The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-06
FRIDAY, FEB %.

FRIDAY, FEB, ~
In the Senate. resolution was passed making
Mr. ingalls, tkan.l President pro temporo
dnring the absence Of tho Vice President Mr
Davis Mimi addressed the Senate in oxpla.
nation Of the dependent pension bill. II was
he said, the same bill verbatim "a had passed
the Senate in the last Congress, aud had failed
Of action in tho House IL provided pensions
Of Sl2 month for All persons who had served
three months or more in the war Of tho rebel.
lion. who had been houorably discharged aud
who were suffering from mental or physical
disability that incapacitated them from tho
performance Of labor in such q manner "a to
render them unable 10 earn support, and who
were dependent upon thor labor.
There had been three estimates made, Mr..
Davis said as 20 the number oi survivors Of tho
war. One placed the number ut 100000 men,
one at l,2ss. 900 men, aud one AT 80 900 men.
lie would take the number nt 300 900 men.
Oh the number there were on tic pension rolls
june 30 last 31i ,is4 men. lie would assume
that there were 100000 survivors who were
not pensioncd OF that number l67 600 had
claims pending under existing Jaw, aud 50 per
cent. OF those claims were likely TO be allowed
and -, 400 Of them rejected. or that - iOG
some 5000 could claim under the pending bill
Ihat left G30,OJ0 men uupensiourd out Of the
100000 II was thought that of that number
at least 200 600 would apply for pensions under
existing law aud that 80 per cent. oil that mum
Der would receive pensions. That, at tho rate
ol si4i a year, would amount TO sI4 400, go ne
the annual expense for invalid pensions under
the pending bill. In like manner. Mr.. Davis
made estimates as 10 the pensions Of widows
children and dependent parents-the general
result being M follows:
For invalid pensions. SD. 400. 900: for increase
Of existing pensions, s. y0-, OOO; Tor widows OF
unpcnsloncd soldiers dying annually, 81 ,72s,-
600; for widows Of pensioners dying annually
far Vytt fr-f gt.t ra...s
pending or have been rejected $l0EO9. 900; for
children Oi widows. 81 ,G32 900: for children
under pending bill, 1915 900; total $50 sos 900
In answer 10 question AlT. Davis said the report
OF The Committee Oh Pensions bad been unnni-
nous.
Dir. Plumb tKan.l offered substitute for
the second section of the bill, aud argued In
support of il. Under this substitute no pen.
soner would receive less than - "A month
lie claimed that his amendment was definite
aud sure; that under it every Union soldier
would know exactly iby the mere fact of his
medical cxamnatiorf what pension he was
entitled TO, aud would not be subject to tho
mercy Of a friendly or unfriendly adminatra-
ton Of the law at headquarters
Remarks IN favor Of the original bill were
made by Mr. Moody IS. d., Mr.. Vest MOI
and Mr.. Mcpherson IN. j. speaking against ii.
The bill went over without scti0n.
la tho House, the deficiency appropriation
DI4i "do thhch upJ aHi AFTER over three hours
of discussion the bill was passed The bill an
pr0prates S23,GJ06OO, the largest item being
@2l,UjOD0 for the payment Of pensioners OF the
war Of 1912 and tho Mex can war
The remainder OF the day WAS devoted 10 the
consideration Of the private calendar, aud tho
House at p. IN. took a recess. The evening
session WAS devoted 10 the consideration Of
private pension bills, the Adjournment taking
place at 1920 p.
SATURDAY MARCH l.
The Senate Was not in session to-day.
La the ilouse several private pension bills
were passed placing men on the rolls at 500
per month ia place of the $72 now being re-
cciVed. These pensions were for the loss of
both hands or its equivalent disability. One
OF the men had piece OF the thumb ON one
hand remaining, which, under existing law.
ncccasltatcd the private bill and another. who
had been experimental upon by army Sur
ge0ns, although having both hands. il was
proved that they were utterly useless. and that
it would have been much better for them 10
have been amputated at the time he was
wounded.
The contested election case Of Featherston
VS.. Cate, FIRST Congressional District of Ar
kansas was taken up and consumed the entire
day scssion The House adjourned at 4 p. IN.
MONDAY. MARCH 3.
In the Senate, Dir. Voorhees, Ind offered "A
preamble and concurrent resolution recitinp
That in the recent lease OF the fur seal islands
oil Alaska 10 the North American Commercial
Company certain provisions OF law were not
complied with. and directing the Secretary of
the Treasury to furnish to the Senate complete
copies Of ali tie bids for the lease with all ac
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