The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-21
thus cutting off about 400, 900 pensioners and
had thus committed an act which was akin to a

thus cutting of about 400, 900 pensioners, and
had thus committed an act which was akin to a
crime.
Mr.. Cannon believed that soldier IS years
| of age was entitled to pension, and should be
put on the list without controversy; he believed
| that rs per cent. of the men of that age who
had gone through the war were physically and
| mentally disabled.
He spoke of the hardness with which cases
were adjudicated under the present Admins
tratiOn rs compared with the previous Ad-
ministration. He stated that under the Cleve.
land Administration $4,000 certificates had
been issued. while during corresponding
period of Gen. Raum's Administration of the
Pension Office $4,000 pensions had been
granted-nearly three times as many.
There were 100000 cases" said Mr.. Cannon,
awaiting adjudication under the law of 1890,
and there are 1000 cases in jeopardy at this
time
"Some one may ask" said Mr. Cannon, in
conclusion, whether intend to attack the PEN
sion Office. No. do not; but intend to at
tack the atmosphere of the Pension Office,
which is now about 90 degrees below normal"
Mr.. Livingston defended the policy of the
Administration in regard to pension matters.
He spoke of the numerous cases Of fraud against
the pension laws, and instanced cases in the
Arizona, New Mexico, and Albany districts.
He was frequently interrogated by Mr.. Van
fooihio, DahcT wv 1I, BhE i IShiSI, dHn
Mr.. Dingley.
Mr.. Lacey Iowa r. made an earnest speech
in favor Of the soldiers and in criticism of the
Administration and the policy of the Pension
Office in suspending pensions pending an ill.,
vestigation of charges secretly brought. In
Venice, in the olden days, there was the insti-
tuition of the Lions Mouth" in which charges
against anyone might be secretly dropped, and
the charges would be examined secretly. In
our day there was no Lions Mouth" but the
letter-boxes answered the same purpose, and
charges sent secretly by mail were investigated,
and, pending an investigation, the pensioners
were suspended.
In speaking of the disability pension law,
Mr. Lacey said that, no matter whether man
were a lawyer or a minister. If he were dis
abled from performing manual labor, he was
entitled to disability pension just as much as
one who depended upon his labor for his living.
There had been many charges of frauds. he
said, but he would like any gentleman on the
floor to instance, il he could, any cases occur
ring in his district.
After few minutes delay, Mr.. Livingston
tGa., d. stated that he knew of case OF fraud
in his district.
Good" said Mr.. Lacey; "we have one
case in Georgia-one case ont of many thou
sands. But what is fraud in Georgia may wear
a different aspect in Illinois or Iowa." and 1t
was just possible that the gentleman from
Georgia might regard any man who helped to
put down the rebellion as having been guilty
of fraud. "In 1863" he said, the boys went
marching through Georgia; in 1893, Georgia
goes marching through the boys"
Mr. Enloe Tenn, d. stated that he had not
witnessed any more pitiable spectacle on this
floor than the line of defense of the ex-Union
soldier adopted by Mr.. Lacey. He did not
suppose that there was an honest eX Union SOL
der in the country who would stand up aud
defend fraud and object to an investigation. In
conclusion, he said that more Ubiquitous law
had ever been framed than the law of July i,
1890.
Mr.. Morse Mass, r. said that he was sur
prsed at the statement made in the Presidents
last message that there were numbers of fraud
ulent pensioners living in every community.
He considered that statement libel on many
brave men and on the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. and Mr.. Morse repudated the state
ment. He said that the Democrats were too
cowardy to strike out pension legislation en-
tirely, but knocked down one man here aud
another there "They execute pensiorer
first and try him afterward," was the way he
put it. If a man must be pauper before lie
can become pensioner, then he was in favor
of abolishing all pension laws and making the
pensioners paupers dependent on tho various
communities, and not National paupers
At $40 the House adjourned.