The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-18
Claiming that the Practice Of Granting Extra
Amounts Is Wrong and Violation Of
the Principle of Equal Citizenship.
Judge MOody's Earnest and Effective
WOrkin Securing Dakota Statehood.
Extraordinary Activity in Social Circles
Of the Capital-Grover Wants No More
Yisitors-The Washington Cabinet Slate.
EXTRA PENSIONS TO WIDOWS.
1dr. Cheadie Again Explains His Position ~
TO This Class Of Legislation.


1Ir. Chcadie Again Explains His Position N
60 This Glass of Legislation.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1G-The bill to in
crease the pension of the widow of Briga-
dier-general Plummer from $50 to S75
month was passed by vote of % to 81 yes
terday. General Browne. of Indiana, called
up the bill. Mr.. Gallinger. of New
Hampshire, called attention TO the
fact that, in the Forty-eighth
Congress, three bills were enacted,
increasing the pensions of widows of en-
listed men above the amount allowed by
general law-Julia A. Chambers, from SSto
$40; Polly Young, from IS TO $50, and Mary
A. Grennon, from S. to SIC month. In the
Forty-ninth Congress, two-Isabella j.
Ramsdell, from Sl2 to $780, and Elizabeth
Lehman, from Sl2 to SOS; and in the Fifti-
eth Congress, 0ne-Martha Woodrum.
from S12 to $50 month, thus answering the
challenge of Mr.. Cheadle, made week ago.
to find one such bill and
name it. Dir. Gallinger declared that
the widow of an officer should
be granted more than the widow of an en-
listed man, and that they could not be
legislated equal The Journal correspond
ent called the attention of Mr.. Cheadle to
these cases, and to the debate, which was
participated in by Kerr. of Iowa; Browne.
of Indiana; Gallinger, of New Hampshire.
and Cheadle, of Indiana.
YES" said Mr.. Cheadle, '',n six years
they find six instances where more
than the s. or s1e per month has been al
lowed. What are the. factsI julia A.
Chambers was the daughter of an old sol
dier and the widow of an enlisted man who
died after serving about fifty years. She
testified that her life had been spent
in the service with her father and husband.
and she was given SSoin view of herservices-
Polly Young was niDety-three years old.
She was widow of the war of 1872, and In
view of her age she was given S30-the same
that is granted the widows of generals, un-
der the general law, Mary A. GrennaI
Jan. 1, 1865, while getting a drink at a
spring, and was reported deserter. The
widows claim was rejected by the Pension
Office. and the committee In Congress re-
ported adversely, but the House, as
partial recognition of the great wrong done
his memory, granted her Sl6 month. lsa-
bella j. Ramsdell was the aged widow of
an aged marine. She showed that she was
crippled by nursing her husband, who
of her crippled condition, granted $50,
the maximum sum paid by the general law.
Elizabeth Lehman, was seventy-slx years
old, and infrm, and in the language OF the
report, in very needy circumstances and
so Congress actually gave her $50 month.
These five cases show that IN no in
stance did Congress go beyond the limit of
the general law. IL did say that, for special
reasons these claimants shall be granted
the pension paid widows of officers, not
withstanding they were only widows OF en-
listed men, Congress did not in any case
go beyond the amount authorized TO be
paid by general law.
Martha Woodrum was granted $50 by
the Fiftieth Congress; i will quote from
the report: 'Old, totally blind. and in
extreme poverty No man could vote
and to grant it was a righteous act. do
not object TO cases like these quoted; but
they are not the motives which control III
granting the pension to-day. Mrs. Plum
mer draws $50 month, she has property
that rents for 500 month; the $50 amonth
she now draws is the amount agreed upon
by the pension committee to be paid TO the
widows of brigadier generals. and yet she
is granted SIS. The principle is wrong, and
try to oppose it. / know that if there is
any one principle in our political system
than any other. it is the equality of
citizenship before the law. and
yet these special laws trample this princi-
pie in the dust. Unless this pernicious
policy is abandoned, our government can
not exist. There cannot be classes here IN
America short of revolution. The only Sc
cure policy to pursue is to grant every pen
sion by general laws wherein; Tor slmllar
disabilities, every pensl0ner shall receive
the same pension. This would be just. and
in perfect harmony with the whole theory
of our government, while the special system
is at war with every principle IN our sys-
tenn