The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-02-14
Chr Democratic Adrntate.
WESTMINSTER, MD.
lis Pension Bills in 100 Minutes


The House of Representatives on last FRI
day night was in session from 8 until III
o'clock. and in the 40 minutes passed ll5
private pension bills.
In most cases the claimants had been re-
ected by the Pension Bureau. Allen J.
Marker, late of Co. l., 4th Maine Infantry,
had his pension increased from S24 to $40
per month. The Committee on Pensions re-
ported the case as "merltorious' and the
bill was passed, notwithstanding 'his appll-
cation for increase was rejected by the Pen
sion Bureau on the ground that the evidence
did not show that he was incapacitated from
performing manual labor as the report OF
the Committee accompanying the bill said.
Peter Zimmerman, late II private IN Go.
IL. Slst Wisconsin Infantry, is another Of
the Us who was voted pension. He had
been "A nensioner at So, then Sl4, then S24
and finally $50 per month. Later it was
discovered by the Pension Bureau that his
disability was not due TO his army service and
his name was dropped. He appealed from
the Pension Commissioner to the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior, but the latter sus-
tanned the decision of the Pension Bureau.
Notwithstanding this the House passed the
bill.
Another recipient of the generosity Of the
House was Joel A. Holdren, of Huntington
county, Indiana Holdren was born blind,
in 1855. and had never been in the army.
He supported himself by his violin, although
il is claimed that his brother Benjamin, who
died in the army, contributed to his support.
The applicant has two other brothers, Ju
then do not aid him, and he applied TO Con
gress, and successfully, and he will get ST.
pee month.
In the three cases here noted, and they are
similar to the others, two of the claims OF the
applicants had been fully considered by the
Pension Bureau, which has always SOLVED
doubts in favor of claimants, and rejected
and in the third case the applicant for a pen
sion had absolutely claim upon the gov
eminent. lie never rendered the govern
ment any service, nor was he dependent upoI
his soldier brother, for he was but nine year
old when this brother died, and he was thel
living with his father. He has two othe
brothers, but twenty-six years after the dealt
of the brother that it is claimed did aid him
he comes to Congress and asks for a pension
and gets it.
This is the way the peoples money goes
AT these Friday night sessions the attendance
is rarely over one-fourth Of the members
and pension claims are run through withou
any consideration at the rate of one minute
In one case at last Friday nights session thu
report and evidence submitted occupied two
and half pages in the Congressional Record
and it could not have been read under hal
an hour. II ,rds not read, and the Houst
went it blindly, because it was a claim for I
pension.
If all those were stricken from the foll'
who are not entitled to pensions, there woulc
be large saving of money. Instead of re
curing one hundred and fifty millions fol-
pensions, less than one half would suffice
and the lists ought to be purged.
Special attention is called to an article OF
the subject of pensions from the New York
Tribune, the leading Republican organ Of The
country, published in this issue.