The herald., 1893-12-17

brush for fraud, was actuated by a de-
sire to deprive honest soldiers of PEN
sions. 1t was true, however, that this
war against unworthy and undeserving
soldiers would be prosecuted vigorously.
Blair, Stone, Pickler, Cannon and
Bingham harrassed Livingston at every
step, and Blair declared he did not OBJ
ject to wedding out fraud. but he did
object to making that pretext a cloak
for deliberate conspiracy to deprive
honest pensioners of pensions.
Livingston replied that the sole pur-
pose of the administration was to purge
the pension rolls of names that dishon-
ored them.
LACEY's LAMENTATIoN.
Lacey followed Livingston. In open
ing he read from recent interview with
Lawrence I. Neal. author OF the tariff
plank of the Democratic platform.
Ninety per cent of the Democratic disaf-
lection, Neal said, should be charged to
the course of the pension Office, for
which the administration was directly
responsible.
Lacey also read memorial received
by Outhwaite from w. A. Taylor, re-
cent Democratic candidate for lieuten-
ant-governor, who call for congressional
investigation of the ridiculous, unlaw-
full and unjust policy insugusrted by
the pension office, that has resulted in
the suspension of 1900 pensioners in
Ohio"
IN THE LIONS MOUTH.
In proceeding to denounce the con-
duct OF the commissioner of pensions,
Lacey said in Venice when charges
against citizens we're placed in the lions
mouth, their trial and condemnation in
secret followed. These dark and abhor-
rent methods pulled down Venice. 1t
was now proposed to make every post
Office lions mouth, in which every
scoundrel and villain can drop venom
and spite. Straightway a special
agent dispatched to secretly try
and condemn an honest veteran. The
whole country should rise up and re-
buke the administration. He protested
against employing the whole force Of
the pension Office to rummage about for
fraud, instead of adjudicating the hum
dreds OF thousands OF claims that awaited
action.
RAUM's OLD ENEMY.
Enloe, an old antagonist of ex-Com-
missioner Raum, declared the pension
department, under this administration,
the greatest triumph of this government;
it was doing noble work. He was sur
prised at the line of defense set up on
the other eide. In the eye of the law
they (the Republicans) were accom-
plices OF fradulent pensioners. Because
the administration was sinyestigating and
punching these cases of fraud. how
could honest men parade this before tine
country as hostility to deserving PEN
sionera? M
Enloe wanted every soldier in the
country who was entitled to q pension
to have it, and have all he was entitled
to; but he also wanted every soldier
dishonesty on the roll, Or drawing more
money than he was entitled to-, taken
from the roll. He proceeded to discuss
the result of the investigation of the
pension Office. At Baltimore it was
found that pension attorneys secured
pension checks, held them as payment
for money due, and charged fee for
collecting them. At Norfolk a regular
mill for the manufacture of pension tes-
timony was unearthed. In New Mexi-
co most astounding frauds were COM.
mitted. A similar condition of affairs
existed in Indian territory and in GER
tain parts of Iowa.
In concluding Enloe said the time
would come when every honest Union
soldier and every self-respecting citizen
would applaud the pension policy of this
administration.
Morse closed the debate with vigor-
ous assault on Cleveland and Lochren.
At the conclusion of his speech an agree
ment was reached to close the det-.e
after three hours further discussion on
Monday.
At 5 10 pm. the house adjourned.