The National tribune., 1890-04-10


deaf, dumb. and blind; il needed pension for
widows, and it needed a law establishing a
rule OF testimony in pension cases whereby the
oath Of private soldier would receive as much
credence rs that of an officer. The pension sys-
tenn must continue until the last soldier who
served the country in the war was dead and
gathered 20 his fathers.
Mr.. Dollver Qowa) made an eloquent appeal
in favor of higher pensions. lie was not in
favor of waiting to pension the veterans OF the
late war until almost all of those who were TO
be benefited had paid the debt of nature and
gone TO their repose. They should be pensioncd
now, and he would shut his eyes to the cost.
The defense of the unity Of the Republic had
been costly enterprise, but the American peo-
pie had been willing TO pay the cost TO the last
penny. They were willing 10 pay their debt.
To-day there was not in all the land a veteran
soldier of the Republic to whom the Republic
was not debtor. Every dollar of tho national
wealth in the Treasury was ncumbered by tho
invlolabe debt TO the men and women who shed
blood and tears in the hours of the Nations
peril. In every bourse and every financial GEN.
ter in the world the credit of the United States
was better than gold but. before God, he
would rather see the framework of our financial
system put TO open shame before the world than
10 see a careworn veteran of the Union army
driven from the public Treasury by the money
power, holding in his hand the broken promise
of Abraham Lincoln.
Mr.. Flower IN. Y raised his voice in favor
of the Union soldier and of tho pension
list When. in 1861, the soldiers went to the
battlefield. the Government had promised TO
make their wives and children wards of the
Nation, and he was in favor of fulfilling that
promise.
The bills were then passed. The House took
recess at 5 p. m. The House assembled at
p. IN. for the consideration of private pension
bills and adjourned at 1890 p. m.
SATURDAY. APRIL s.
In the Senate. Mr.. Wilson Qowa) presented
a joint memorial and resolution from the Leg
isature of Iowa, asking Congress to pension
women who, under appointment by proper au-
thoTity, acted rs nurses in hospitals diet kitch-
ems or on battlefields.
A bill TO amend Sec. 1854 of the Revised
Statutes so as to read that persons honorably
discharged from the military or naval service
OF the United States shall he preferred for ap-
pOintments in the civil offices provided they
are found to possess the business capacity nee
essary or the proper discharge Of the duties of
such offices, was passed.
A bill providing for an inspection of all meats
FOR expectation prohibiting the importation
of adulterated articles Of food or drink, and au-
thoriziug the President TO make proclamation
IN certain cases, was read q third time and
passed.
After short Executive session the Senate
considered and passed large number OF pri-
waite pension bills, and adjourned at 4:i0 p IN.
In the House, bills providing that in time OF
peace all enlisted men charged with olenses
now cognizsble by the garrison or regimental
courts martial, shall, within twenty four hours
alter their arrest, be brought before summary
court; for retaining 81 from each months pay
OF enlisted men Of the army, during the first
year of enlistment the sum so retained TO be
paid on discharge from the service, and to be
F.A ~ IL, Tf
service, the question Of what constitutes a
failure 10 render an honest and faithful service
10 be determined by the Secretary of War; for
organizing the artillery force of the army into
seven regiments Of not more than twelve bat
terles each, with the same regimental and bat
terry organization as now exists except that
there shall be but one First Lieutenant and one
Second Lieutenant to each battery for increas-
ing to IL the membership Of the Board of Man
ayers Of the National Home for Disabled Vol
unieer Soldiers. aud making the following APP
pOintmenis: Edmund N. Morrill,, of Kansas, for
the uneXpired term Of Office of John A. Martin,
deceased; Alfred i. Pearson, of Pennsylvania,
for the unexpired term Of Office Of John +.
Harfranft, deceased and William b Franklin
Of Connecticut; John C. Black, of Illinois Au-
pnstus Farnham, OF Maine. aud George w.
Steele, OF Indiana, for the terms Of Office COM
mencing on April 81, 1890 10 Oil vacancies oc-
casioned by the expiration OF terms of Office and
/ by the increase provided. were passed.
The House adjourned at 4:I5 p. IA.
MoYDAY, APRIL 2.
In the Senate the House amendment 10 the
joint resolution for the removal of the naval
magazine from Ellis Island, n. Y, was con-
CURED in.
The Montana case was then taken up and
/ Dir. Vance tA. O., member Of the Committee
on Privileges aud Elections, made an argument
I IN support Of tho minority report declaring
/ Clark aud Maginnis (the Democratic ciaiman Isl
/ entitled 10 the seats.
Dir. Sp00ner tWis.), also a member Of the
/ Committee. argued in favor Of the majority
report and Saunders and Power. The matter
! was still under discussion when the Senate
went into Executive session: and when the
| doors were opened at 5.l5 p. IN. adjourned
| In the House. Sir. Morrill, KAN moved 10
| suspend the rules 50 as 10 discharge the Com
mittee Oh Invalid Pensions from the further
1 consideration Of Senate bill granting pensions
/ % soldiers and sailors who are incapacitated
from the performance Of labor and providing
/ Tor pensions 10 widows aud minor children. and
dependent parents. lie offered a substitute,
authorizing pension Of 81 per month 10 any
! officer or enlisted man who had reached the
age Of e., who shall hereafter reach that age,
| who served 80 days IN the army, navy, or Ma
| riue Corps during the rebellion. and received
| an honorable discharge, the pension 10 COM
The substitute also provides for pension Of
8 per month for persons who are disabled by
wounds or sickness; for widows Of soldiers
! over the age Of o., and for minor children un-
| der l6 and for dependent parents That no
! attorney small charge fee for obtaining pen
sion OF more than S.
Mr. Morrill, in explaining the substitute, said
that the Committee thought the soldiers Of the
late war should be placed on an equal footing
with those Of the wars Of 1912 aud that with
Mexico. The whole theory Of the bill was "a
recognize disability and age IN the granting o!
pensions, and also 10 provide for widows, or.
phans aud dependent parents. He also said
that the estimated cost III this bill annually
would be SIS, 100000.
hr. Boothnian ohio protested against the
majority bringing in a bill involving th,
amount that this one docs, aud forcing its pas
sage through the House without the right q
propose or offer single amendment.
Mr.. Springer il. said hc would vote against
the bill. lie did not think a single soldier OF
Grand Army Post in the country desired sucf
q bill They all wanted per diem pension bill
Mr. Tarsney No spoke against the measure
and said be was opposed 10 indiscrimnale pen
sion legislation. lie was opposed 70 measures
that placed the brave soldier who never missed
a roll call, who was always IN line Of duty, upOr
an equality with the skuiEin ing coward, the cam
follower and coIec-coOlcr. He spoke il as /
soldier, As we'll ~ q citizen, that every time tht
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