People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-08-12
NUMBER 46

at Portsmouth; they gave 100000 that
the Grand Army OF the Republic might
have "blow out" in Washington CITY.
Where did they get the right to take
the taxpayers money to be souander-
ed in that way?
They said much against US about
pensions. But they found good
chance and they put upon the pension
roll all the nurses that attended the
soldiers during the war. [ am told
that for eight months we have been
denounced because we wanted to give
pensions to n Orthern soldiers. but here
they not only gave pensions to the sol
diers, but pensiOned the nurses. and
next, [ suppose, they will be pension
ing the suffers.
The Democrats took great deal of
credit for reducing expenditures, but
| Democratic members at this session
stood upon the floor of the House and
said that the Democrats did as much
for the soldiers as the Republicans.
| want to read you some proof. | I'M
derstand that the charge was made at
DOuglasville that Cleveland had done
more for pensioners than the Republi-
cans, and that the statement was
strongly disputed
The Democratic platform of 1888
makes this claim for the party.
''While guarding the interest of the
taxpayers and conforming strictly to the
principles of justice and equity, it has
paid out more fer pensions and bounties
to soldiers and sailors of the republic
than has ever been paid before in an
equal period"
Now let me read from the New York
World. On Wednesday, August 3, that
great Democratic newspaper discussed
Mr. Cleveland's pension record. The
impression had gotten out North that he
(Cleveland) was not friendly to the pen
sions. and the World undertook to de-
fend him from the charge. Newspapers
generally make a good case when they
set about it. quote from this paper:
THE allual report of the pension COM
missioners for the fiscal years 1888, 1884
and 1885 shows certificates issued as fol-
lows: Claims admitted during the last
three years of Republican rule, ,191 ,22l."
Then it goes on to show the total
claims admitted during the first three
years of Democratic administration to
be 359, 454
FUNDS Discussed.
During the last three years of Repub-
lican rule 1888 100000; during the last
S217, ZOO, 900; excess of disbursements by
Democratic administration, $34. 900, O0O
That is TO say, the Democratic party, to
catch Northern votes. shows that 1t mas
paid out in pensions $34, 100000 more in
three years than the Republicans. How
is that for high? Voices, ''That's pretty
high. -ahfor Watson Sit them
Now, there i5oyNgreat deal said about
/ Al 41o04 SI1I
editor goes on to defend Cleveland from
that charge, and says:
| Private pension bills approved by
President Grant, 1885,
''By President Hayes, 3O3.
''By President Arthur, 1856
'By President Cleveland 1864"
quote further from the World:
There is not a member here who does not
know that if the President had not given
more attention to the bills passed by this
| House and the Senate than the House and
Senate gave them, great injustice would have
been done in many cases. Twice during this
! present Congress has be received bills the Sec
| ond time for his signature He has vetoed
seven bills passed by Congress where the pen
sioner was already receiving larger pension
| bull passed by Congress called for. He has
! vetoed bills that were passed for the relief of
soldiers because on eXamlnatlon or the evil
denCe on ii e in the DEPARTMENTS he was con-
WINGED that the soldier would receive justice
| through the Department and be entitled to
| arrearageS WEIGH he would lose by the special
| act. The veto of Senate bill 1910 saved to the
| beneficiary S5760. The veto of Senate bill
1867 saved to the beneficiary $1074 These
| amounts were paid to them shortly after the
| veto through the Pension Office
One of the worst measures passed by
this Congress, in nay opinion, was the
| McGarragan claim. 1t seems that
McGarragan claimed that he was de-
prived of valuable lands and minerals
| by corporation called The New Idria
Mining Company. 1t was said this
corporation had taken ten million
dollors worth of quicksilver from the
land. The bill which passed at this
session provided that McGarragan
should 60 into the court and make out
his case for damages. But, strange to
say, after doing so, he was to be paid
by the tax payers of the County, and
not by the corporation which had in
jured him. In other words, it would be
to the interest of the corporation and
McGarragan, to league together,
make out great account of damages
and collect it from the tax payers
and then go off behind tree and di-
vide the sWag. Naughter.) To Presi-
dent HarrisOn's credit be it said, he
vetoed the bill. ~
Another bad law was that which au-
thorizes the beginning of hydraulic
mining in California again. Yeu un-
derstand that hydraulic mining is the
washing down of hills and mountains
to get the gold. Thousands ct homes
in California have been destroyed by
it and the aggrieved party got no re-
dress. The Federal courts finally
stopped it after some Of the finest val
ley lands in the world had been
ruined by it. The bill recently pass
ed authorizes this thing to, be com
menced again, and nowher are pri-
vate land owners guarantees f>om in
Jury I tried to defeat the bill On the
Floor of the House, and regret that [
4 failed. Many poor man will lose his
home under that law.
Now about absenteeism. A voice,
''Now he is getting there."] What does
that mean? Simply that members are
paid S IA per day to work, and will not
work. Sometimes only IS members were
there. During the national conventions
we were a5 stand still. One time the
| sergeant-at-arms had gone out after alb
( sent members. When excuses were
rendered the next morning it turned out
/ IL <f.Hn 40