Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-03-19
PALME R---PENSI0NS.
He Thinks Rottenness Should
BE Needed Out.
ROACH WILL HAVE TROUBLE,
Senator Stewart In The Unolasslsd Column
Difficulty In Agreeing Upon Tho
Division Of tho
Spells.

Washington, March 49, senator Pal
mers assignment as the chairman Of the
committee on pensions fixes his partlcu-
lar field OF activity for the next two
years. Congress does It's work almost
entirely through committees, and while
n senator may participate m all public
business, he Is the especial guardian OF
that particular line OF business over
which he Is the committee chairman.
Senator Palmer Is the only naior-gen-
eral In the senate. Moreover he aud
senator Villas ARE the only men on the
Democratic side who commanded Union
tro 1s during the war He has outlined
az Important program concerning pen
siOns which will soon attract the atten-
lion Of the country. He said II Intend
before the present extraordinary Sos
sion ~ the senate ends, 90 Introduce a
resolution authorizing the pensions COM
mttee 10 make thorough inyesugn-
ton Of the alleged fraudulent entries Ia
The granting Of pensions and the pension
system generally. II there Is ever 20 be
reform IN this line Il will have 10 be
accomplished by the pensioners aud not
BY their enemies. AZ result these
investigations have been open 10 the
criticism that they are prosecuted BY
enemies Of the pension system who de
sired 10 raise the cry Of freud and TINS
embnrrass the system itself ! hardly
think anyone would accuse me OF being
other than friendly 70 pe pensioners,
/ consider h the duty Of the government
20 give O liberal pension 10 every man
who Is suffering disability from the ser
Vice on the field.
The main purpose Of The investigation
will he 20 free the pension rool from fraud
ulent pensioners and 10 weed out the ya.
rious abuses which may have grown on
with The system. Another important puf-
pose will be- TO free the pension service
from the popular criticisms iiiat are now
urged against H. The pensioners have
no desire 10 defend the abuses Of The
system and when these abuses can be
located aud overcome u viii Put the
pension bureau on a footing that 4 has
moi had ln a long time. The resolution
/ propose TO introduce is not subject 10
he objection that Il Is outside Of the less
islntiYe business fOf which the special
session Of tire semitic was convened.
Il IS not legislative business, bat mere
M asks for authority for committee
10 pursue an Investigation
Senator palmers Investigations are
likely 10 bring about important results
Ri the Recommendation ~ the pension Fys-
tenn. He does not believe Ia the popular
plans 81 turning the pension system up
aide down. that have recently been adj
vaneed. For Instance, strong efforts
have been made toward making the pen-
Son bureau branch ~ the war dcpart-
mept where Il would b. entirely iu
charge Of army officers and subject %
strici military supervision. lie does not
believe IA such a removal nnd he has
!. stated to President Cleveland. Nor
dos ~ believe Ia any 81 the other rad
ir,l blame for remodeling the pnascut
.rsefn. On the contrary b. thinks
m. atssent system an excellent bue and
I'M Investigation win be with view
d perfecting tho system BY wedding out
abuses.
THE CASE or Mr. ROACH