The Greenville times., 1891-06-27

Iai. Barksdale criticises Senator
George for voting for the DEPEND
dent Pension Bin, Bheu as We are ad-
vised, he, (Barksdale,) was a member
Of The committee Of the national dem
oeratic convention that prepared and
reported to that body, the following.
which was adopted
That our soldiers and sailors. who
carried the flag of our country to vic
tory against the most gallant and de-
1eFmined foe b; must ever be gratefully
remembered, and all the guarantees
given IN their favor must be faithfully
carried into northumberland
Enterprise.
tealty to the party, no less than in-
diVidual consistency in carrying cut
the spirit of a policy which he had as
sisted to formulate, would suggest that
Maj. Barksdale, when given chance,
would have supported a federal pen
sion bill. Yet, his severe aninadver-
slons upon Senator Georges ailirma-
tive vote on the Dependent bill would
imply that he would have Stunned il
even as moral leper, or political
viper.
Ii so happens that Maj. Barksdale
served four years in Congress after
the pension system was lnaugurated.
and il will not be amiss or uninterest-
lug to observe how he exercised his
privilege of supporting the annual
pensions appropriation bill, or placing
upon ii the seal of condemnation, as it
seems he would have had Senator
George do. Here is the record:
On April %, 1884, on the passage
of the bill iii. Il. 6094) making appro-
priaiions for payment Of invalid and
other pensions of the United States
for fiscal year ending June 80, 1885,
which, according to Mr. Washburn,
Chairman of the subcommittee having
the bill in charge, appropriated in all
$So,6o4,4 400 for pensions Mr.. Barks.
dale did not vote and was not paired
see vol. 81, p. 2O42, 18th Cong. lst
session.)
On January 6, 1885, the House took
up IL. Il. 77S5, making appropriations
for the payment of invalid aud other
pensions of the United States, for fiscal
year ending June 80, 1886. Mr.. Han
cock, who seems TO have had charge
OF the bill (vol. II, p. iS6, 18th Cong.
2nd session,) said that the total
amount proposed, to be appropriated
was $50, ,975,0O0. Again Mr.. Barks
dale is reported as not voting, and
was not paired, (see vol. II, p. 502,
4Sth Cong. 2nd session.)
On March 4, 1886, the House was in
committee Of the whole, on bill I'll. r.
520l) making appropriations for pay
ment Of invalid and other pensions of
the United States for fiscal year end
ing June 1887. During discussion Of
the bill, which according to Mr.. Reag-
an. appropriated S75,000,000, Mr.. Gofl,
Of West Virginia, attacked the State
of Mississippi aud Copiah county, say
ing Mr.. Cleveland said he would draw
the limo at murder. Mr.. Barksdale
is recorded as not voting, was not
paired and had nothing to say on the
bill, (see vol. rs, p. 2077, 10th Cong.
2nd session.
On March 8, 1887, House having
under consideration bill Is. 3050) grant
ing Mrs. Mary Logan widow of Gen.
Logan, a pension of $4,000 annually,
Maj. Barksdale for fourth time Is
recorded as not voting and was not
paired, (see vol. ls, p. 2S0S, 49th Cong
2nd session.)
These three annual pension appro.
priations aggregated In round NUM-
bers, TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS and as there Is
no record to show that Maj. Barks-
dale mado any effort to prevent their
passage, il is perhaps fair to assume
that he favored them. If he did not,
then what can be thought, or said, of
his frequently boastcd vigilance and
fidelity to duty, if he remained supine
for three long years without raising a
voice or hand TO prevent $22O,O00,0 900
being taken from the federal ex-
.L,uuor uthn Mtee;ootppfon