New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-09
ANOTHER ONSLAUGHT on PENSIONS
THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WILL
TRY TO CHANGE THE WHOLE POLICY.

THE HOUsF: APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WILL
TRY TO CHANGE THE WHOLE POLICY.
Washington. Feb. e.-A radical change In the
pension policy is proposed The change VIII be
backed up by n majority Of the Committee on Appro-
pratlOns, and will be fought tooth and nail by the
Republican minority, assisted by Representative hol-
man. chairman OF the committee who is ordinarily
the most strenuous advocate in the Committee OF a
reduction OF expenditures. The proposed change has
In view considerable reduction Of the pension rolls,
and Of the money now paid ont for pensions, by
changing the list OF the names OF some OF those now
on It by making more difficult the procurement of
pension under the laws, and by turning over the whole
Pension Bureau TO the War Department.
These changes. with some notifications. are the same
as were originally proposed by the subcommittee
which framed the Pension Appropriation bill; which,
In full committee. were stricken out by a malor,'y OF
one vote Tho committee has now. by narrow
majority reconsidercd that action. There was n
meeting OF tie committee this morning. ard the fight
for a new pension policy renewed by Mr. O'Nell.
Of Massachusetts,. and others. By and nay vote
the committee decided TO report number Of amend
mcnts to be- offered to the Pension bill when 1t comes
mp.
Under these. the Bureau with all It's records
and employees except the COmmsslener and two dcpu-
ties. will be transferred TO the record and pension dvi-
sion OF the War Department. with power in the Presi-
dent 10 designate an officer 10 act head with the
a.
designate two Army officers 70 rank - captains TO
act as first and second deputy commissioners OF pen
sons. Another one provides that hereafter no widow
who married a soldier OF the late shall receive a
pension, where she married the soldier more than I'VE
years after his discharge. TINS making II apply NOT
only to the War OF the Rebellion, but 10 Indian ana
all other wars. Another amendment excludes from
pensions under the disability act. all persons not dis
abled from manual labor and who are in receipt OF an
income OF more than 5000 year.
on motion OF Representative Mutchler. OF Penn
sylvania, amendment was adopted providing
that the ratings Of pensions for tho same class OF
pensioners for like disabilities shall be uniform. and
that all pensions heretofore hereafter granted In
pursuance Of the Dependent and Disability act shall
be rated upon the liability Of tho pcnsloncT 10 earn
n living BY manual labor" The object OF this amend
ment Is 10 correct nequatr, which have arisen IN
administration OF the laws.
The present boards Of medical examiners are
abolished, and 10 bc reconstructed with one Inein-
Der each. instead Of three AT present one hundred
and twenty special medical examiners - he detailed
from the Bureau. provided for 10 act In cOnnccon
with these new boards Of medical examiners.
There were several votes In committee, but on the
whole the stood follows: leas-Messrs. saver,
Ireckinridgc, OF Kentucky: Dockery, Muchlcr Brcck
inridgc, OF Arkansas DNeill, Of Massachusetts, ana
Livingston OF Georgia. all Democrats. NtyS-NeS,r'
Holman (Dcm) and COgswell. bingham Dngley and
GrOut NeTs.). Mcssrs. Forney and Compton (Dems.)
and Henderson, u Iowa rep. were absent.