The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-06
THE PENSION BILL
Senator Vests Ringing Speech
on the Measure.

nenStpN
was then resumed
Mr.. Berry moved an amendment lding ana
other sentence to the second section, which
was finally adopted, after having been several
times amended on motion Of different sena-
tors. AS finally agreed to, it reads.
And WhoGre without other adequate means OF Elf
support.
In suggesting one OF the notifications Of Mr..
Berrys amendment, Mr.. Blair said that the
committee on pensions had tried to do, Us
nearly as possible, what the Grand Army of
the Republic desired, so as to get around, or
under, or out side of the presidents veto 1t
was undoubtedly a service pension bill; but
the amendment offered by the senator from
Arkansas, would bring tho bill directly within
the puryiew of the presidents veto last con-
gress.
Mr.. Plumb moved to strike out the word
Totally before the word "Incapacitatet,"
and gave notice that If his motion prevailed
he would move TO amend further by providing
that the pension should be from 81 to ST. a
month, according to the degree of incapacity.
Mr. Berry argued that the striking out of
the word totally" would make the bill 81 M
ply a service pension bill and would practically
open all doors to all who had served in the
union army, and who were not now on the
pension rolls.
After a long discussion Mr. Plumb's motion
was agreed to, and the word totally was
stricken out.
In the course of debate it was develoned
that under the bill, as it stands there can be
no grading OF pensions according to the degree
: of disability, but all alike, its benefciaries
will receive $12 per month.
Mr.. Plumb also moved to insert the fol-
lowing:
"Al pensions granted to widows under this or
any other general law shall take effect from the
but not dating back of the passage Of this act"
Agreed to without division.
Mr.. Call moved an amendment to make the
bill apply to those who served in the Florida
war but accepted modification of it, moved
by Mr.. Morgan, by making it apply to those
who served in the war with Mexico, and for
thirty days lin wars with Indian tribes.)
Without disposing of this amendment the
bill was laid aside and Mr.. Blair proposed an
amendment in order to have it printed pro-
viding for service pension at the rate OF $40
month.
The senate then resumed consideration of
the bill granting pensions to ex-soldiers and
sailors who are incapacitated from the per-
Torrance of manual labor, and providing for
pensions to dependent relatives of deceased
soldiers and sailors, the question being on the
adoption of Mr.. Calls amendment making the
bill apply also to those who served i'll the war
with Mexico or for thirty days in any of the
Indian wars.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Blair offered n resolution changing the
phraseology of the second section, and. in ex-
planning it, he said that the construction given
in the debate yesterday to the word 'incapac
itated," would make the bill one of the most
iar-reaching OF any pension bill yet passed
lnasmuch as the minimum pension for the
slightest incapacity would be $12 q month
he did not believe with that the construc ton
given to it, bill would ever cross successfully
the wide waste lying between the senate and
the statute book He thought that the senate
ought to hesitate before inserting in the bill
provisions for Indian and other wars, and
should provide in it exclusively for eX-soldiers
OF the war of rebellion
Mr.. Davis, who has charge of the bill, coin
1Ip in IL, hot
all of the amendments adopted Yesterday
should be struck out, and the bill LETT as re-
ported unanimously from the committee on
pensions. ii had been prepared, he said, by a
committee representing 100000 members of
the Grand Army of the Republic who knew
wants to be remedied and needs to be supplied
They had said: "We will be content with this
We ask no more for the present. We trust to
the future for the further relief to which we
are entitled"
Mr.. Plumb intimated that there was some-
thing of a ''iuggle' concealed in the bill The
effort seemed to be TO get up bill not to meet
the wishes of congress, but to meet the wishes
of somebody else. He repeated his belief that
the Grand Army of the Republic did not indorse
the bill it stood, but whether it did or not he
was in the senate to legislate and to consider
what was due to ex-sodiers of the union and
to an enlightened public opinion.
Under the call of states, large number of
bills and resolutions were introduced and re-
ferred, among them several bills increasing
the amount OF pension granted under the eX-
listing law for various degrees of disability;
also one by Mr.. Brewer, Of North Carolina
granting amnesty for all ofGenses against in
temal revenue laws, committed prior to Feb
ruary %, 1888.
By Mr.. Grain, of Texas, Joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the constitution,
extending the presidents term of office until
April 30, and changing the time for the meet
ing of congress to December 81
After disposing of several local bills. Mr..
Wilson, of West Virginia. offered the follow
ing minute:
This being the day set apart for the consideration
Of business relating to the District of Columbia this
house deems 1t not inappropriate to place on record
testimonial of respect for the memory of that emf
nent citizen of the district the late W. W. Corcoran,
who as nlunifcent patron otart, science and many
public and private charities, both i'll the national
capital and i'll the country at large has left mem
DRY that deserves to be gratefully cherished, not
only by residents OF the District of Columbia but by
the people of the country of the workings of whose
Institutions he was conspicuous illustration,
The speaker pro tem-"The present occu-
pant of the chair has known the eminent man
who has been this afternoon buried for nearly
thirty years, and enjoyed his friendship as
jewel of great price His urbanity, his probity
and large-hearted benevolence were exhibited
i'll all departments of human art and enter
prise. This proceeding would be fitting for
any day of our session, but it is peculiarly
fitting for the day dedicated to the district i'll
which he lived so long and within whose pre-
cincts his temple of art and home of charity
VIII perpetuate his name ana lame forever.
Mr. Faulkner member of that committee,
said that after q careful analysis and examina-
ton Of the bill, he had given it his support in
the committee and would give it his support in
the senate unless the amendments now in it
were retained. If these amendments were re-
tanned he would vote against the passage of the
bill. He declared that ii the bill passed with
the amendment of the senator from Kansas,
striking ont the word "totally" before the
word "incapacitated" the annual pension list
would exceed 10000. II the bill was defeat
ed the responsibility would not rest on the
democratic side of the chamber. 1t would rest
on those senators who had put the amendments
into the bill with the certain knowledge of its
being vetoed who had done it with their eyes
open and with the understanding that not only
consistency but conscious sentiment OF duty,
even although an election was coming ON this
year, would require the same to be done now
as was done last session with a like bill.
Mr.. Plumb asked Mr.. Faulkner whether.
under the bill as reported 10y the committee, a
pensioner who could perform any manual Ia
Dor would be entitled TO its benefit.
Mr.. Faulkner replied in the negative
Dir. Plumb inquired whether there would DO
any grading OF pensions under the bill?
Mr.. Faulkner again replied in the negative
DIr. Plumb asked whether he believed the
president would veto the bill2
All