
own fault-whether by loss of papers
or death Of witnesses--to prove their
cases under the existing law. He said
it provided aid for all soldiers who,
having served three months or more,
had become disabled since their service
from any cause not due to their own
vicious conduct, and who we're now de-
pendent for support on their own man
ual labor OF on contributions Of Others
not legally liable for their support.
The highest pension under tho bill, Mr..
Blair added, would be s24 month for
total helplessness and proportionately
less for less disability. Mr.. Blair did
not believe the amount of money in
volyed would exceed s25,000,000
year.
MIR. Brown said he was williog to
vote pensions to Union soldiers as libe-
raj as any Government in the world has
paid to its soldiers. He asked Mr..
Blair what pensions the Governments Of
Europe had paid their soldiers.
MIR. Blair did not know, but said
England never permitted an old soldier
to want. This bill stopped short Of the
Mexican bill, which, Mr.. Blair believed,
Mr.. Brown favored.
Mr. Brown said he very heartily ia
yored the Mexican pension bill.
Mr.. Berry said the Senate was asked
to vote on this bill with eyes closed.
The committee gave no estimate Of the
amount OF money it involved. Even
the personal opinion Of Mr.. Blair upon
it was admittedly indefinite. Mr.. Berry
said, and the Senate could not say
whether the amount called for by the
bill would be s25, 000, 900 or $50, 000,-
600. We were not informed whether
additional taxes would not have to be
levied or new bonds issued in order to
provide the money. If the bill became
a law two years would not elapse be-
fore 90 if not 90 per cent. OF the SOL
diers Of the late war would be
proving themselves entitled to pensions
under it.
Mr.. Berry thought it time to call a
bait. lie did not believe Union soldiers
wanted this bill as a rule. They were
men able to take care Of themselves.
Democrats and Republicans, however,
bad We'd with one another, whether
through sympathy or from desire to Sc
cure the soldier vote, in giving pensions
to soldiers of the late war, while the
Mexican soldiers were neglected and
ignored.
Mr. Berry judged Of Union soldiers
by their opponents in saying that he
did not believe Union soldiers wanted
this bill. The soldiers of the South,
be said, returned from the war to find
only lone chimneys standing to mark
the places where happy homes had stood;
yet these soldiers had worked their
way out Of their difficulties. He Der
IVY had never known an Arkansas SOL
oier to beg for bread or become de-
pendent on the public for support. 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 senators,
through fear, of misconstruction, were
not at liberty to vote against measures
that they believed hurtful to the peo-
pie of the country they were not free
or independent legislators, and were
unworthy of confidence. lie Berry
was opposed to the bill 4; not that he is
not as 10y al a citizen and as proud Of
bis American citizenship and Of this
country as the men that had followed
General Grant. but because the condi-
ton Of the soldiers did not demand it.
and the condition of the people and
their finances did not warrant it.
Mr.. Logan differed with Mr.. Berry as
to the application of the parallel sought
to be drawn by that Senator between
Mexican soldiers and the soldiers COW
cred by this bill. Mr.. Logan said
every disabled soldier of the Mexican
war either was receiving or could re-
cei,p pension. More than that, Next
can soldiers had received land, and
the officers had received three months
extra pay. The reason attention had
been attracted to the pensions given to
Union soldiers Of the late war was be-
cause of the larger number Of soldiers
in that war.
Mr.. Logan denied that there was the
slightest disposition on the part Of any
body to regard it treason for ex.Con-
federates to oppose this bill. lie was
glad TO know that none Of the Confede-
rate soldiers were obliged to look to
the public for support, but the fact that
a disabled Union soldier was to get
pension was not to be taken as
any indication that anything wrong
was going to be done. In sll ma
lions and by all governments PEN
sions had been given to the wounded
and disabled. Our Government would
be unworthy the name of republic if it
permitted men who fought and suffered
for it, and saved it for US all, to be ne
elected in their helplessness. Mr.. Logan
would at . proper time move that 10
pension hereafter paid to any soldier
should be less than IS. We had some
pensions Of one and two dollars 8
month.
Mr.. Teller interposed to say that
there were over 10000 cases Of 81 a
month pensions.
At this Mr.. Logan remarked :" What
a msgnanimous pension. Great God !!
Mr.. President, is not this robbery? Is
rot this destroying the peace Of the
people of this country? 1t is no won
der that my friend from Arkansas (Mr.
Berry, was alarmed lest the Demo
cratic party would be destroyed if the
pension bill should pass"
Mr. Logan suggested that the best
way for the Democrats to keep in