Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-06-27
10 tie Promises Made the Old Soldiers-Ihe House
Bill Nothing More Than Pretense 70
Deceive the Old Soldiers

the action OF the committee on rules
which by the resolution just reported
and adopted have forced into the House
the immediate consideration of legisa-
tion involving the expenditure of about
forty millions in money without time for
deliberate consideration and debate,
with only limited opportunity for
amendment.
1t is not right. 1t is not fair to the
people. 1t is not fair TO the soldier
For weeks the mails to members have
been loaded with petitions and letters
protesting against the Senate bill and
the bill reported by the House commit
tee on invalid pensions, known as ii. B..
S297, miScalled service pension bill,
which is now offered as a substitute.
An attempt was made on Monday, April
:, TO force this Morrill, measure through
the House under a suspension OF the
rules. Fortunately, the scheme did not
succeed. The veterans and their
friends throughout the country under
stand the motive which prompted that
attempt 10 use the gag rule.
The majority party in the House
sought to prevent the passage of ser
discussion or amendment of the bill they
reported. They are endeavoring TO ac-
cOmpliSh the same thing now. The Re
publican party in control OF every branch
of the Federal Government is forgetful
Of the promises made by its candidates
and leaders at every cross road, at every
political meeting for the last five years,
i'm which they promised liberal pensions
to the boys in blue. Now they have the
opportunity we find them lodging the
issue.
When the Democratic party, through
its leader, said to the veterans, "We are
in favor of liberal legislation in your
behalf; We favor just and equitable
pension law as recognition and re-
ward for honorable service" the gem
tlemen on the other side of the House
were Jealous in denouncing the Demo
cratic party as inimical to the soldiers
interests. They said We were not hon
est; that we did not intend to carry out
the promises We made.
One answer was, you have promised
more than you intend to carry out; you
are attempting TO use the Grand Army
of the Republic and the veterans as 4
catSpaw to regain power and secure con-
troll of the Government; once you have
done this, the veterans may wait.
Now what is the situation? BY a
scratch we have the Republican party
in power. In control Of every branch
of the Federal Government; with COM
plete working majority in the Fifty-frSt
Congress, although some OF this major
ity had been secured through the most
Outrageous abuse of political power, ig-
Inoring all rights, all justice, and the eX-
press will of the people; with rules to
govern this body, adopted through
brute force and enforced in partisan
Imalice, there is nothing TO prevent the
majority party from carrying out every
promise made TO the soldiers of the
country, but YOU are not doing it. Six
months of the Fifty-firSt Congress have
come and gone and nothing is done,
until to-day we have brought in here a
measure that is not in line with the de-
mand and wishes of the old soldiers
and their friendS-a measure from its
title intended 10 deceive the veterans.
They are asking for 4 service pension;
you give them fraud.
have never heard Of a soldier. asking
for the passage of this bill. Everywhere
among the veterans is the injustice OF
this measure fully recognized. Nearly
seven hundred thousand men enlisted in
the army under 20 years of age: none oil
these unless disabled can receive the
benefits Of this proposed law for Is years
Vet. Only few of these bright, able
active young men, fresh from the school
the farm, the workshop, many OF tEeu
BOYS Of tender age, unused to the hard
ships Of life, whose SufferingS and pri
vations can never be told-only few Of
these can ever hope to receive this pen
sion; most of them will be in their grave'
long before the time when this proposed
law can apply to them.
= Statistics show that of one hundred
men who start out in life with equal adj
vantageS in way Of health only ten ever
reach the age of sixty years. 1t is safe u
say not more than One-twentieth OF thu
bows i'm blue who enlisted under twent!
wears OF age will be benefited by this bill
Some. il is true, may have been able L
prove disability and are penSioned al
ready. but it seems to me the object oI
this bin is to deceive the soldier; to make
5 him believe that an attempt has beer
q made ON the part OF the Republicans L
/ carry out at least some of the PROMISE
made when they were seeking the sol
dier'S vote.
MIR. Speaker, the disguise is too thil
to the majority party of this House.
81 wish to say your object is apparent
= The soldiers of this country cannot b'
+ fooled with chafT. This bill is a Subter
! fuge and cheat. 1t is the child OF thu
pension agent, many of whom through
d the party in power have become leeci
upon the soldiers of this country, suck
e. ing their life blood, preventing the sol
dicr from getting the proper legislation
for when simple justice Is done, wheI
the pension measures which the soldier:
j everywhere are demanding become laws
the occupation of the pension agent vii
soon be gone, hence his opposition.
have heard it said frequently that The
party in power IN this House are com
pletely in the grasp Of the Dudley pen
sion combination element OF their party
p who will prevent the soldier from get
ting his just dues.
Now. Mr.. Speakee, if this is true, the
action of those in charge of the soldiers
interests will be the test. If. in o6edi
ance to the demands of those who have
became rich at the expense of this coun
try. you do not full justice to those
who left home friends and business IL
the flower Of youth to defend this Unior
!, from diSintegration, TO preserve the un
itv of States, who fought the battles OF
the war and won its victories-if you dc
not full Justice 20 these you must TAKE
the responsibility.
When you get the answer, as you
surely will in the next election, you can
not complain that you were not admon
iShed
You have been voting liberal pensions
10 the brigadierS and the majors. 1t Is
time YOU were doing something for the
rank and file. Call up the Pennsylvania
service pension bill, make it law, ano
YOU will do Justice to the soldier, which
has already been too long deferred
Give the honest, faithful soldiers OF the
country service pension law, and yor
will soon scatter the horde of pension
sharks that have been getting rich at
the expense Of the poor veteran. The
soldier will be taken out Of politics ano
lall classes will be satisfied.
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