Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-01
POLITICS IN THE SENATE.
A Lively Debate ON the Dcpcnden,
Pensions Bill.
THE SOLDIER VOTE IN THE COMING CoNTEsT-xR.
VESTS SARCASTIC RENARKs-MR PLUMB's EULoGY
OF THE UNION VETERANS.


VESTS SARCASTIC RKxARKs-MR PLUxBs EuLoaY
OF THE UNION VETERANS
The Senate had very lively discussion over the
dependent pensions bill late yesterday afternoon.
| The most prominent part was taken by Mr. Vest,
| who made long speech In opposition to the bill
| In the course or the debate Mr. Plumb delivered
| glowing eulogy on the Union Army ana said that
when the war closed the Army could have placed
one Of the leaders at the head Of the Government
| and could have dictated its own terms, but had
asked nothing except TO be permitted to disband
and return TO peaceful avocations.
Mr. Vest said he would give to every disabled or
dependent soldier Of the Federal Army, and the
widows and orphans Of those who had lost their
lives in the service the last acre OF land and the
last dollar. He would have done the same for the
cause" He had voted for pension bills. coerced by
| his position, because he had been a Confederate
| and because he was honestly anxious for the
had reached the limit. or the 100000 men en-
| rolled as soldiers during the four years OF war;
on account Of disability such military execution.
! he said, had never been known tn the history Of
the world. The Confederates had thought that
| they had poor powder and ordnance stores, and
yet making due allowance for the effect OF climate
in producing disability, It would appear that one
Confederate soldier hall clothed and half led had
disabled three OF his adversaries. There had been
| no such destruction In military annals since the
children OF Israel marched through the wilderness
Workmanship OF the Persian prince in the sara
bian Knights" whose arrows crossed mountains
been nothing TO that Of the Confederate Soldiers
His bullet must have hit two Or more at the same
time.
PRESIDENTIAL AsPIRANrs on THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
Continuing, Mr.. Vest said he had great regard
for many OF his friends the opposite side of the
chamber, and In the words which he had spoken
he had wished to give an opportunity to some OF
them who had lurked back In the contest over the
bill to throw his shining lance among 'the Con-
federate brigadiers," and Try to carry of the re-
publican nomination for the presidency A recent
dispatch from Paris had caused political candl-
dates 10 become thick las leaves in Vallambro-
Sa.' Before that dispatch had come under the
yeasty waves of the ocean the republican party
had been In the condition Of the man who, having
gone home some hours before his usual time In the
morning, and having been asked why he had gone
home so soon, replied that every other place in
town was shut up. The doors or the republican
party were now open, and presidential candidates
were coming TO the front Without limit as to guam
some days past in political auction for the SOL
diers' vote First had come his friend from Ne
oraska Mr. Mandersonl, backed by the Grand
Army OF the Republic Even that Senator's
FILINGS AT THE PRESIDENT
OF the United states had not detracted from the
general merit OF his bid for the soldier VOTE and
when he received a ioral tribute as token Of re-
gard from his admiriug constituents behind him
he Alr VeSp had but one suggestion to make, and
that was that the lilies should have been embrOi-
dered over the portals or the White House. That
was the object OF all the debate OF all the bidding
for the soldier vote OF the country in the coming
contest. When the Senator from Nebraska TOOK
his seat he (Mr. VesD had thought that the bid
was In his favor But that the present occupant
OF the chair. the Senator IRON Maine (Mr. Frye,
had ''caught tie eye or the auctioneer'-the
Grand Army OF the Republic-and had 'gOne one
better; that senator was prepared TO vote pen
sion To every man who had served day in the
Federal Army. He (Mr. Nest) Was about to knock
DOWN The prize TO the senator from Maine when
his friend from Kansas (Mr. Plumb) came to the
front and Outbid the senator from Maine by an
amendment TO the bill which would increase the
expenditure under il NIFTY or seyenty-fve million
dollars. lie (Mr. vesD Had then been strongly of
opinion that the auction should close and the
pr1z" be given TO the Senator from Kansas, but
Then the senator from Illinois (Mr. CullOm) had
come TO the front and made a bid from that great
prairie state which had staggered his (Mr. Vests
since that time he had been in a condition OF anx-
leiy, waiting to hear from other bidders in the
great national auction.
ALLISON, SHERMAN, AND INGALLS,.
Mr.. Vest said that the senate had not yet heard
from his ducet-tOngued friend from Iowa (Alli-
som. who had kept his seat and merely nodded ac-
quieScence TO the most extreme propositions for
The beneflt OF the eX-Solders. Nor had the senate
yet heard from the distinguished Senator from
ONO tShtrman), who, in such a contest, ought GER
tainly TO come To The front and bid something Tor
the vote which candidates thoughU was to deter
mine the contest. Neither nad the senate yet
heard from the presiding officer (Mr. Ingalsl, who
had been nominated by the District OF Columbia
and every one knew that the District OF Columbia
only acted from the most dlsinterested and u.sel-
nsh motives. He (Mr. VeSt) would rather have the
nomination from the District or Columbia than
from any state In the Union, because, as every
one knew, 1t came from Che heart and never from
the pockets. No man, woman, or child in the Dis
trict had any other object than the promotion OF
the national honor and prosperity. And So when
ne read In a democratic paper OF Washington last
sunday (befOre attending church) that the prestd-
Ing officer OF the Senate was the nominee OF the
District OF Columbia, he said: Eureka we have
found the man al last and the question Is finally
settled"
In conclusion Mr.. Vest said: Partisan or nom
partisan, my convictions require me TO vote
against the bill, and say here now that 1t may
"de the DEATH In the other branch OF Tie national
Congress, and II not there, at the hands or the
Executive. II That be unparliamentary, make the
most or II.
THE DEMOCRATS LIMITED.
Mr.. Teller replied TO Mr.. Vest, and remarked that
the republicans were not situated as the demo-
Gratis were. The republicans had variety to
select from; the democrats could only nominate
one man-they had 10 other.
MI Plat read an extract from President Cleve-
landS letter OF acceptanc g az INST the policy OF a
second presidential term, and argued Iherefrom,
Sarcastcally, that Mr.. Cleveland could not be the
candidate referred TO-
Mr. Teller reJoined with the statement that mot
withstanding the letter OF acceptance) the great
democratic party had no other man whom IL would |
dare put in nomination.
Mr. Plumb also replied to the speech OF the Sem |
at0r from Missouri. lie might perhaps (he saidD |
congratulate himself on not uei az candidate for
the presidency and being led Ia no