The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-18
Members Of the G. A. r. Do Not Think the
Skulkers and Cowards Should Have Their
Records Cleared and Given Pensions.
Vaults of the Mint 0verburdened with
Dollars Made from the White Metal,
And Yet the Democrats Who Are Clamoring
for More Silver Refuse to Vote Money to
Supply Places for Storing II.
sCHEMlNG FOR PENSIONS.

Hundreds Of Deserters Want Their Records
Cleared by the Democratic House.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
WAsHINGToN. April 17.-It would be
very interesting to know Just how many
bills have been introduced in the present
House of Representatives to remove the
charge of desertion against the military
records OF ex-Union soldiers. 1t is claimed
that no record is kept in the room of tho
committee on military affairs which will
enable one TO get at q net result. But the
number has run away upintO the hundreds,
probably thousands, and they are pouring
into the House every day by the score
Sometimes member from some of the CEN
trail States introduces twelve or fifteen in q
single day. There could be hundred Of
these bills introduced every day, and they
would not attract attention.
One significant fact is traceable to these
bills. They are very largely introduced by
Observation-Disclosures of them-and they
would not be introduced in q Republican
House. Twenty times as many bills to re-
move charges of desertion from military
records have been introduced In this House
as havo been presented in the Senate. The
House is very strongly Democratlo, the
Senate Republican. It, therefore. follows
that the hope of the deserters lies in the
sympathy of Democrats. A Republican
Senator said the other day to your cOrre-
epondent. in talking of this fact. that he be-
lieved there were exceedingly few eX-
Union soldiers having clear and honorable
military records W bo voted the Democratic
ticket and recalling this deluge of deser-
tion bills which always follows the cleo
tion of o Democratic House he could
not but suspect, soldiers military
Tss0Fa np 10 Thsn shs polls oH ssw anS vo,e os%
Democratic ticket. He felt that it was
enough to create suspicion. and he always
made it point never to question that sol
dier about bis army career. lest he might
embarrass him. The Senator's idea was
that when an ex- Union soldier found de
serted" written opposite his name at the
War Department he Immediately went over
to the Democratic party, first. because he
thought the Republican party responsible
thought be could only get it Strengthened
out through the enemy of the Union.
So many bills to give ex-UniOn soldiers
straight military records have been intro
duced in this House that &. A. r. posts
throughout the country are taking up the
subject and petltioning Congress not to
pass the bills. The object in having the
records corrected" as they call 1T, is to
get tensions, and the q. A. 4. do not want
men to draw pensions who could not keep
their records clear, OF who, if they were
unjustly charged with desertion. did not
care enough about their records to have
them corrected st the War Department be-
fore they come TO ask for pensions.
Very few of these bills ever become laws.
Not one in hundred are reported from
committee. and there must be q wagon-load
of them stored away in committee rooms
An effort was made few years ago to have
law passed giving the Secretary of War
additional power to correct records; but it
was concluded that pressure would often
compel the Secretary to abuse that power.
yet he has authority now to correct records
under proper circumstances. 1t is quite
plain in a majority of instances that 1T is
not justice that the deserter wants. 1t is
an exercise of political power.