The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-25
How Matson Sought to Save the Admins
istration and Hoodwink the G. Ar.
A Piece of Political Trickery Which Has Re-
suited in the Practical Defeat of the PEN
sion Bill Prepared by the Grand Army.
congressman Try to Reach Agreement
Concerning the Party Conventions.
Condition of Winter Grain in Indiana. as
Shown by Reports TO the Agricultural
Bureau-0ther Washington Items.


THE sHIFTY nrATsoN.
His scheme for Saving the Administration
and HoodwinktnE She Grand Army.
Washington Special to New York Press
The House pensions committee under the
lead of the shifty Mr.. Matson. Of Indiana, seem
to have wrecked the Grand Army pension bill
just as effectually as If they had given it adj
verse report The bill was passed by the Sem
ate substantially as recommended by the Grand
Army, and should have been reported and con-
sidered by the House at least as early in the
session. It was not acted upon in the committee.
however, until the Democrats saw what the
Senate had done with it. and then they sent
their own hypocritical measure TO the calendar,
where it will be used to prevent the passage OF
any bill
Several Democrats of the committee are
blamed for this attempt to hoodwink the Grand
Army, but the general understanding is that
the plan was evolved by Mr. Matson himseis-
He. in any event, is responsible for it. and he
now is the chief apologist for the unfortunate
position of the bill
His position is peculiar and difficult. year
or two ago he took il into his head to run for
Governor of Indiana, and he has since that time
been running the invalid pensions committee
fore the fact. IL the campaign needed any
assistance from the committee. the committee
always ready to hand it out. and il the
campaign was likely TO be hurt by the commit
tees action. the committee, with equal COM
plaisance. held its bills back. The combination
was satisfactory IL 1t had not been that Demo-
cratic candidates must serve two masters. Not
only the constituents. but the administration,
were to be regarded, and in this case. In his
effort to make himself friends with both, the
candidate sold out his constituents interests.
Last year, when Mr.. l1atson brought the de-
pendent pension bill up 70 the House, the Sem
ate had different measure, and the indications
hat fhar0 Hnr1lA hA a M
bills fail to pass. In that case he was safe in
making loud fight for the House bill, which
successful that the bill went through
with plenty of votes to spare. Matters looked
very promising for the candidate. who expected
to blame the Republican Senate with the failure
of the bill, when suddenly the Senate whirled
their own measure out Of the way and took up
and passed the Matson bill. The Presidents
vetoed it, as everybody knows and the unfor-
tunate MIR. Matson had TO take sides against the
administration, and feeby struggled TO defeat
the veto. In spite of bis efforts, however, tho
veto stood. and the unpleasant fght-for DEM
ocratic candidates--was renewed In this Con.
In this struggle Mr.. Matson's position is much
worse than before, for both sides have given
him notice what they propose 60 do about chs
bill The President has vetoed it once, which
indicates that the adminiStration's friendship is
not to be gained by supporting II, while the
mously. has said plainly thatit In just the bill
they want. Some resourceless individuals
might have Thoughts it was necessary in such q
pinch to make a choice Sstween the two posi-
tions, but the mind of the candidate was too
fertile IN expedients for that. He developed
plan by which the administration could be
sustained and the Grand Army fooled 1T the
same time, and 1t is its result which now has
the bill hanging MP, disfgured and certain 60 be
lost. Mr. Cleveland will not have to veto IT. be-
cause if the plan don't miscarry it will get
to him, while the Grand Army is supposed 90 be-
happy over the failure, because it SYSTEMATICALLY
processes to give them more than they asked
for.
The committee report which accompanies the
bill is made particularly soothing TO the Grand
Army. 1t gives as a reason for the change the
objection of old soldiers to confess themselves
dependent and incspacitatei in order to secure
the pension. and then goes on to explain that:
''The committee has adopted substitute for
Rad section, which recognizes the wish Of the
soldiers in this regard. and instead Of pension
of $12 per month to those who are totally inca
pacltated for the performance of manual labor,
provides that the pension for such persons shall
be at the rate per month of one cent for each
days service. In other words. apply what
are totally disabled, and that without regard to
dependence. We go further and beyond that
asked by the Grand Army of the Repu blic, and
provide the same kind of pension to all who are
now sixty two years of age. and to all who shall
become sixty-two Years OF age from and
after that period, during their natural
cheerfully give recognition to the
ifestly just principle of pensioning soldier
for his service according TO his service. ~The
objection may be made that some who are now
needy do not receive at this rate enough to give
them entire relief from their impoverished con-
dition, and yet the fact remains that each is
pensioned nc the same rate according to ha
service. And. IL one receives not enough. 1t is
because he did not serve long enough. and can.
he be heard to complain if he gets just rate,
equal TO his feow-soldiers. and for the remain
der of the lrelef necessary TO his support, he
shall be allowed, other citizens must to ac-'
cept the charity of the local authorities. Those
who served during the whole war would. at ths
rate, get more than is provided in the Senate
bill for them"
In othar vvords the ranocrat. ~ +Sa covnvn;k.
tee understand so much better what the Grand
Amy wants than IL does itself that it risks the
defeat of their acknowledged bill in order to
make very doubtful fight for another one
Congressmen interested in pension legislation
regard both bills as hopeless now, and condemn
uDsparingly the political trickery which tries 70
curry favor with the old soldiers while really
saving the Dem mocratic party from the misfortune
of tho displeasure of the administration.