The National tribune., 1888-03-08
DISABILITY PENSIONS.

fnEt is Mt this time Impossible OF ATTAINMENT
IN the veto message the Presidentconstrued that
uroyision very strictly as against the claimant,
and made the phrascology one OF the main rea-
sons for his disapproval of the bill. The Senator
said:
aUnder these circumstances the members
Of the Grand Army of the Republic, viewing
this question as practical question land it is
deeply practical question TO them), met in St
Iouis last Summer and discussed this subject
with discrimination and moderation which
will not be excelled in any discussion elsewhere
in this country. As the result Of their deliber-
stions they formulated the bill introduced by
the Senator from Nebraska, not because they
thought it gives all they are entitled 20, not
because they thought It filed the measure Of
Justice to them, but because they supposed that
in the present temper Of public feeling in at
least one of the political parties of this country
il was the best thing that could be obtained
For that reason your committee, when many
Of these features which have been called to the
attention of the Senate were called to their at
tention, felt exceedingly loath to disturb the
phraseology or the principles upon which it
was placed. / differ with the Senator from
Kansas in regard to the sweeping effects of the
phrase total incapacity.' The phrase is not
Totally disabled the phrase is totally in
capacitated.' Its predicate is the man who has
not the capacity for manual labor. 1t seems
that if he undertakes it for one day he may
break down for the next three days. 1t means
that his physical system and constitution have
not the capacity to enable him to make the
continuous exertion of daily labor.
THE committee who framed the bill had given
the provisions the maturest consideration. They
had looked into the history OF pension measures
carefully and last year had sent graded pen
sion bill to the Senate, which had passed il aud
sent it to the House at the last Congress. This
was framed precisely upon the theory attempt
Z. a s,,a h. nfunah Tho
bill was ignored by the House, and the House
bill Of last Winter sent back in its place. The
Senate, with great reluctance, viewing the
course il took as the only one practicable 10
obtain relief, passed the bin, and il persisted
under Executive disapproyal."
Senator Davis did not think that the present
bill fills 10 one-tenth the measure OF justice
which the country owes 10 its defenders; yet
they have looked at il ia a business point Of
view. and have formulated something which
they have 10 be content with, because they
think il is the best aud the most they can get
that we impcril the chances Of this great meas
ure and throw il over for year, and perhaps
years to come, by doing that which, though it
may be intrnsically just, puts the biz itself
and its ultimate success N jeopardy.
Senator Plumb asked if the bin would give
pension OF Sl2 month to the man who was
bedridden.
Senator Davis said that there was no ques-
ton about it.
Senator Plumb asked if it would give the
same pension to the man who could labor five
out Of six hours each day.
Senator Davis said that these were the pre-
else questions put at the last session. 1t did
not constitute any objection to the actual gen
eral theory Of the bill that difficulties and
conuudrums might be propounded which did
not touch the philosophy or the correctness of
the bill at all.
Senator Plumb was opposed to the bill be-
cause he did not think there could be any
grading Of pensions under il, and therefore
hardly anybody would get any benefit
Senator Frye did not think THAT the bin was
mlibeTal enough. lie was not afraid of doing toe
much for the soldiers. De did not believe in
giving any soldier who was entitled to a pen
sion less than Sl2a month under any circum-
stances, and the Nation could certainly afford
10 pay any soldier who was iBeapacitated even
in the slightest degree that amount Of money.
lie did not believe il a service pension, but he
would vote that when age rendered it probable
that q soldier was incapacitated from service to
pension him.
Senator Platt was ia favor Of the best posi-
bic pension bill that II was practicable 70 get IN
his Judgment this bill would only help small
proportion Of the soldiers suffering from dis
Sbiiity.
Senator Blair gave history OF the dilficul
ties attending pension legislation in the past
lie was as anxious as anyone for more liberia
legislation Tor the soldiers, and the bill did no
come up 10 his desire but lie aud all Others
knew very Well-they had found il out in al
these past years-that 1t is utterly impossible
10 obtain legislation that the friends Of the sol
diers believe should be enacted. It is utterly
impossible TO obtain the passage Of a bin any
more liberal than the terms Of tie one which
the committee has reported. The bill bad been
devised with the greatest ingenuity, in tn,
hope that il would escape the obstacles which
gie between action on il here and It's becoming
law. There viii he 10 statute. there viii b
DO remedy Whatever, unless this III be passed
A BIZ had been passed twice By the Senat
identical in principle with the smeldmeu
proposed By Senator Plumb. il failed 20 fnee
the appreciation Of the House Of Represents
tiFes III was passed last in connection witt
the Mexican Pension 1911. which carried a serF
ice pension 10 those who bad fought for tae la
iE tie Mexican war They were largely Tt5i
DENT in the south The two bills were slui ID
the Senate 10 the House together One va
passed aud the other ignored. We elected &
&C the generous thing aud gave pension &
soldiers Of the Mexican way b. the action o
tie Senate. The other biz failed. aud t0-dI
TIE soldiers Of the JhiOu are btgging-thc DIS
abled class, not those who were provided 70
"a Mexican war pensions. aud which inc.ud
the miiiiouaires and all together-and some q
them applied Tor its benefits.
The senator took up the Presidents vet
message and discussed il. de said that TIA
present bin Is framed a. careful V aud as s;ricl
~ ~ possible % eFade the objections Of tn
President, ia the hope Of obtaining relief f
tie most needy, the most dependent. aud Oh
most suffering O. our soldiers vino are not no
provided for
The amendment proposed by Senator Plum
70 strike outtae word totally before " inc
pscitstes was agreed to; yeas p, nays %
Alter some further discussion the Senai
went into executive session and thereaft,
adjourned.
TUESDAY, FEB. o.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of q
bill ia Committee OF the Whole. the pendiI
question being the amendment added after Il
word rebellion 49, or in the war with Mey
ico, or for 80 days in any Of the wars with Il
Indians" This was agreed 10.
Senator Plumb called on some Of the Dem
cato members Of the Pension Committee f
their opinion Of the bill.
Senator Faulkner IN reply said that he "
frank to say that after careful ANALYSIS al
examination Of the provisions Of this bill in Il
committee room, he gave TO il support ia tn
committee, and when be suHasrted a bill
committee, unless some very good and satisfa
tory reasons were given ia the Senate he Won
support il in open Senate But IL the amen
Dents which have been added to the bill
the votes Of the Senate are attached aud incc
porated In 1T, when il comes 10 the final vo
upon the passage Of the bill, he would have