The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-08
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

MONDAY, FEB. g.
The consideration of the pension bill was re-
sumed on Monday, beginning with the amend
ment proposed by the Senate Committee on
Pensions, TO strike out the words or have
been," in the clause relating to the pension
claims of dependentparents. This would make
it only necessary TO say that the parent or
parents are now without other means of sup
port than their own manual labor, or the con-
tribution of others not legally bound for their
support" This aneqdment was agreed TO, as
was also another providing that all pensions-to
such dependent parents shall commence from
the date of the passage of the act or the date of
subsequent dependence, and shall continue no
longer than the existence Of such dependence.
Senator Berry moved to amend the next
clause by the addition of the words " and VINO
are dependent on their daily labor for support"
This would make the clause in question read
as follows:
That all persons who served three months or
more IN the military or naval service of the United
States during the late of the rebellion, and who
have been honorably discharged theTefrOm, aud
who who may hereafter be suffering
from mental or physical disability, not the result Of
their own vicious habits which totally incapaci-
tates them from the performance Of manual labor
and who are dependent on their daily labor for
support, shall, upon making due proof of the fact
according TO such rules and regulations as the Sec
retaTy Of the Interior may provide be placed upon
the list OF invalid pensioners OF the United States
pension shall commence from the date of the filing
of the application in the Pension Office, after the
passage of This act, upon proof that the disability
then existed, and shall continue during the exist
ence of the same in the degree herein specified.
Senator Berry said that as he understood 1t,
the bill was not service-pensiOn bill, but its
object and purpose was to prevent those who
served in the Union army and have since be-
come disabled from any cause, from becoming
charges upon the public and being confined in
81 4. EI.u II. L
that the pension should be given to those who
are dependent upon their own labor, and any
one who has sufficient income to support him
self should not receive its benefits.
Senator Davis said he had no objection to the
amendment For his part he thought it was
correct He offered an amendment to the
amendment to strike out the word daily" so
as to make the phrase read and who are de-
pendent upon their labor for support"
Senator Blair suggested that the amendment
be in these words: "And who are without ade-
quate means of support" The present Ian
guage would make it necessary that the bene-
fcary should be an absolute pauper to the
absence of single cent
Senator Blar's amendment was agreed to-
Senator Berry objected to the amendment, as
the word adequate" might mean great deal
to one person, but very much less to another.
Senator Hoar questioned whether, if man
have some trifing income, say two or three
dollars, this would not deprive him of the ben
eft of the law.
After some further discussion the amendment
was adopted; yeas 20, nays %.
Senator Plumb moved to strike out the word
"totally" before the word "incapacitates"
He believed that under the present phraseology
all would be excluded unless they were on their
backs in bed.
Senator Berry objected to striking out the
word " totally" for that would make it practi-
caIly service pension bill. as all men who
served in the army 25 years ago are to cer-
tain extent incapacitated for manual labor.
Senator Manderson did not agree with the
construction Of the bin by Senator Berry, if it
should be amended as proposed by Senator
Plumb He was opposed to any material
| changes in the wording of the bill Under the
| pension laws and the rules of the Pension Of
| fee, totally incapaeitated" simply means that
the incapacity is equal in extent to the entire
| loss of an elbow, Joint 1t does not mean that
q man cannot labor at all. He was in hearty
sympathy with the efforts of Senator Plumb to
| obtain such a law which viii prevent the farce
that we see every day of the allowances to dis
abled veterans of sums ranging from So down
to 81 month; that sort of construction Of the
law which gives to the man who is declared to
be disabled and proper recipient the sum OF
| $1.25, 81. so or 81. .66 per month.
Senator Evarts did not favor Senator Plumb'a
grading of compensation. He thought that
whoever takes under this we'll l-guarded section
should have at least $12 month.
Senator Platt held to the same view.
Senator Davis said that Senator Plumb's
| amendment, and the one which he suggested
would follow it, are matters which have been
discussed in every consideration of this ques-
tion for several years. For his part, he was ex-
ceedingly anxious to see the bill passed which
would receive the Executive approval. and
which would be open to mono of the objections
which were taken to the bill by the President
last year, and he much preferred to give his
support to the bill of that character than to en-.
| danger the whole scheme in the endeavor tc
| amend that which, though it may be strictly
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