The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-13
FHE PENSION TETORS
The Subject Of an Interesting
Debate in the Senate.
MR.. BLAIR's GENTLE HINT
To President Cleveland, and the
Democratic senators-Thc Wool
Schedule in the Housc-Re-
publican Amendments.

publican Amendments.
WASHINGTON, D. O., July ia reso'
luton to print extra copies OF the report
OF the Committee on Pensions in the
cases of seven vetoed pension bills was
the text for some political discussion in
the Senate to-day.
Mr.. Cockrell desired to have the last
of the pension vetoes (the Doherty
case) printed among the other vetoes.
Mr.. Hawley intimated that the publ
cation OF that veto would not help the
President or his party with the surviv-
ing soldiers of the Republic, in view Of
the assertion contained in it that there
was reason to fear that the case in ques-
ton would find u parallel in many other
cases that had reached successful con-
ciusion.
Mr.. Davis, chairman OF the Commit
tee on Pensions, stated that the bad
character accredited to the beneficiary
in that case was an old matter, going
back to 1872, and that the committee
had, in view Of her good conduct since
then, taken charitable view OF the
case.
Mr.. Stewart suggested that it was
derogatory to the high position Of the
President to become detective in such
small matters.
Mr.. Blair characterized the Presidents
statement OF the case MS n gratuitous in
suit to the woman. He asked the Sena-
tors to recall their personal history and
the President to recall his personal his
tory and see whether silence was not
welcome thing to all. Let him who was
without guilt whether at one end OF
the avenue or the other) cast the first
stone.
Mr.. Hawley objected to sentence in
the veto message to the effect that those
who had influence or friends to push
their claims procured pensions, while
those who had neither friends nor in
fluence had 10 be content with their fate
under the general law. He repealed,
with indignation, that which, in another
place, he would have characterized as
grossly false. Who, he asked, were the
Influential friends of this poor Doherty
woman?
Mr.. Butler said the President had been
chaFacterized to-day in language which
was not to be justified, and in forum
where he was not permitted to be heard.
Instead Of the President being rebuked
and denounced. his (NIr. Butler's) opin-
ion was that the President would re-
ceive the thanks OF every patriotic citi-
zen OF the country for the check which
he had imposed upon the recklessness
and carelessness OF Congress.
Mr.. Hawley replied that he had merely
commented, within the line Of his pub
lie duty, and without personal ill-will
on the Presidents veto, and had said
that some OF the assertions in it were
simply untrue.
Mr.. Butler admitted that the President
had direct, sledge-hammer way OF get
ting at things which was pretty effective.
Mr.. Hoar made remark in an under
tone, and, on being asked by Mr.. Butler
to repeat it, said that he had merely re-
marked to Senator who sat near him
that the things which the President
went at with sledge-hammer seemed to
be soldiers and widows.
An acrimonious debate followed be-
tween Mr.. Blair and Mr.. Butler, but
without disposing OF the subject,
The Senate proceeded to the consider
alton OF the fisheries treaty in open
executive session, and was addressed by
Mr.. George in favor OF its ratification.
He said this debate was not intended by
the Republican side OF the chamber to
be fair and honest consideration OF the
question OF ratification or rejection Of
treaty. That question had already been
settled in secret caucus OF the other
side OF the chamber. The treaty had
been predestined to rejection, and for
reasons unknown to the world. The
open debate was not for the
purpose OF settling what ought
to be done by arraigning before
the American people the President for
negligence or indifference to American
rights. Soon after the treaty had been
sent by the President to the Senate it
had been considered in secret by eau
Gus OF Republican Senators, and it had
had been determined that it should be
rejected. The Republican Senators had
the power to reject it. Its rejection was
to be an issue in the Presidential cam
paign.
The fortitication bill was postponed
until the passage of the army bill.
The senate then adjourned.