The National tribune., 1888-04-19

along with the majority report.
The minority Of the Committee are now
preparing their report, and it viii beready
for presentation within few days.
We understand that it viii favor some
form of the per-diem plan as a separate and
independent measure, to be acted upon by
the House at an early date; but it VIII take
the strongest possible ground that the first
duty Of the House is to at once pass the
Disability Bill, substantially as it came from /
the Senate. 1t should do this to relieve at
once the most necessitous cases among the
veterans, who have been denied relief an
iuexcusably long time, and to clear the way
for other legislation.
There can be no dispute that this is the
only course dictated by a genuine regard for
the interests Of the veterans. The crudely-
drawn and ill-cousidered amendments which
have been made to the Disability Bill change /
its character and rob it of much Of its justice
and benefcence.
Instead of giving-as the trainers and the /
indorsers of the original bill contemplated
to every broken-down and dependent vet
eran enough to provide him at least the bare
necessaries of life, and save him from actual
want, the amendments propose to dole out
to large proportion Of these broken-down
men beggarly stipends. which viii not buy
enough to merely hold body and soul to-
gether.
Still worse, no assurances offered that even
these will be given. After waiting nearly
five months allowing a measure which had
been discussed, considered and approved Of,
almost interminably, to sleep in idleness all
that time-there is suddenly sprung upon
Congress, at the moment when it is embark
ing upon a long and exciting discussion of
the tariff, appropriations and other mo-
mentous questions, new departure in pen
sion legislation, which none Of the Repre-
sentatives have had opportunity or reason
to examine. 1t is reported as a substitute
for the Disability Bill, and intended to re-
move that measure from Congressional
action, and at the same time it itself is not
pressed upon the attention of the House
with that earnestness that gives promise Of
success 1t defeats the Disability Bill, pro-
poses much less relief than that bill offered
and yet does nothing to insure that Congress
will really grant this before adjournment.
| 1t is impossible to see how the action Of
the Chairman and the majority of the Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions can be made to
appear otherwise than deliberate attempt
to thwart the wishes Of the great mass of
veterans for substantial relief to their needy
comrades
The long delay in taking action on the
Disability Bill, the wasting away of the
greater part of the session without doing
anything, the hasty and radical change Of
its main features at this late day, the load
ing it down with new features, the indifeT-
ent manner in which it was presented to the
House. the noticeable failure to press for an
early consideration-an seem significant of
lukewarm interest on the part of a man and
men from whom the veterans had reason to
expect better things.
We earnestly wish it were otherwise. We
wish that we could praise Col. Matson as
or,,I,z co. HE ,s,I j., baLaJF of The y-ataror,e
as it was our pleasant duty to do last year,
when he was so cordial in his support Of the
Dependent Pension Bill, and Iabored with
knowledge and zeal to secure its passage
over the Presidents veto. Other influences
seem to now have control, much to the
detriment of the interests of veterans.
We will hope, however, for better results
when the matter is once fairly before the
House Maj. Morrill, has moved that the
consideration of the Disability Bill be made
the regular order for May and 3, and the
resolution has been referred to the Commit
tee on Invalid Pensions.
If fair hearing can be secured before the
House and a vote be reached, we are san
guine that its success is assured. Many
more than majority of the Representatives
have definitely promised to vote for the
bill, and if given an opportunity viii re-
deem their promises.
TIT TAIL NF 0I0IIAANhN