Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-10-25

credit for this as Democratic measure.
The facts are that the bill, II. R. 423i, was
introduced by Mr.. Cummings, q Republican
from Iowa, June 10 ;s7S and on motion of Mr.
| Haskell Republican from Kansas, the Com
mittec on Invalid Pensions was discharged
from its further consideration, and it was taken
up for action It passed the House by vote of
164 yeas To 81 nays Every Republican vote re-
corded is IN It's favor, and every vote against it
| is that OF Democrat. AS q party question the
/ record shows the Democrats to be against it
| 4S having voted Tor it and 81 against it. What
ever OF credit or of blame, therefore, attaching
| TO the Arrears act belongs TO the Republicans
| In the Forty-eighth Congress, March l. 1884
| the House passed bill to pen ion the suryiv-
| ing soldiers OF the Mexican war and their wild
| ows by vote OF 227 20 81. The Republican SEN
| ate amended this bin by adding sections max
ing further provisions for disabled and depend
! ent soldiers of the civil wsr-increasing the
pensions Of widows from s. TO al per month
| continuing pensions 20 children above sixteen
! years Of age when they were helpless, provid-
| ing that fathers and mothers should only be re-
! Quired to show present dependence instead of
| dependence at the date of the sons death.
Thirty-one Senators voted for these amend
ments all Republicans, and twenty-seven Sen
| ators voted against them. all Democrats. On
the return of the bill TO the House it failed OF
consideration By Democratic opposition. On a
! motion to suspend the rules TO take up and
pass the bill, seventy-1ive Republicans and fifty
two Democrats voted in the Affirmative. and
| eighty-four Democrats and one Repubi an in
the negative, the motion being lost because
two-third. were required TO carry it.
In the Forty-rinth Congress the Mexican War
| Service and the Dependent Soldiers bills were
passed separately to satisfy Democratic de-
mands. The reason OF this demand was soon
apparent. The two bills were passed on the
same day, and President Cleveland promptly
signed the one and vetoed The other.
The Mexican Service Act pensioned all survi-
vors and their widows who were sxty-two
years Of age: all who had any physical or men
tai disability without reference TO age or origin,
and even rebels who had borne arms against
the Nation. But poor Union soldiers, who by
reason OF age, disease or accident had found
their way to the poor house, could have no re-
lief with Democratic consent. On the passage
of this Dependent bill in the House. liz Repub-
licans and 63 Democrats voted for it, while the
76 votes against it were all Democratic On
the attempt in the House to pass it on the
veto, 49, Republicans aud So Democrats voted
for it, and 1875 votes, all Democrats, were re-
corded against it; and il failed for want OF two
thirds
DEMOCRATS HOSTILE TO PENSION LEGISLATION.
But the action, or rather the refusal, to act
upon the part OF the Democratic party in the
present Congress (Fiftieth) speaks more plain
any further legislat 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 (of which the
Speaker is chairman) when that committee is
sustained by the party having control OF the
organization OF the House. They fix days for
the consideration of bills reported from the
several committees and no legislation can
be considered in any other way or at
any other time except on suspension
days, j. 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 bill is limited and a two-thirds vote
is required to pass it. The Committee on Rules
has so far this session refused to support res
olution fixing q time for the consider. ton OF
bills reported by the Committee on Invalid Pen
sions
Early in April a resolution was introduced in
the House and referred to the Committee on
Rules setting apart two days to be devoted ex-
clusively to the consideration of such pension
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
a
signed by one hundred and forty members
was presented to them asking for a favorable
report upon that resolution. By q unani-
nous vote the Republicans in their caucus
requested this committee to assign a 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 industr:ously engaged in
considering and narfectinO neas llras In the TO-
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 -xcep-
tons 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 if it were allowed to
vote upon them. With but a 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 the
deaf simply gives to this unfortunate class.
who are doomed TO eternal silence, who are shut
out from all the more important vacations 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 surrounding them. or listen to the innocent
pratte of their little ones. a pension common
surate with their disability and affords o 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
hrav rnan ybn ndorr- opfl
greater privations and endured more terrible
suierings than any other class OF their CON-
rades. They were animated by q spirit of de-
voted loyalty to their country In every vicissi
tude. and grandly chose a lingering death by
starvation rather than renounce their allegiance
TO the old flag.
Another bill proposes to increase the pen
sfons of that very small but sadly afflicted
class numbering but a 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
emit 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 me sure proposes to abolish the IN
just discrimination which exists in the present
law, by which a portion Of the totally helpless
now receive but s55 per month. while others, no
more unfortunate, receive So, 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 our |
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 inhospitable alms-houses and other chart