The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
THE DISABILITY PENSION BILL.


After debate of unusual interest. and in
which the enemies of justice to the veterans
exhausted their resources, the Senate finally
passed the Disability Pension Billlast Thurs
day substantially as recommended by the
GAR. National Pension Committee, and by
the handsome vote of 44to16.
Every Northern Senator voted for the bill,
and the following from the South: Brown,
of Georgia; Faulkner, of West Virginia;
George, Of Mississippi; German, Of Mary
land; Hampton, Of South Carolina; Kenna,
Of West Virginia; Pugh. of Alabama; Rid
dleberger, of Virginia, and Walthall, Of Mis-
sissippi-9
The Republicans who voted for it were:
Aldrich, Allison, Blair, Bowen, Cameron,
Cnace, Chandler, Cullom, Davis, Dawes,
Dolph, Farwell. Frye, Hale, Hawley, His
cock, Hoar ingalls,, Henderson, Mitchell
Paddock, Palmer, Plat, Riddleberger, Saw
yer Sherman, spoOner, Stewart stockbridge,
Teller, and Wilson, Of Iowa-31.
The Democrats voting for it were: Blod-
gett, Brown, Faulkner, George, German,
Hampton, Kenna, Mcpherson, Payne, Pugh,
Turpie, voorhees, and WalthaIl-13
Batler Democrat, Of South Carolina, who
would have voted for the bill, was absent, as
were Edmunds, Evarts, Jones, of Nevada,
Plumb, Quay aud Stanford (Republicans)
who would have voted for it. They were
pairedwith Democrats of the South who
would have opposed the bill 1t is not
known how Hearst, Of California Demo
craft, would have voted had he been pres
ent. Leaving him out, and presuming all
the other Senators to have been present, the
vote would have stood, yeas, So; nays, p, or
more than to l.
The bin was admirably handled in the
Senate. and the veterans owe warm thanks
TO the champions who presented their case
SO admirably and managed the bill so well.
The result is a high compliment to the
GAR. National Pension Committee, which
framed the bill In spite of all the criticism
upon it, the majority of the Senators decided
that it was the wisest and most expedient
formulation possible in view ofaIl the circum-
| stances, and resisted any serious change in
1 it. A higher tribute was never paid by the
Senate to the work of any body of men, and
if anything were necessary to convince the
comrades that their interests are in the best
possible hands, this has supplied the want.
This is a splendid beginning If the
/ friends Of the veterans in the House Of Rep
resentatives do as well with the bill as those
in the Senate have done, it will be adopted
there by q majority of even larger proper
tons, for the professed friends of the yeter-
ans are relatively much more numerous in
that body than in the Senate. OF the 325
Members of the House, sc actually served in
the army or navy during the war. Of the
/ IVA hepEbseDt ttlNSS IOIu tu6 NoItHCIu
States, certainly four out Of five have def
nitely promised their veteran constituents
to actively support such legislation as this
bill, which would give il at least 100 vote:
if it can be brought to a vote. We can add
TO this at least three votes in the Kentucky
delegation, from three to five votes from
Missouri, five or six from Virginia, and one
from West Virginia Besides this, there are
doubtless a considerable number of South
ern Representatives who viii follow the
patriotic and generous example set by sucl
prominent ex-Confederates az Senator
Brown, Hampton, George, Pugh, Kenna
Walthan and Riddleberger and support th'
bill There ought to be at least 200 vote
in the House in its favor.
Now let US have it brought before tina
body with all dispatch.
Gentlemen Of the Committee on Invali,
Pensions the eyes of the veterans are OF
you.