The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-21
DEMOCRATIC REFORM
Shown Up in Its True Light by
Congressman Henderson.
THE PENSION BILL PISSED
Amer Debate in Which General
Blacks Method is a Fruitful Topic.
Pensions Granted That We're
Not Applied For.


The House concurred in the Senat
amendments to the Military Academ!
bill and the bill was passed.
The Indian Appropriation bill cam,
up as unfinished business, the pending
question being the motion to strike ou
the appropriation to pay the ChoctaN
Judgment. The motion was lost and tho
bill passed. 49,
The House then went into Commit
tee OF the Whole on the Pension Appro
priation bill.
Mr.. Henderson, OF Iowa, in speaking
to the bill alluded to the recent action
OF tho House in regard to the purchase
OF bonds with the surplus in order tC
dispel the doubts in the mind OF the
President us to his authority to purchase
bonds, such authority having been con
ferred in an appropriation bill. In ex'
amining the arrears of the pension act
it would be found that there was no
limitation us to the time when claims
should bo filed. The only limitation
ever placed upon that act was found in
an appropriation bill. He felt Ito be his
duty to call the attention OF the
to this fact, forifthe Pres
ident had trouble in buying bonds with
the surplus he should have equal diff
Guilty in not allowing arrears ofpensions.
II the President could not with an ex-
preston OF opinion from the House 50
into the market and buy bonds he had
no right, ifhe was logical and consistent,
to withhold arrearages Of pensions. He
appealed TO the President to be Consis-
tent and come up like little man and
allow arrears OF pensions to the boys
who filed their claims under the provi-
sions OF the act.
He then referred TO the administra-
ton OF the Mexican pension law by the
pension office. So rapid was the pension
bureau, he said, in recognizing claims
under this law that pensions were allow
ed before the, claimant ever put in his
claim, and certificates were issued when
the beneficiary did not know he was n
claimant. In proof OF this assertion, ho
sent to the clerks desk aud had read an
article in Chicago paper to the effect
that Commissioner Black had issued Il
pension certificate to cx-Congrcssman
Col. W. K. Morrison, Notwithstanding
that he was informed that Mr.. Morri-
sons name did not appear on the list OF
applications, and he hadIreturled 1t,
stating that he had never applied for o
pension.
Mcdonald, OF Nlinnesota-Would Mr..
Morrison have refused it il he had been
u Republican?
Mr.. Henderson, do not know how
that might be, but this do know, that
Colonel Morrison never asked for a
certificate, and II my friend were as seN-
sitive about the administration of tho
Pension Office us he is eager to be smart
ho would give attention to the matter
before the House.
Mr.. McDOnald-1 am smart enough TO
say that it is not true.
Mr.. Henderson-l am smart enough to
say that ii is true, and ! ask the clerk TO
read the copy Of the letter from Col,
Morrison.
The letter was from Col. Morrison TO
the Chicago Pension Agent, returning
the certificate ofpension and stating that
he was at loss to know how it had
been issued, rs he had taken no steps to
obtain it and did not contemplate taking
any steps. .
Mr, 0uthwaite, of ohio-You said
that pension certificates were issued.
You say the plural, viii you prove
another one? lam anxious yep should
keep to the truth.
Mr.. Henderson-I want the truth
from your pious commissioner who start
ed out in the administration OF his office
by charging against a faithful officer, a
brother officer, who left mart OF his body
on the battle field (Col, Dudley that
during his administration the pension
office from turret to foundation was used
for political purposes, 49,.
Mr.. 0uthwaite-Did he not provo it2
Mr.. Henderson-No, never. Now that
same gentleman stands convicted on
authority OF violating the
terms OF the law and swiftly issuing n
certificate to Democratic chief who was
too high and too clean to become party
to the transaction. This man who en-
tered upon the discharge OF his duty
with Heaven erected face like u saint is
caught in u Democratic trap. He has
got lower down in struggling for politi-
cal influence than any bureau officer l
have evOr known,
MIR, Form, of Ohio, In referring to Mr.,
Hcnderson's remarks relative 10 tho
Presidents doubt Us to his authority to
purchase bonds, congratulated the coun-
try that it had n Chief Executive who
was over scrupuious rather than reck-
less in his Interpretation OF the law. 1t
might,bc true, as the gentleman said, that
claims under the Mexican pension act
were rushing rapidly, hut it must he re,
membered that this was n service pen!
sion act and the applicant had
only to prove TINT he served in the
Mexican war and was over 09 years old
As matter OF course such claims could
be rapidly passed upon. The general
debate having closed, Mr.. Conger, oi
Michigan offered an amendment pro
yiding that in all cases Of pensions to
widows, payment shall be made from
the date OF the death OF their hushands
Adopted. The committee then rose aud
tho bill, which appropriated $50, ,2SO,O 600
was passed.
The River and Harbor bill then came
up for general debate. After considers
BE discussion and without makiug any
progress the committee rose and the
House took n recess until 7;S0, the
evening Rcssion TO be for the considera'
ton Of private pension bills.
To-day was the one hundredth day ol
the present session. The total number
Of bills and resolutions introduced in
the Senate and House up to this date i
l2,5GS, exceeding by more than 2,00(
tho number presented in the first l0C
days OF the last Congress. So far the
House hns passed 1926 bills and the Sen
ate SSl, and Isl. House bills and "a Sen
etc bills have been sent to the President
for his approval.
AFlno Club House Damaged.
WASHINGTON, D. O., April 2O.-Firt
broke out in the top story Of the Metro