The National tribune., 1890-04-03
CONGRESS.
The Senate Passes the Dependent
Pension Bill.


MEDNEsDAhs MANU- ~
In the Senate. the Committee on Foreign Re-
latioRs reported a substitute for the first section
of the meat inspection bill, intended TO meet
the objections OF the pork packers and dealers;
ordered printed. The changes are principally
In phraSeology. A new provision Furnishes the
counteifeiting alteration or deiacing OF the
inspectors stamp by fine of not over $1,000
or one year in prison, or both.
The antitrust bill was then taken mp and
various amendments were made and adopted.
The bill. which has been considered all the
time IS In Committee of the Whole, was re-
ported 30 the Senate. where all the amendments
have 60 be acted upon again and whore other
amendments may be offered.
After short Executive Session the Senate
adjourned at go p. ~.
THURSDAY, MARCH q.
The House bin for the retirement Of John C.
Fremont of California rs a Maior-General u.
s Army. was reported back from the Commit
Tee on Military Affairs with favorable recon-
incubation and placed on the calendar.
A bill authorizing the Secretary Of War TO
purchase , 500 tents, and TO lend them 20 the
people who have been driven from their homes
by the food in the Ohio and Mississippi Val
levs. was reported from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs and passed unanimously. The bill
sppropriates $4,000 for the purchase of the
tents
diers aud sailors who are iucapaciated for
work. aud providing for pensions 10 dependent
relatives OF deceased soldiers and sailors was
considered.
MIR. Plumb (Kan) made an argument in
support Of the amendment offered by him
on Feb . declaring entitled 90 pension of
$40 a month all who served three months or
more, and who are suffering from mental or
physical disability which incapacitates them
from the performance Of manual labor az the
incapaCity is total, the pensions to be graded
for less than total dsabilit", but no pension 10
be less than S. a month. lie hoped the Senate
would not vote 10 adept any section which re-
ouires any applicant for a pension TO make
paRper declaration. lie did not use that term
in any specially offensive sense, but he did say
81 is offensive 10 8 large portion of the men who
are entitled 10 be the beuefcIaries Of this meas
ure: IL is unnecessary: il will be demoralizinR,
and in the long run will not save single dollar
20 the Treasury Of the United States IL will
set ia motion agencies Of injury, OF Judgment
Of discretion, OF comparison which viii b. just
as various as the iustrumentalitics by which
they are decided. The man who in one locality
will be held 10 be without the provisions OF the
law IN another locality wall bc held 10 bc within
them. The line which is drawn between the
person who is dependent and the person who Is
not is shad0wy aud irregular st the best, and
the place where that line should be drawn viii
depend upon the temper. the disposition. the
Judgment Of the person who draws il. Ii is
absolutely impossible that such Law shall he
enforced al any time IN the same way to in
elusion and exclusion in all portions OF the
country. More than that. as this line IS shad-
owy, il would operate to-day 90 exclude man.
and tomorrow it would be SO drawn as 10 in
elude him.
Mr.. Berry Ark opposed the amendment.
because il practically made the measure a serv-
- lice N
every man who served q certain time ia the
army that the bah does not say to what ex-
tent he shall be suffering, or define TO what
extent he shall he incapacitated. lie thought
that If ii was the purpose Of the Senator from
Kansas. sud these who are acting with him. 10
place every soldier who served in the Union
army upon the pension rolls the manly and
direct way would be TO come forward aud take
the responsibility Of passing bill Of that char
Scter, and not seek 70 do indirectly what they
dare not do openly.
Nr. Davis Mimi also opposed the amend
ment, and said that the restricted bill reported
by the committee would make appropriation
Of S550100J0 Necessary IN addition 70 the
s9s, 889O0J now necessary for tho payment Vi
pensions. The amendment Of the Senator from
Kansas would add Al least $ls.OO0,0O0 more,
winch would make q total Of $l52. 600 for
pensions.
He also said that be had in an imperfect way
endesvOred to'c0mpare these measures aud 10
suggest the difference between them aud u
state the considerations IN favor OF the bill
prepared by the committee The bill which
the committee has reported is strictly nron the
line Of dependent ball, not giving pension to
man because he is pauper. Nobody in the
committee ever thought Of that. That IL q
misrepresentation and demonstration OF ID,
language Of the bill. IL gives it 20 him because
be is ~ that condition in which nine tenths o
the ieiiow-citizens Of the man abo was a Unior
soldier are; be il dependent upon his own labo
for support, not upon charity, not upon IN,
Elms Of the neigh orEoOd, not upon the hospi
taity Of the P0grh0use, AS has been suggested
but because hr b. dependent upon his own lahO
Tor support, which disgraces no man in thu
country. be en- come in and have bis pension
provided be Is disabled, no matter whether hi
disability was incurred in the service or not.
sATuRnAY. MARCH %.
In The Senate, NT. Dolph (Ore.) spoke on tn
VOORHEES, resolution IN relation 10 agriculture
depression. The tariff question. be said, har
been decided by the people Of the Unite
States AZ the last Presidential election in favO
81 the National policy Of protection, aud
only remained FOR the Republican party {
perform its pledges. This 10 was proceeding {
do. aud he thought he might assert that befoT
the adjournment Of the present session som
measure, not greatly dissimlar 70 the Senat
bill OF last session would become a law. Til
protective tariT had in no degree contributed {
the present depression u the farming interest
They were better than they would he under
tariff for revenue only" aud were far bette
than they we're ia any free-trade country.
After = bricf Executive Session the Senat
adjourned a. D. 10.
la the House. bills for public buildings /
Allegheny. Pa. S2J0O 09; Wilmington. De
increased from $4,000 10 $4,000; Hudso
n. 7, $1,000 aud Tuscaloosa, Ala, 5000
were passed.
The House went into Committee Of Il
Whole OF the Army appropriation bill. pr
vision appr0pTlating 10000 for canteens eau
cd considerable discussion. Mr. Morsc Mas
protesting against what he termed a proio.
tlOn 70 open drinking saloons at the Arm
posts. BE offered aa amendment prOvidii
that alcoholic liquors shall be sold u eli list,
men ia any canteen. which was adopted
yea Gz. nays a. Pending further action d
committee T0se.
MONDAY MARCH 81.
The Senate. after the morning hour. pr
eeeded 20 the consideration Of unfinished but
mess, which was the dependent peugi0u hi
The FIRST question being Oh Mr. Piumb's KaT
amendment removing the Limitation as
aTrears-nIakinR pensions on account Of woun
or injuries or disease commence from the dea
or discharge Of the soldier
During debate IL was stated that the cost
removing the Limitation, according 10 the Coz
-