The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-21
THE HOUSE.
Debate on the Bill Increasing Widows PEN
sions to $12 Per Month.

Debate on the Bill Increasing Widows PEN
sions to $12 Per Month.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-Mr. Thomas, of I'LL
nois, from the committee on naval affairs, re-
ported bill authorizing the President to retire
Lieut. w. B. Randall as lieutenant command
er. Placed on the private calendar.
Mr.. Ballentine, Of Tennessee, from the same
committee, reported bill authorizing the vol
untary retirement of naval officers who have
rendered conspicuous service in battle, or who
have served thirty years in the navy Placed on
the House calendar.
In the morning hour, Mr.. Matson, of Indiana,
on behalf of the committee on invalid pensions
called up the bill increasing the pensions of
widows and dependent relatives of soldiers from
So to $12 per month. Mr. Matson stated that
the bill had received the unanimous approval of
the committee very careful estimate, made
less than two years ago by gentleman who was
thoroughly familiar with the subject showed
that the additional annual cost to the govern
ment by reason of the passage of this bill would
amount to something over So. 900, 600, but he had
prepared an amendment repeating the limitation
clause of the arrears Of pension act which he
hoped the gentlemen would be willing to vote
for.
Mr. Grosvenor, Of Ohio, while heartily in favor
OF Mr. Brownies proposition, announced his in
tention of voting against it, for fear that it
might impede the passage of the bill
Mr. Bragg, of Wisconsin, opposed Mr..
Brownies proposition. His reason might be
stated thus: that no soldier who suffered from
disability sufficient to entitie him to pension
at the hands of the government failed to know it
for twenty years after the war, and waited un-
til ne was stirred up by claim agent in the City
OF Washington. He was also opposed to the
pending bill, not that he did not recognize the
fact that there was a class of widows that should
be entitled to greater pension than they now
drew but he opposed the bill for two reasons:
His first reason was that the whole system of
pension legislation ought to be rearranged, and
a law enacted to make that system more harmo-
NOUS and less homogeneous. The inequalities
which existed in the present law were shame
and disgrace to the country. His next objec
ton was that the bill applied to all widows. It
should, in his opinion, extend only to those class
es where the woman was married to the man
when he received his disability, and not to young
girls who married an old soldier, took care of
him for the two or three last years of his life,
and then went on the rolls as his widow. A
young girl may marry an old man. and think
very much of her when she msrries him for love-
but when she marries him for ducats ali my
respect goes.
Mr. Mills, of Texas, did not object to the pay
ment of pensions, buthe objected most strenuously
to the burden of taxation resting upon the shout
ders of the poor while none of it was borne by
the wealthy. 1t was the duty of Congress to
reimpose the income tax upon the wealthy of
the country. and compel it to bear a part of the
burden of supporting the pension roll of the
government
Mr.. Henderson, of Ohio. said the political
party which would, for any reason, defeat the
passage of the pension bill. assumed great re-
sponsibilty. He was not going to answer any
gentleman who took occasion to discuss the
tariff neither would he be drawn into discus
sion of the amendment proposed by the gentle
man from Indiana Mr. Browne He was in
favor of it, his State was in favor OF it, and he
saw an opportunity for gaining political advan-
tage by pressing it upon the House, but he did
not seek that advantage. He wanted no better
advantage for his political party than that it
should give its earnest support, witho ut hesita-
ton or hindrance, to the pending proposition in
favor of the women of the country whom the
war had deprived Of the natural prop to support
them in their struggle for life. He would not
lay single straw in the way of the proposed
legislation, and his hope was that the gentlemen
in charge of the bill would take such course as
would enable the House to send out over the
wires to night the news that it had passed.
Mr.. Wolford of Kentucky. earnestly supported
the bill, but while he was in the middle of his
speech the morning hour expired.
Mr.. Morrison, of illinois. moved that the
House adjourn but the House voted the motion
down, and. on motion of Mr.. Matson, went into
committee of the whole Mr.. Wellborn. of Texas.
in the chair. the purpose being TO continue the
discussion on the pension bill
The first bill on the calendar. however, was
the Senate bill for the purchase of the old Prod
uce Exchange, in New York city. and Mr. Symes,
of Colorado, receiving the recognition of the
Chair, stated that 1t was the precise bill which
he wished to talk about. and Immediately pro-
ceeded to deliver speech in relation to the sus-
pension of the silverdollar coinage.
At the conclusion of Mr. Syme's speech, the
House was brought back to the subject under
immediate consideration, being the Produce
Exchage bill 1t was passed, and the House adj
journed.
MY sore ran in the night, and my soul refused
to be comfortedn Poor fallnwi of course il did