Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-07
c0sGas 3 ~ MiLuseYs REMARKS
a-=7s
upsa the Pension ipsrepriatias eii. Fetre
AIRY re. 1893.

AIRY Ie. 1893.
Hr. Miiiken. Mr.. Chairman. oppose
~ amendment Of tt,e nilenian from Mis-
mi in ilie first place. bectnse il is almost
a,..la,eiy impraciicable 10 enforce.
Sow. oa tbs floor we have heard from
< n'iea,en on Ihe oihersifle of the House
tpat the sol hers, AMI a very large class of
them. aecor'ieg Ia thsir sta,emrn,s, were
rot.bsrs, pr jners, AMI frauds. The gen.
slenaa from Missouri m ks Il proposition
here which boil. out an inIuceuent to
very man II he be dishonest man, 10 do
sil IL was - much don. Nm Ter the income
Tux legislation. and that Is to commit the
very crime which these gentlemen have so
r-eklessly, so nnjastly, so faisely AMI Sian
deronsly urged against the soldiers of this
COUNTRY
ito not believe that there could be
money eDoagh saved. if the amendment of
the gentleman should become the law Of the
land, to pay for such an investigation. as
you'd be neeessifated by the pension de-
pertinent, 10 determine the actual facts a.
Ia the income of those who receive pensions
from the government. There would not be-
enough saved to pay the pension depart
fient for doing the work And does the
gentleman want law placed upon our
statute books that will simply invite a
soldier to send in an affidavit as to what he
is worth, and let the Office take testimony
as to whether the affidavit is correct?
Why, sir, if the one-hundredth part of
what has been said by the gentlemen on the
other sie against the soldiers of this country
is even partially true, such an investigation
would be a simple mockery, and such affi-
davits unworthy of serious consideration.
desire to sav, however, that the attacks
made by Democrats on this floor upon the
soldiers of the country are false. They are
in famous ISLANDERS upon class of men to
whom the country owes its existence today
as one great powerful, proud, and prosper
Gus government.
The gentleman from Missouri pronounced
against them an indictment so false in its
language, SO furious in its manner that
there eonld be but one of two purposes in
giving utterance to il, either to disseminate
such ISLANDERS against the old Union veter-
ans as to create a public sentiment that
| should demand curtailment of their pen
-ions, or to satisfy and crafty n constitu-
cucy which hates the old soldiers today as
many of them hated and fought them dur
ing the war anil this Is done under pre-
tense of friendship for the true soldier.
out upon such mockery! 1t can deceive
no one. These vicious amendments strike
1T all soldiers, the most deserving as well
rs others. The very amendment now I'M
der discussion does that.
The old soldiers as class are as honor
able as they were patriotic. They have
warmly and earnestly at heart the welfare
of the country which they saved, and | pro-
test against and repuIiate the slanderous
words which have been hurled against the N
during this debate. of course, they are
like the rest of Us. human beings. We are
not all perfect. We do not expect to FIND
every man in this land. simply because h.
went to the front and did honorable service
| for bis country, to be perfect in all respects
bnt know from facts in my own district
that the statements gentlemen have made
| on this floor. that the soliiers are endeavor-
ing to get money from the government
which is not due to them. is Statement
without foundation in truth.
There is no more honorable class of mer
than those who gather in the Grand Army
posts. They are the nucleus around
which the patriotic spirit clusters, and Their
Vettlnks ttnu To IDhlDNBlu 3uoiG ptt-
Pile that earnest love of country which in
| duced them to go to the front. and on tho
perilous edge of battle, to offer kheir lives
for the good of the Republic; and today the,
stand as solid phalanx to resist the efforts
of all who would assault or undo rhine tn
government. whether its enemies be of on
class or another domestic or foreign. Thei
services TO the nation in this respect sine.
| tie var are only second to their great worn
in saving the nations life in its darkest hour
Of peril, and can not be overestimated OF
too highly commended.
NV friend from Kentucky Mr.. Dicker.
son said yesterday that We were voting
pensions to the soldiers because we were
| COW ards. and because We were afraid that
the soldiers would be against US in the cleo
tons.
Now, do not know how it may be with
him; he is at liberty to plead guilty if he
wants to for himself, but not for me or for
others who entertain no such sentiment
| believe that every honorable citizen OF
this country is glad to see the governments
pay out to the old soldiass that which
makes them comfortable in their last days
and believe that many n mans heart has
been gladiened. as he has seen them re.
ceive the justly deserved tributes of their
country's gratitude.
| am sure that in the community where ]
1--we. and believe in every patriotic com
munity the people who never sas service
in the army. they who have been born and
grown to manhood since the war, revere the
brave old veterans of the war and are made
glad always when they see the hand of he
government stretched ont in recognition OF
It's debt TO them. to pay them what greal
country and just people could not afford
10 refuse.
The gentleman from Missouri, Mr.. De
Almond said in his speech yesterday, that
the pension office was honeycombed with
corruption that il was VIGOROUSLY so. How
noto,iouss No further than the tongues of
slanler have made 1t so. Does the gentle
man personally know what he states? Does
he even attempt to produce here any evil
dence 60 prove it,
Was NOT his colleague, Mr.. Tarsney.
when pushed to the wall in regard to his
assertion to the same effect. obliged under
a very thin pretext TO refuse to give any
names, or anything but his own assertions
as the gentleman himself did. Let it be
remembered that the present commissioner
of pensions. Gen. Rsum. WAS for many
years commissioner of fnteral Revenue.
wnere he handled hundreds of millions OF
dollars. and the government suffered no
loss at his hands even to the amount Of a
frsction of penny.
Gen. Raum was brave soldier. I be-
lieve he has been an honest and thoroughly
efficient pension commissioner. and ,hess
assaults upon his Office are made by those
Who oppose the payment Of pensions, TO
whip the old soldiers over his back.
Mr.. Speaker, this debate has served one
They an Testify