Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-22
PENSION QUESTION
As IT APPLIES TO TIE WEST VIRGINIA HOME
GUARD,
Comes Up in The Houss-A Somewhat Warn De-
bate On The Subsei-Ihs Measure as
Amended BY COL WhiiS Adopted.
Regular Routine Proceedings.
.peeIal T.Ienaln b Me Rsqistsr.

Regular Routine Proceedings.
Special TslegralN 10 the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, January Ell
The House had session this afternoon,
the regular order OF business had been
finished and the Speaker had announced
that the next order of business was the
unfinished business of the previous ses-
sion, when Delegate Young, of Upshur,
moved that the House Joint Resolution
No 6, instructing our Senators aud Rep
resentatves in Congress TO use their
Influence TO secure the passage of
proper pension law for certain West
Virginia State troops, be taken up.
The Clerk read the resolution and Mr..
I Young made a speech in favor Of its
adoption He said that during the
war there were numerous com
panieS formed and known
/ as State troops, and, whilst
/ they were not mustered into the regular
service, rendered much effective SER
vice, they being frequently called into
active service, and as there were no
provisions under which Congress could
widows and orphans, he desired a pas
sage of such a law as would properly
provide for them. When Mr.. Young
| had finished, Delegate cambridge, OF
jefferson, arose in his seat and said: Il
want 70 raise my voice against the col
I lOSSal fraud of pension legislation as
practiced by pension sharks. | fought
in the Confederate army and no man
in this world has higher regard
/ for the true Union soldier than | have,
but the kind of men that Mr.. NOung'S
resolution provides for were those known
as the home guards, and these same
men stole our horses, burnt our houses
and committed depredatiOnS in general.
These men were not true soldiers, and
for one will never vote to pension
them
He then stated that he had a Substi-
tute that he desired to offer as an
amendment.to Mr.. YOung'S resolution.
The Clerk read the substitute, which is
as follows:
"Rcsolrcd, BY the Legislature Of
West Virginia, that our Senators and
Representatives in the Congress Of the
United States be requested to use every
effort 10 stop the frauds practiced under
the existing pension laws, by which the
Treasury of the Government is threat
ened with bankruptcy, and that they be
asked TO try TO secure the early passage
OF some such measure aS will give
proper pensions only To such soldiers,
widows and children as may justly be
entitled to the same"
Delegates Hanen and Smith spoke
against D2ndridgc'S substitute,
and Smith exhibited much
feeling. Mr.. Pugh said he did not think
il made much difference whether the
resolution or the substitute carried, as
either would have to come before the
next House of Congress, and as that
body would be Democratic they could
not even hope that Mr.. YOung'S reSOlu-
tion would influence the action of that
body.
Mr.. Ferguson said he had no doubt
pension frauds were practiced to GER
tain extent, but that he thought some
provision should be made for the class
OF soldiers mentioned in Mr.. HOung'S
resolution, rs he had no doubt but what
in many Instances they rendered yalua-
be aid, and that horses were often
pressed into service by both armies.
Mr.. Thomas, OF Putnam, said he
thought that Il majority Of the horses
that were stolen were taken by regular
thieves and not by the soldiers OF either
army.
cambridge gained the floor again, and
said that he favored the penSioning of
all old soldiers who were worthy OF ii;
thought that his amendment 10 protect
the true soldier would do it more than
/ Mr.. YOung'S resolution did. and he
I thought this continued anding 10 the
pension roll injured the worthy SOL
dier.
Mr.. Clark said he would like to know
whore the brave home-guardS fought,
what battles they had won, and why
history did not tell of their achieve
ments. He thought this class of sol
diers, rs a whole, were set OF thieves;
retold his colleagues that they
were dealing with dangerous question,
and thought that all who were in favor
Of protecting the true soldier should
vote for Mr.. Dandridge'S substitute. AT
this point much interest was manifested
and no little feeling was displayed.
Mr.. Young gained the floor again and
said he could speak for the soldiers in
Upshur county. lie knew them, and
knew them to be honest men, and knew
that they rendered much valuable ser
vice TO the government. He knew OF
one company which had been captured
by the ConfederateS and over
half Of that company died in
prison At this point consider
able feeling: was again manifested
and Col. White, OF Ohio, made a motion
to indefinitely postpone the conSidera-
tion OF Dandridge'S amendment.
The speaker held that the point was
not well taken.
Judge Ferguson then asked for vote
upon the substitute and the ayes and
nays were demanded. The vote stood
ayes 30 and nays 80, the substitute be-
ing lost
Thompson moved to lay Young's res
olution on the table, and again the ayes
and nays were demanded. Mr.. Thomp-
sons motion was lost by one vote. Col
White then offered the following amend
ment TO Young'S resolution;
"RcSolrcd. That our Senators in the
Congress Of the United States be in
structed and our members in the House
of Representatives be requested to use
their influence to secure the early pass
age of such measures as will give proper
bountieS, pay and pensions to the West
Virginia State troops who served in the
war of eighteen hundred and Sixty-one-
five in support of the government OF the
United States and who may deserve the
same. and to their orphans and chill
dren."
The ayes and nayes were called for on
the adoption OF the admedment. The
amendment carried by large majority.
A vote was then taken on the question
of agreeing to the resolution as amend
ed. Again the ayes and hayes were
called and the resolution as amended
carried.
The House Immediately adjourned.
THE SENATE.
A scheme for Free school Books-An
Electric Plant for the Capitol.