New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-11

the Urgency Deficiency bill, which was Reported rS
by tho aSa.. h Syss S17Sooo 70
complete the armament for the three Ve,so,s, aGu
II the Atlanta should 90 10 sea before tne rSc on
are laid she will not be In fair man-o1-wAr cou
diton to exhibit to foreigners
A COMMITTEE SITTING ON CHINA EGGS.
LITTLE COMFORT FOR UNION vETERANS-GkNEhAh
BERpAN GRANTED HEARING-wHAT HE
PROPOSED
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 Special. House
Committee Invalid Pensions. to use the ex-
pressve phrase of Union veteran, resembles
hen sitting on china eggs"
The Committee seems to be engaged in the work
of incubation; pension legislation seems to be
Matching, but it never breaks the she'll VIII 1t
ever do so before the Presidential electionP No;
it will not do So The fiat has gone forth from
the great head centre" of the Administration
The President must not be embarrassed by the
reference to him Of pension bills to which he is
opposed and disapproval Of which might weaken
his prospect OF reelection. Onethird Of the ses-
sion has passed, and yet no motion has been
made by Chairman Matson for Friday evening
sessions to consider pension bills for the benefit
Of claimants who unable to overcome the
technical obstacles which prevent them from Cd
tanning favorable decisions under the general laws
and the regulations governing the allowance OF
claims under these laws. For six years the House
had held such sessions. 1t is true that in the last
Congress two or three Southern Democrats placed
every obstacle in their power against action at
evening sessions. but despite their efforts many
bills were passed. The Lth Congress has been
more than two months in session and not single
evening sitting has been had to consider pension
bills which have been favoraby reported by
Chairman Matson's Committee. Moreover. Colonel
Matson has never asked. either in his own 6ehalf
or in behalf Of his committee. than an order DC
made for evening sessions More than that, no
effort has been made by him or his committee 10
have q special order passed which would enable
the latter to bring its business before me House
for consideration at q specified time Two weeks
from il will be useless to make such an effort
and Chairman Matson knows 1t. lie is wiling
bless you to hear any proposition argued DeIore
his committee 1t kills time, and besides 1t makes
a few innocent people believe that the committee
is sitting on real live eggs:
For example, General Berdan FOUND pat1ent
listeners to-day while he advocated the propo-
stions contained in the several drafts OF DIS pre-
pared by him. A majority OF the committee iavors
the PROPOSITIONS all Of which are contained IN the
Dependent Pension bill which President Cieve-
lands conscience would not allow him to approve.
General Bcrdan set forth with cearness m, ms
reasons for separating the provisions and forthed
his arguments in favor Of each with many tacts
within his personal knowledge and observation
Briefly stated his propositions arc:
l. TO give pension to those who served In the ranks OF
their regiment three years any less period including
the Cine they prisoners OF war; without bounues'
were honorably discharged and unable 20 per-
FORM fuu manual labor in consequence Of disabilities
which. opinion Of medical board could have been
contracted while In service In their regiments pris
oners Of war and are visible of support
The to be the as now PAID Tor the same
disabilities who have hospital records and are to
date Of such disabilities, which shall
be established by a board
q To give pension to men who enlisted as substi-
tutes for tounueA who were honorably discharged
and now. In the opinion Of medical board unable
perform full manual labor In consequence of'disao.
which could have been contracted while In service
IN their regiments prisoners OF and are with
visible of support The rates to be The same
paid ,cr the same disabilities and In proportion
to the time their regiment and as prisoners
OF war-three years being the maximum. First the
received bountes or substitutes Is to DO
deducted with per cent interest and Is to be paid
date Of such disabilities which shall be eslab
lshed by board
To give pension to all the men who served three
years in the ranks including the time they were prisoners
o. var who honoraeiy discharged and are without
visible means OF support -Four dollars month ai'er
he sixty years old eight dollars month after he Is
sixtyhvc years old and twelve dollars month after he
is seventy years old or proportoate sum or i
period such service first deduetng all bountes when
they may have received with three per cent interest
the same already been deducted In case OF
pension for disabilities
honorably discharged and now. In the opinion
OF medical board suffering nom diseases which could
contracted in service in their regiments or as
prisoners Of war; and are without visible means OF sup
port The rate 20 paid shall be the same as now
paid the disabilities to those who have hospital
records The maximum being for three years sef'iee
In their regiment prisoners of the ratio to be
proportion the time Of such service lnd TO De pau
from the date Of such disabilities, when snail DO es'dD
ushed by board.
s. All volunteer regimental officers who served In the
regiments three including the time
they prisoners Of war who were honoraoy as
charged without visible means OF support shall
receive onefourth the pay allowed 10 officers In the
army after they sxtyfour years old, or
proportOnste for any less period Of such service
counting the time they were aiIuant generals quar-
termasters commssaes, paymasers, surgeons or chap
lains.
g. The widow or minor child shall receive the hus
bands fathers pension, the marriage was aer al
application had been made for pension
T. On and after the passage Of this act all pensions
heretofore granted for disabilities resulting om diseases
contracted their regiments as prisoners OF
war shall in proportion the time OF service In
their respective regiments and prisoners or war
being the maximum But oay 10 those who have no
visible OF support