National Republican., 1888-03-09
TIE SENATE DOES ITS DUTY,
AND PASSES THE MUCH. DISCUSSED DE-
PENDENT PENSION BILL.
Fourteen OF the "Unregenerate" Vote
in Opposition TO tho nieasure-Two
Of the House Committees Argue q
Question OF Jurisdiction.

sented and referred In the Senate yesterday
was one said to have over 100000 sigma
tures from thirty-three states and terri
tories against the admission Of Utah as a
state so long as Its people are under the
control Of the Mormon priesthood,
Among the bills reported and placed on
the calendar were the following;
To provide for a joint celebration at the
r ;ional capital by the sixteen American
republics In honor Of the centennial Of the
parent republlc-the United States.
The Senate then resumed consideration
Of the bills granting pensions to ex-soldiers
and sailors who incapacitated for the
performance = manual labor, and pro-
viding for pensions to dependent relatives
of deceased soldiers and sailors, the ques-
uo- being Oh the amendment offered by
Mr.. Wilson, OF Iowa, to add the words
"tbe infrmities Of age"
Mr.. Stewart replied to the remark Of
Mr.. Sherman two days ago, on the silver
decentralization question.
Mr.. Manderson replied to some OF the re-
marks made by Senator Vest last week,
particularly as to there being no federal
eX eOldiers, or confederate soldiers either,
In almshouses In Missouri. He quoted
from report Of the commissioner Of
ber1SS7, there were in Missouri almshouses
1888 ex Uiion soldiers and 62 dependent
relatives, and In the whole United States
1856 ex soldiers and 4,945 dependent rela-
tives--in all 81 sol. In addition there we're
in national soldiers homes 15,152 inmates,
making total Of 36,053 ex- soldiers and
their dependents, who were dependent on
the charitable institutions. In contradic-
tion of Mr.. Vest's statement that 80 per
cent of the number OF those enrolled dur
iDgtb war were either pensioners or ap-
plicants for pensone, he showed that there
were 367,424 invalid pensions granted, and
240,662 for widows, children, or dependent
relatives; In other words, that there were,
Of pensioners and claimants, not over "a
per cent. Of the whole number enlisted.
Mr.. Hoar spoke In favor Of the bill. He
said that the state OF Massachusetts had ex-
pended over 900 900 In aid OF pensions,
and argued that that fact demonstrated that
the pension system had been inadequate,
insufficient, too economical. That one
fact Itself was conclusive and demonstra-
tive answer to any suggestion that the PEN
sion legislation had been wasteful, extra
VACANT or unreasonable,
Mr.. Hawley spoke In favor Of the bill.
He eulogized the Grand Army OF the Re-
public as an order that carried out fully
the principle Of its motto, "Fraternity,
Charity and Loyalty"
It was not political organization, hav-
Ing among its Leading men several dis
tinguished Democrats, OF whom he men
toned Gen. Slocum. The bill was simply
an attempt to give immediate relief to a
class OF ex-soldiers whose condition ap-
peals to every one. It seemed to him that
unanimous consent would be given, by the
people OF the whole country TO their relief.
He believed the bill to be practical, sensible,
and patriotic. He quoted Gen. Grant as
saying (the very last time that he was at
the capitol): "If / were to be President
again would sign any reasonable bill to
prevent the sufferings Of a soldier or his
family, no matter what they arise from, and
any able-bodied man." He (Mr. Hawley)
stood upon that. He would vote against
any and every amendment to the BILL, be-
lievipg that as It came from the committee
1t was simple, straightforward measure Of
immediate relief to real sufferers.
Mr.. Dawes stated the difficulties which
he felt in voting (at the desire Of the com
mittee on pensions) against amendments
which he favored. He could not do so;
and would therefore support Mr.. Wilson'S
amendment. II
Mr.. Wilson, pfl Iowa, said that so firmly
was he convinced that the class which
would be included within the benefits of
the bill by his amendment would be ex-
cluded without IL, he would vote for 1t even
II be voted alone.
The question was taken, and Mr.. Wilson's
amendment was rejected-yeas Is, nays AZ
as follows:
YEAR Allison, Bowen. Chace, 6ullom,
Ppa,wes RSlph HiscSsE Ih%S1Is % MITCHELL
NAys.-Aldrich, Bate. Berry, Blackburn,
Blair, Blodgett Brown, Butler, Call, Cameron,
Chandler. Cockrell. Coke, Colquitt, Daniel.
man, Gray, Hampton, Harris, Hawley, Hearst,
Jones of Ark, Mcpherson. Manderson, Nor.
rill, Paddock, Pascoe, Ransom, Reagan, sanls.
Turpie, Vance, Waiihs.il, Wilson Of Md.--IS.
Tbebill was then reported back from the
committee Of thejwhole, and the amend
ments thereinagr to;were voted on.
The first vote was on. the amendment
offered by MIR. Call to make the bill apply
TO those who servedin thewar with Mexico
or (for thirty days. in any ofithe vans with
Indian tribes. The amendment was re-
jected-yeas 81, nays 37-as follows;
YEAs-Bate, Berry, Blackburn, Brown. But
Ter, Call. Coke, Daniel. c'nh. KuStis, George
Mitchell, Pascc, Ret ga nee Voorhees,
NATsnA;dfich, All,ao,, eek. Blair, Bloa
Geit, Gamf frop, ChSce, Lhst,.leT, Cocsreili
Phefson, Manderson, Morrill,. Paddocf, Pal
mer, Payne, Plat, Riddleoerger. salisbury
SssEEs resa shsT% %aps Wilson q ioS wilson sHa
ofMd..-s7
The next vote was on Mr.. Plumb'l
amendment striking ont the word "totally'
before the word ''incapseitated.n
Mr.. Davis Tin charge Of the blll) argued
against the amendment and In favor OF re
taining the word "totally.n =.
Mr.. Platt said that while he would
gladly follow the advice Of the commit
tee, be could not surrender his indepen
dent iudgmentinthematter. They were toll
The said) that the bill had to "run the gaunt
let." and, therefore, they were to TAXI
the bill as reported by the committee, al
In the days Of Indian atrocities
captives were occasionally given thl
chance oflife by s'running the rauntlet'
through row Of sayages with war clubs
scalping knives and tomahawks; so thil
bill had to be @smitten and thrust at, and
brainedj II II did not conform to thstw
habd cen laid down outside the Senate, a
the limits Of the bill.
Mr.. Teller argued In favor OF the amend
ment and protested against the attempted
coercion Of senators by threats OF veto
He would vote on his own judgment, in
dependent OF all such considerations.
Mr.. Blair declared himself perfectly will
ing to have 1t understood that he was 81
cowardly as to submit to coercion In votius
for something tangible and practicable TO
the relief OF ex-soldiers. He was no
worried about his record on pension legis
lation.
Mr.. Dawes complained Of the treatmen
OF the bill by Its professed friends. 1t ha(
been hawked at and rent to pieces b.
amendmsAs which had In them the ele
ments OF destruction. The committee ha(
not framed the bill; had not originated 1t
The bill had come to the committee unde
the sacred guise Of the right Of petition
from more than onehali Of the survivors o
the war. They ad asked for what the
thought they could get. They had know
that they were entitled to more than tn
present state Of political sentiment and Q