Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-22
A FIGHT OVER PENSIONS
MIR. REAGAN OPPOSES SQUAN-
DERING PUBLIC MONEY.

MIX. REAGAN OPPOSES SQUAN-
DERING PUBLIC MONEY.
Pension Measures Used for Making Par
ty CapitAl-Amendment offered by
Messrs. Warner and TOwnshend Voted
Down d iscussiOn OF the Bin Not ot
Completed.
WASHINGToN, Jan. 21.-No bills of any
Importance being reported under the call
of the committees, the House resumed in
| the morning hour consideration Of the bill
to increase the pensions OF soldiers
widows.
Mr.. Wolford, of Kentucky, made an
impassioned speech IN favor of the bill,
and as there was much confusion in the
! House, the members crowded around him
as be stood in the centre aisle to listen.
lie advocated the repeal Of the arrearages
| limitation, but thought that to incorpo-
rate this provision on the pending bill
might endanger the passage of both. He
was frequently Interrupted by Mr..
| Browne, OF Indiana, and the word fencing
| between the two gentlemen was heartily
| enjoyed by the House.
MIR. Reagan, OF Texas, took the ground
! that only soldiers who had been dis
| had been wives of sOldiersat the
time the disability had occurred,
| should receive pensions. He criticized
| the manner in which the special pension
| bills were passed by Congress, ana stated
! that he would drive the petitioners to the
| Pension Office and make them give the
| proofs required by law. He would not al
| low them TO come here with eX parte evil
| dence and secure pensions.
MADE POLITICAL ISSUES.
In these bills relating to pensions the
! contest was not so much one about doing
! Justice to soldiers, as It was a contest
| for political supremacy aud bid Tor the
| votes of soldiers.
| Mr.. Funston, of Kansas, (interrupting)
| w hat right have you to impugn the
| motives of the members in that mannerY
! Mr. Reagan declined to yield. He had
occupied a seat in the House when the
! arrears act mad passed. ana be mad seen
/ Democrats urging Democrats to vote for
it, because 1t would give them the soldier
vote, and Republicans urging Republl-
cans 10 vote for it, in order TO get ahead
| Of the Democrats. No one would doubt
| that instead OF the supreme and sole
| motive for this legislation be-
ing to secure justice to those
| VINO served their country, another and
stronger motive was 90 secure political
/
| He warned the members that a point
| might be reached when public opinion
| would revolt against voting away the
money OF the tOiling mnhOns in this sort
Of way. He asserted that there were
! numbers of men, he might say thousands,
VINO were receiving pensions VINO mad no
| more right TO them than he had.
MIR. FunstOn-Who are they? Who are
they'
A CURT RETORT.
"The gentleman can make his speech
| when the time cOmes,H replied Mr.. Rea-
gan. ''He will not interrupt me any
more. | come here asa representative OF
a portion OF the American people. | come
here to speak for them, and | do not pro-
pose that members on this floor shall
challenge my right to express my cOnvic-
| tiOns on great public questions. | do not
expect to defeat this proposition, but in
the name of my constituents, in the name
| Of the taxpayers Of this country, | pro-
! pose to make a protest against universal
| and indiscriminate granting of pensions
| to all men and all women who ask for
them"
Mir. Dunn. of Arkansas, had not ex-
pected that this bill would be made an
omnibus one, a Santa Claus pension
wagon, but it seemed that it was to be
| loaded down with amendments. He re-
membered n class OF soldiers who had
done more to earn pensions at the hands
Of this government than any other class
| had done. He remembered the men who
had added to the public domain, that vast
region of country from the Louisiana
| purchase to the Pacific ocean, men who
had unrOlled the man OF the country
| across the rOck-ribbed mountains OF the
West until il reached down to the far dis
tant coast Of California, men who had
borne the flag of this country across the
arid plains Of Mexico, and planted 1t on
the walls of the great city Of MOntezu-
mas. He spoke for them and he sent 10
! the Clerks desk a New Years gift to put
in Santa Claus pension wagon. The gift
| consisted of a proposed amendment grant
! ing pensions to the survivors OF the MeXi-
can and Indian wars.
MATsON's REPLY TO REAGAN.
Mr. MatsOn Of Indiana, spoke briefly in
! favor of the bill, urging that IL be passed
without amendment. lie incidentally re-
piled TO Dir. Reagan's speech, quoting
that gentlem0n's query, "What IS this 10
come tOp bv remarking: Sin all kind
ness 10 my friend, I say that he ought 10
have thought about that long ago" APP
plause on the Republican side. Com
/ tinuing he said that the widows Of the
/ men who had lost their lives in the de-
Iense Of their flag ought 20 be provided
/ for in manner cOmmcnsurate with the
/ greatness Of the country, and 10 did not
lie in the mouth OF any one to say that
because Of this little thing or thar little
thing pensions should not be granted.
Mr.. Reagan Thought that be had a right
10 express his views and represent his
constituents on this noOr without being
subject 20 personal taunts. The cOnst-
tuition, laws and Partially Of his cOnstit-
uents had sent him here, and he did not
come 10 inquire from the gentleman from
Indiana Matson) whether OF not he was
privileged TO debate or discuss any ques-
! tiOn.
READ FOR AMENDMENT.
The bill was then read by sections for
/ amendment.
Mr.. Warner, Of Ohio, offered an amend
ment providing that this act shall apply
only 10 widows who were married before
/. its passage.
Mr. Townshend, OF Illinois, offered an