Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-24
NATIONS CAPITAL
Senate Passes Agricultural
College Aid Bill
And alter I Long and Animated Dsbata
Adopts Conference Report
On the Dspsndsnt Pensiou Bill BY
Vote Of Thirty four to Eighteen

WAshiseioS, June 20 Ne Sen4k re-
sumed consideration Of the agricultural
college aid bill.
Morrill, offered . substitute for the vAri-
Gus amendments pending Saturday - to the
division Of the fund between the colorsd
and white schools of State.
Pugh, Who offered the fret amendn,en,
on that point, said Morrill's amenduls ii
covered all the points he vas aiming II.
He withdrew his own amendment aud
hoped Morrill's would be accepted.
Hale, Chandler and Gibson also withdreu
their amendments.
Morfilfs amendment was ad0r ted. which
provides that in any State In which there
has been one agricultural college emab-
lished under the act since 1862, and Ia
which there is or may be an education q
Institution of like character for colored
students aided by the State from its OWE
revenue, however named or styled, shall be
just and equitable division Of the fund
received ander this act. made by the legs.
lafure.
Blair made re- mark to the effect that Il
was from Southern Senator (Pugh) thai
the proposition came to give the coiored
schools share of the fund, as no Northern
man thought Of it.
Havley and Ingalls, resented this remark.
the former saying that the bill originally '
contained provision that no money should
be paid where distinction Of race or color
was made. but the establishments and msin-
tenance of separate colleges for white ard
colofed students, would be in compliance
with the act
Hswlsy said he would have but one Agri-
cultural College in each State, and would
be for every person whom the Lord made
fit to go into school, but he yielded to this
other proposition. because it seemed beet,
on the whole. Some formal amendmen. .
were made to the bill, and it then passed.
The conference report on the dependent
pension bill was taken up, and Berry made
a speech againstit. The practical effect Of
it would be, he said, to put 30 per cent Of
the Union soldiers on the pension roll. IVES
this really q service pension bill.
German also opposed the conference re-
port. He believed it was the concensus
opinion that those soldiers who we're unable
to provide for themselves or their wives
and dependent children, ought to be pro-
vided for. But there had to be limit to
pension appropriations. There had been
paid in pensions since 1861. 81, los, ,32O, 900,
sum sufficient, If the pension bureau had
been properly administered and the Law
properly framed. to provide amply and well
for all who served the country. The pen
sion expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1890, were $l09 200, 600, witho ut
taking into account the expenses of the
pension bureau. The rate at which the
pension list increased under the existia az
law might safely be estimated at $40, ,O00,-
COO year. Within five years the pens, on
expenditure under existing laws would be
$200 900 COO q year. The expenditure
under the pending bill would largely ex-
coed the estimate as stated by LAWS. It
was q low estimate that three fourths of all
the men accepted into service during the
war served 60 days. There would be living
on the first of July, 1870, according to The
best estimates, Sl2 95l honorabIy die
charged survivors Of the war who served
not lees than 60 days and are not nos on
the pension rolls.
How many of that number were disabled
and to what extent there was no means Of
determining; if only one half we're add sd
to the pension rolls, at 90 a month, the
number to be pensioned would be 06,415
and the amount required si3, ,S99, 100 Q
year. If additions to the pension roll under
the pending bill to be three fourths Of the
survivors, instead of one-half. the cost un-
der that section of the bill, would be S65,-
s4s $50 An estimate for dependent
widows under the pending bill, ss 963, ,sOs
minor children, $ttS. 200; dependent
parents. 81 JI2 ,09G; making an aggregate
of $7s,67s,06i. When that was added to
the 1926, 000.000 pension expenditure under
tho sting lou ha =
fact, the treasury was bsDkrupted. There
would not be money enough to pay these
pension charges and the ordinary expenses
of government
Blsir: "Does the Senator think that is
an argument against the bill?"
German 1--WE are in the face of con-
dition. not theory. understand my friend
from New Hampshire looks only at the
theory of the question:"
Blair al look at III, condition Of those
Sho have claims upon their country. Iii,
not theory by any means"
German: "Whatever may say il not
in opposition to the liberal and fair pro.
vision for the soldiers Of the country.
ProdigAlity and extravagance in the matter
of pensions will leave your treasury bank
rupt in 1891. 1t will take nearly the en-
tire amount received from customs and
internal revenue as now provided by Law
to pay pensions. There are 65 millions Of
other people in this couLtry who have an
interest in this matter, and they will in
quire why We are bsnkrupting them to an
extent never copte mplated, for the soldiers
of the late war"
Blair-"Do you doubt the ability Of the
Government to replenish the treasury 10
the extent of paying the just claims 10
to those who saved the country and treasury
alike
Gorman-"I don't doubt the ability Of
the country to do anything. but prudence
would require that pension legislation does
does not run into such exiravagance as to
increase the taxes Of an overburdeued peo
people. We are now on the threshold of
of bankru pting the Treasury or increasing
taxation. The amount of revenue for the
next iscal year is estimated at 9450,4l4
$50; expenditures (includins e79, 900, 900
pensions under pending bill would be
1854 ,s2l 900, leaving . deficit OF Ss4 i
O00, 600 at the end Of the next fiscal year.
But there will be no such deficit, for the
reason that there is no sufficient provision
made for adjusting even the existing claims
in the pension Office"
Davis, Chairman Of the Committee on
Pensions, discussed the figures put for
ward BY German, and denied their correct
Mt -.
By his own statement there vas 500, 900
survivors Of the war, not nov on the pen.
sion liss that were suffering from such dis
ability A. the pending law provided Tor ard
that. taking - month ~ an average pen
sion, the annual cost of pensioniug these
men would be s32. 400, ,0Oc.
The amount of pensions to widows, un-
der tue pending bill would be 81 ,2o5 900.
total smount. including pensions to chill
dren of surviving widows, $40, 1854 eco.
He denied that the pending bill vas TIE
service pension bill. but asserted that il
vas the disability bill. pure and simple.
The question Of expense was, he said, of
no importance whatever. Nothing vas es-
travagant that vas right. When the Sem
ate reflected With What promises these men
we're sent out to save the country; when il
reflected that hundreds Of Thousands Of
them had from three to Eve of the best
years Of their lives subiracted from them,
there should not Be set up - IN obstacle to
the Performance of the SenAte's dusv, the
mere question Of expense to the treasury
Wsys and means should be provided 10
meet all just obligstioas to those men,
checking them when their demands vent
too far.
German said IL the bill became . hv,
there wosld be deacit Of ei00. coo coo in
1892; il il did ~ become . lsv, there
would be deficit Of 40 900 600 He
said the remarks he had made we're for the
purpose Of calLins sttsssiea to vhaz The
republican header, (DiaiseJ "the Rressest