Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-11

WASHINGTON, d. c., February TO-
Discussion of annual appropriation bill
is usually dry proceeding. 1t was sup
posed. however, that when the pension
bill came up in the House to-day there
would be a break in the dull routine.
But there was not. Mr.. Mitchler, OF
| Pennsylvania, VINO had charge OF the
bill, made two hours speech, which,
though bristing with statistics and de-
| livered in his natural courteous man
ner, did not attract close attention.
Mr.. Grout, of Vermont, Mr.. TarsneY,
of Missouri, and Mr.. Mckinney also
spoke.
After the routine business had been
disposed of the House proceeded In
committee Of the whole, Mr. Wilson,
West Virginia, in the chair, to the con-
sideratIon OF the pension appropriation
bill
Mr.. Mutchler, in charge Of the bill,
stated that the appropriation recom-
mended was Sl6G, 100000. 1t was pro-
posed TO amend the measure so that
amount would be reduced TO Sl66,OO0,-
600. The bill carried about S4,OOO.OUO
in excess Of the amount that would be
expended during the current fiscal year.
This was the heaviest appropriation
bill that had ever been before an Amer
lean Congress. Only three years In the
history of the government were the eX-
penditures for a single year greater
than would be the expenditures during
the next fiscal year. The committee on
appropriations had come to the conclu-
sion there should DE some retrenchment
that reform In the granting OF pensions
must begin somewhere and the time had
come when that reform should be inaug-
urated II was not the desire OF the COM
mittee to deprive any union soldier who
was deserving Of pension, OF any pen
sion that he now received. There was
nothing in the bill that would take a
penny from any pension that had been
granted 10 a deserving soldier. The
committee had recommended several
amendments, which it thought would
institute reform. The frst-and he
thought the most impOrtant-waS
that providing for the trans
fer of the Pension Bureau
from. the. Interior to the War
department. Such a transfer would
! lessen the amount OF money appro-
priated for pensions and would not de-
prive a single deserving soldier of the
pension which he now had or which he
might hereafter obtain. The pension
! bureau could not be taken out OF the
arena of politics until it was put where
political influence did not count. Mr..
Mutchler then proceeded 10 argue in
support Of the changes In the pension
laws recommended by the committee on
appropriations.
There were, he said, thousands-and
many thousands, OF men who were on
the pensions rolls to-day who made
more money during the three months
of their enlistment than they had ever
earned before or since, and yet who had
never heard the whistle OF the bullet or
the roar OF artillery. As to the propo-
sion that no pension shall be paid 10
nonresident who is not citizen OF the
| United States except for actual dis
ability, he said be did not desire to see
ary pension refused TO foreigner who
| had been Injured in fighting for the
preservation of the Union.
But the foreigner who had never
gone into battle, but who had gone
home with his pocket full OF money
ought not to be put on an equality with
the American citizen. To support such
I a man abroad was al outrage.
Mr.. Grout, admitted that the amount
of money required for the payment Of
pen sions was large. de was opposed to
the transfer Of the pension bureau is
proposed by the bill. He did not think
| that such a transfer would take the
| brreau out OF the domain OF politics.
Mr.. Tarsney, In speaking In favor Of
the proposed amendments, said that the
man who hazarded his life for his cOnn-
try was patriot, but that the man who
/ hazarded his life in war for any govern
nent or In any cause under contract
for his hire, was hlreling merely, and
every obligation Of the employer ceased
when the stipulated hire was paid. In
| the name of the hundred Of thousands
OF patriots who, In 1861 and 1862, not
stopping to inquire what wage or
bounty would be paid, impelled only by
/ love Of country aud 8 sense OF patriotic
duty, went forth and hazarded their
| lives that the government might live,
he denounced as impious the doctrine
of contract relations between then. and
their government.
The half million pensioners on the
roll did not constitute one-t1entieth Of
the voting and tax-paying population OF
the country, and the others who bore
the burdens Of the system were oecom-
ing dissatisfied and discontented. They
would not have the name Of one desery-
ing soldier stricken from the rolls, nor
would they have his allowance reduced
one farthing. But they had right 10
protest against being taxed 70 support
these men who had no claim on the
! gratitude OF the country.
Without closing the general debate
the committee rose and the House took
q recess, the evening session TO be for
the consideration of private bills.
In the Senate the car coupler Dill was
under discussion, and il was agreed 70
take q vote on IL tomorrow. To-day's
debate was dull and uninteresting.