The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-03-20
HIS SPEECH IN CONGRESS YESTERDA,
ON THE ENORMITIEs OF THE PEN.
SION SYSTEM.
PENSION STATISTICS SINCE 1890
New Pension Bill of sos, ,OOO, ,OOO-Haw
ley's Speech Against the Blair Bill
Worlds Fair Committee.
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March 1S.-Mr. Sherman,
from the committee on finance, reported u
substitute for the bill against trusts in re-
straint of production, and it was placed on
the calendar.
Among the pension bills reported was
one giving pension of $50 a month to Mrs.
Stevens, daughter of Col. Baker, who was
killed at the battle of Balls Bluff
Immediately after the morning business
the consideration of the urgency deficiency
bill was resumed.
The bill was finally passed after several
amendments had been made.
The Blair educational bill was then taken
up and Senator Hawley (Rep.) addressed
the senate in opposition to 1t.
The house amendments to the Okla
homa bill were non-concurred i'll and a con-
ference ordered.
The house bill to amend the act of July,
1888, to authorize the Denison and Wichita
Valley Railroad Co. to construct and ope-
rate railroad through the IDdian Terri
toryswas passed without amendment.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Rogers of Arkansas presented tele-
graphic protest from the president of the
Colored Industrial Fair association of Ar
kansas against the proposition TO tax cot
ton seed oil. Referred.
Mr.. Conger of Iowa presented the resolu-
ton of the Iowa general assembly i'll favor
of bill requiring the producers OF COM
pound lard to liable their article. Referred,
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, of Kansas a
resolution was adopted calling on the sec
retary of war and the secretary of the inte-
rior for Information as to whether saving
of public expenditure can be made by trans
ferring the bureau of pensions from the in
terror department to the war department.
When the morning hour expired the
| house went into committee of the whole on
| the pension appropriation bill.
Mr.. Morrow of California, in charge OF
the bill (Which appropriates sos, ,427, ,40l),
explained its provisions in detail, and in
reference to the general subject of pensions,
| said it might be safely assumed that the
number of pensions would reach It's maxi
mum about July 1, 1894, when the eXpend-
iture would be $112,0C0,G00. On that date,
under the existing law, the number of pen
lsioners on the rolls would be 10000
| Mr. Sayers of Texas discussed the pension
system by those acts of congress and ad-
| ministration of service. He cited statistics
showing that from July l, 1860, to January
| l, 1890, the expenditures OF the government
| for pensions were 81, l05, 5,326,07l; that the
| expenditures for pensions for the past fiscal
year were $S9,S10,96S; that the expendi-
lures for pensions from March q, 1883,
| to June 80, 1861, throughout o period OF
forty-two and one-half years were $780, 1885,
327 and the excess OF pension disburse-
ments for the fiscal year ending June 30,
| 1889, over pensions from 1882 to 1861, a De-
riod of seventy mine and one-half years, was
| $S3, ,93641. He stated further that the cost
of the war 1872 was $112,912,543 and only
an excess of $14, ,082 over the disburse-
ments for pensions for the last year, and
| that the cost of the war with
Mexico was $97, ,705,S60 and was
| $72l, 600 less than the pension
| disbursements of that year. He severely
| criticised the administration of the pension
| office, and cited many instances where he
| claimed that the decisions of the bureau
were incorrect and improper. He thought
| that there should be thorough investlga-
| ton of the system in order that complete
| Justice should be done to the men who had
| fought for their country. and that bounty
| jumpers, men who had been laggardsi
might be stricken from the roll so that o
place on the roll might be evidence OF
loyalty, of bravery and of service to the
country.
| Mr.. Petus of Kansas, said for the first
tia in the history of the country 1t had be-
| fore it q careful, concise estimate OF whal
the expenditure of the pension bureau
would be during the next fiscal year. lie
defended the administration of the bureau
| While he did not defend all the acts o
| Commissioner Tanner he could only say
| that that officer had foil wed in the wake
of his predecessor, Gen. Black.
Pending further discussion the house
| adjourned.