The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-10-25

licans ana q Democrats voted Tor II, while tho
% votes against Il worn III Democratic. On
the attempt IN the House to pass It on the
veto, 137 Republicans and 88 Democrats voted
for II, and l26 votes, all Democrats, were 10.
corded against 1t; and it failed for want Of two
thirds.
DEMOCRATS HOSTILE 10 PENSION LEGISLAT1ON.
But the action, or rather the refusal, to act
upon tho part OF the Democratic party in the
present Congress Fiftieth) speaks moro plain
~ than ever Of their determination to prevent
any further legtsat on In behalf Of the veterans
OF the late war. The control OF the legislation
OF the House Of Representatives rests entirely
! with the Committee on Rules Got which tho
| Speaker is chairman) whom that committee 10
| sustained by the party having control of the
| organization of the House. They fix days for
the consideration of bills reported from tho
several committees, and no legislation can
be considered in any other way or at
| any other time except on suspension
| days, I. e., the first and third Mondays Of
each month, or by the unanimous consent of all
| the members present. The Speaker decides
absolutely and without any restriction what
measures may be considered upon suspension
days, as he can recognize or refuse to recognize
any member who moves to take up any meas
| ure. Under the rules on suspension days de.
| bate on q bill is limited and two-thirds vote
| Is required to pass it. The Committee on Rules
has so far this session refused to support res
olution fixing time for the consideration Of
bills reported by the Committee on Invalid Pen.
sions.
! Early in April q resolution was introduced In
| the House and referred to the Committee on
Rules, setting apart two days to be devoted ex-
l ~ i'm NJ ot1n
bills as that committee might determine to
bring before the House. Repeated appeals
have been made to that committee to report
that resolution to the House so that
| vote could be taken upon 1t. A petition
signed by one hundred and forty members
was presented to them asking for favorable
| report upon that resolution. BY q unani-
nous vote the Republicans in their caucus
| requested this committee to assign o reasona-
BILE time to the Committee on Invalid Pensions
| for the consideration OF such bill reported by
them as they might choose to present For
five months the Committee on Invalid Pensions
| has been actively and industriously engaged in
considering and perfecting measures for the re-
lief OF the surviving soldiers of the war OF the
rebellion and their widows and orphans. More
| general bills have been referred to them than
to any other committee in the House. More
| than one hundred and fifty bills of general
character have been presented for their consid-
GRAFTON. After weeks of careful examinations
| OF the different measures the committee have
reported twelve bills, and with but two excep-
lions the reports have been up on the unani-
nous vote Of the committee, and the most OF
them would doubtless receive favorable con.
sideratiOn in the House IL it were allowed to
vote upon them With but q single exception
| the amount Of money required to carry out their
prov sions would be small, and the objects
sought to be obtained are demanded by every
principle OF justice and equity.
| MEASURES BEFORE THE HOUSE.
The bill to increase the rate of pension to tho
deaf simply gives to this unfortunate class
| who are doomed to eternal silence, who are shut
| out from all tho more important vocations OF
life, who are deprived Of the priceless privilege
OF communing with their loved ones in the Or
binary way, who can never enjoy the sweet mu
sic sur ounding them. or listen to the innocent
prattle OF their little ones. q pension common
| surate with their disability. and affords relief
| that ought long since to have been granted
them.
The measure for the relief of the ex-prisoners
| OF war does but scant and tardy justice to that
heroic band of brave men, who underwent
| greater privations and endured more terrible
| suflerings than any other class OF their COM
| rades. They were animated by spirit of de-
voted loyalty to their country in every vicissi.
| tude. and grandly chose q lingering death by
starvation rather than renounce their allegiance
| to the old flag.
Amulet UAIA pTOpOScS 10 Increase inc pen
| s1ons OF that very small but sadly afflicted
| class, numbering but n score, and SO soon to
| pass that bourne where the conflict of arms is
never heard-the old veterans who lost both
| arms in the defense Of their country.
Another provides for bereaved fathers and
mothers who are now dependent, but were not
dependent when the son died, and for depend.
| ent widows Of soldiers even in cases where the
husbands death can not be technically traced
| to wounds or disease contracted in army SER
vice.
Another e'sure proposes to abolish the I'M
| just discrimination which exists in the present
| law, by which portion OF the totally helpless
now receive but &55 per month, while others, no
| more unfortunate, receive 81, giving them all
| the same rating
The measure which has as much merit as any,
and one demanding the most urgent action. pro-
vides for the large and increasing class OF orr
country's sturdy defenders who, as old age
comes creeping upon them find themselves no
longer able to provide the necessary means Of
subsistence and are compelled to seek refuge in
the inhospttable aims houses and other chari-
! table institutions Of the country, or accept
support from the hands of relatives and friends,
sometimes sorely burdened to provide for their
own necessities.
The most important bill reported from the
! committee, taking into consideration its cost.
is that repeating the Arrears act and placing all
| soldiers OF the late war upon an equal footing
That those who went forth from the same homes,
enlisted in the same companies, performed the
same services. fought side by side on the same
| battlefields, followed the same flag through the
| same long and weary marches, experienced the
| same privatiOnS, suffered fr m similar wounds
| and diseases, should receive the same consider
atoms at the hands Of the Government is a
proposition the justice of which none will deny.
The other bills reported from the committee
while they arc, so far as the cost involved is
concerned C0mnarafive1v i'm
manifest irregularities and njustices in the pres.
emit laws. All of these measures are now Eend-
ing on the House calendar but can not be con-
sidered by that body on account of the auto
cratic exercise OF power by the Committee on
| Rules, which refuses to allow the representa-
tives OF the people to discuss measures that
| majority OF them heartily approve.
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES.
Every soldier in this country ought to know
that the responsibility for the failure Of prompt
| and adequate pension legislation rests upon
the majority OF the Committee on Rules, and
| upon the party which controls the organization
OF the House, and which made that committee
The Democratic members of that body can
any day, aye, any hour, pass any pension bill
| now reported to the House which they choose to
do Nota Republican member upon that floor
will make the slightest objection to fair con-
sideration OF any measure for the relief Of the
brave men who saved this co ntry from disrup-
tion and who made it possible for us TO enjoy
the prosperity which surrounds us; who in fact
gave us the overt1owing treasury which now
causes so much needless alarm and which would
be speedily relieved of q portion Of its surplus
were justice done them. Let every man who wore
the blue during the late war, then, understand
| that the Democratic party alone Is responsible
for the failure of Congress to pass measures for
their relief 1t is highly probable that. yielding
to the growing demand for tho enactment of fu-
ture pension legislation they will consent to the
passage of some Of the more unimportant bills;
but it seems equally certain that no time will
be set apart for the discussion of such meas
ures and consideration of such bills only as
they select will be allowed, and this only on
suspension days, when no amendments can be
made and when debate is practically cut of,