The National tribune., 1888-03-15

graves and drag up for abuse and Villification
men who traced with their own swords in blood,
the proudest pages of American history. Nc
Clellan aud Hancock had been denounced upon
that floor as allies of the Confederates 1t would
have been more creditable to the courage and
candor of the Senator if he had made the charge
before both of these men were dead.
Senator ingalls, replied that he had done so
often
Senator Blackburn eulogized Gems. Hancock
and Black as men who were fighting and bleed
ing for their country when the Senator from
Kansas was a Judge-Advocate of Kansas militia,
prosecuting Kansas jayhawkers for robbing
henroosts. He said that the State of Texas had
sent to Congress term after term q distinguished
Union soldier in the person of Gov. Hancock.
Arkansas had sent Union soldier to represent
her in the House. The late Governor of Vir-
ginia, q. G. Walker, was a Union soldier and
had been elected to Congress from an over
whelming Democratic district.
Senator Riddleberger said that Gilbert c.
Walker had nevet been soldier
Senator Blackburn said that he was loyal
man during the war
Senator Riddleberger denied this.
Senator Davis said that the debate had taken
an extraordinary range, and he felt called upon
TO recall the attention of the Senate TO the mat
ter under discussion. He hoped the amend
ment would be rejected and the bill allowed to
stand as 1t originally was reported: Suffering
from mental or physical disability" He said
that these comprehensive words meant that a
man should be required TO be incapacitated for
the performance of manual labor, and would
cover every case of disability.
Senator Sherman asked if the bill as reported
contained substantially the proposition of the
Grand Army
Senator Davis said that it did, and that it
had been submitted TO the Grand Army and
. sd = n
by vote of 250,000 or 25S,000.
Senator Frye said that he felt that the Grand
Army of the Republic had made fundamental
mistake, in his Judgment, in undertaking to
make a pension bill which should be satisfac-
tory to the President, which should be in COM
pllance with the statements made in his veto
message, when most of those on this side do not
believe that the President has any sympathy
whatever with the movement or with the SOL
diers. He was going to vote as the Pension
Committee desired him to, but he wanted to
enter his protest in advance.
Senator Sherman said that he believed that
the word total " should not be left in the
bill.
Senator Henderson said that in the present
pension law total disability under which a
private soldier gets s. month does not mean
that he is helpless but that his disability is TO
the extent of the loss of the use of an elbow
joint. The Pension Office had so construed it.
Senator Paddock said that he supported the
bill because the Committee took the view that
this was probably the best obtainable result,
upon the theory that half a loaf is better than
no bread.
Senator Sherman said that there were sew
eral Senators gone away who would want TO be
present when the vote was taken. He sUg-
gested that the bill be taken up as unfinished
business at 2 o'clock the next day, and con-
sidered in what is known as the Anthony rule,
which permits fve-minute speeches.
This was agreed to.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH Z.
Senator Paddock moved that the pension
bill be considered the next day Immediately
after the morning hour, which was agreed to.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8.
The Senate, as in Committee Of the Whole,
resumed consideration of the bill. and Senator
Stewart made an argument in its favor
Senator Henderson said that he should simply
seek to correct few misstatements which had
been made, notably by Senator Vest. He read
from Commissioner of Pensions Blacks report
Tor 1856, showing that that office had made q
careful investigation Of the number Of veterans
in the pcorhouses Of the country. No returns
had been made from the States of New jersey
and Delaware. The number supported in
almshouses etc, and outside of Soldiers Homes
was, IN round numbers, 5000. In every one
OF the States, with the exception of Alabama
and South Carolina, there were ex-Union sol
diers and their dependent relatives in the poor
houses. In Massachusetts, there we're sos eX-
soldiers and LIZ dependent relatives receiving
State aid. In the State of Missouri where tho
Senator had said there were no Union soldiers
IN p0orhouses, there were really 13S OK soldiers
and 81 dependent relatives in the alnshouses.
The Senator read letter from q Special Exami-
ner Of the Pension Office, who was of the same
political faith as Senator Vest, and who went
on 10 say that in each and every County OF
Missouri there were great many dependent
soldiers, heirs and minor children who are now
and have been objects Of charity, either By the
County court or by the GAR. Posts. Senator
/ Henderson had found that on the 18th day OF
October, 1887, there were Is sol ex-soidiers and
! relatives in charitable institutions and Is, 152
! IN National Homes, making a total Of Is 953 IN
/ the institutions Of the country. Another state
ment Of Senator Vest was squarely contradicted
/ by the facts. He had said that the pension
rules showed that out Of 100000 enlisted
/ men in the Federal Army 500 900 were disabled
/ by disease or by shot and SHE'LL and that nearly
1 80 per cent. Of all the men enrolled in the Fed
/ eral army were now applicants for pension, OF
1 have been. Senator Henderson said that even
4 II this were as stated by the Senator it would
| hardly form a foundation for the remark;
made; but il was not true In all there were
~ y.
not counting the many establishments, it is safe
/ TO say that there were from z, 800 900 10 $500,
! 600 enlisted during the war upon the Union
/ side. OF this number there have been apelica-
/ tons by individuals Of 6l6963 from the army
4 and II 300 from the navy making total Of
i G2e,272. There have been allowed 367.424
/ leaving 260,S46 pending. There have been
/ 304SS6 claims Of widows, minor children and
/ dependent relatives filed, Of which 240662 have
been allowed, leaving I2i,224 pending On thC
/ pensiOn-roll now are 20, AS army nyalids
! 5000 widows, minor children and dependents
/ 1921 invalid sailors and 973 navy widows
minor children and dependent relatives. SO
! instead Of there being half OF the total number
who served during the war claimants for pen
| sions or receiving pensions tho actual number
| Is but y per cent. Of the whole number that
| was engaged in that dread struggle. and not Il
! exceed 81 per cent Of both claimants aud pen.
/ siOners. Senator Mauderson said that he did
not believe that at this time majority Of tho
/ ex-soldiers OF the country are in favor of 3
/ scrYice-pcnsion bill. He would be most glad
! 20 have proper bill Of that kind passed by
/ Congress and become a law, but be did mol
1 think that the time was yet ripe for it. He
/ denied that this was q seFVice-pension bin any
/ further than any bill must be which has in i
! the ingredient Of service. He had no doubt
! that the great majority Of soldiers of the coun.
] try would desire 10 60 further than the proyis-
ions OF the bill. He desired TO, but he did not
think il practicable or wise to urge bill thai
went further
Senator Hoar made short, but very telline