The National tribune., 1893-02-23

reach anywhere near $780, 100000. think the
| year 1895 will show a decrease, and while
| agree fully with the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania Mr.. Mutchlerl that the amount OF
| Sl66. 600 600 will not suffice for pensions the
coming year, and while think there will be
deficit for the next year. doubt exceedingly
whether the total will exceed $50, 0O0, 600 in
1895. admit that that is large sum, but our
people will never forget the soldiers of the
army of the Union, aud will cheerfully bear
| the burden the roll of honor may impose.
/ think the patriotic sentiment pervades
this country, that the soldier who exposed
! his life in defense of the Republic should be
| generally provided for against the accidents
of fortune not grudgingly, but as becomes a
grateful people. A Republic of all forms OF
! Government cannot afford to be ungrateful.
am rejoiced that it cannot be said of this
great Republic that it has shown ingratitnde
| to the soldiers who have fought its battles.
| As the resources of the Nation have increased
| the recognition of services to our country
have been enlarged. History cannot charge
this Republic with ingratitude From Wash
| ington down to the present hour the men who
have upheld the flag of the Republic have re-
| ceived the generous applause and grateful re-
membrance of a patriotic people.
But, after all, gentlemen, there is a senti-
ment in the country that ought not to be
| overlooked. 1t concerns the enormous taxa
ton of our people. 1t is a feeling that a
| large portion of our expenditures involving
hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the
building of ships, in the erection of fortifica-
| tions great gun foundries, and the construction
| of guns at enormous cost in the supposed I'M
provement of rivers and harbors, in the vast
| sums expended for our Army and Navy,
! that these vast expenditures for these pur-
poses, running up into near hundreds of
millions annually, as gentlemen Will see
when they add the items together, are CEN
traliZing our wealth through excessive tax
alton as wealth has never been centralized be-
fore in any other country. For excessive taxa
ton is the most insidious and remorseless
power of Capitalization that the craft of the
statesman has ever invented, and this taxation
is largely centralized in the forms of expendi-
| lures | have named. This sentiment is that
the process of distributing pensions in small
sums TO a great multitude of people is deem
Trailing power.
The pensions we grant in comparatively
small sums gladden. countless homes and fire.
sides-take the shadow from the widows home.
give hope and life TO her and her children.
Diffused through the hands Of hundreds OF
thousands of people, these small pensions
reach millions of our people. Thus there is
a diffusion Of the wealth of the country.
Those who believe in the wisdom of the pen
sion system, who stand by q liberal system of
pensions. find that in this view of the matter
not only justice is done, but that the benefit of
this diffusion of the wealth of our country,
which our Temorseless methods of taxation
are gathering together, is an anchor of safety.
Most other forms of expenditure of our vast
revenues cTystaliZe through offices and con-
tracts into large private estates. The small
pensions sent out annually to hundreds of
thousands of homes arrest aud diffuse portion
of the vast sums which our overbearing taxa
ton imposes on the laborng people of our
country.
The great body of men who filled the ranks
OF the Union army were poor men. They
fought the great battles for the Union, and
when the Union was restored returned poor to
their homes. How was it with capital? Never
in the worlds history as during that war and
in the adjustment of the public debt has CAPT.
tai held such high carnival. Wealth grew
and rioted as never before. Here, then, were
the two sinews of war, men and capital. The
men left your great army poor. Capital rioted
in its unexampled gains. There is strong
sentiment in the country for a reasonable.
wholesome income tax. There is no denying
the fact. and why should not wealth now bear
a reasonable burden? That wealth now largely
influences our legislation cannot be denied.
The great cities of our country exercise a
vast influence over our legislation. They are
here with their Hobbies They are benefited
by the extravagant expenditures made by our
Government Lightly taxed capital riots in
our national expenditures. Impose upon capt.
tai q wholesome income tax and capital will
find Ger the first time motive for economy
aud frugal governm ent, and wealth will then
bear just portion of the burden which war
laid upon our country and which labor has IN
the main heretofore borne.
Mr.. SMITH OPPOSES THE AMENDMENTS.
Mr.. Smith Ill, r. regarded the amendments
to the bill as sweeping stroke at pensions and
kpcn IN ND wnnt0
not DO approved by the President. and were
attached to the bill in order to force the Presi-
dent to approve tbe BILL and should he fail to
do so, no money would be set aside to pay the
pensioners for the coming fiscal year. They
did not have the courage to stand up and de-
nounce all pensions, but a slur was covertly
cast upon the entire pension roll roll, which
despite all slurs and anathemas that may be
hurled against it by those opposed to the prin-
ciples for which the pensioners fought, will con-
tnue to stand as roll of honor illuminated
by the eternal light of patriotism so long as a
Republican form of Government exists on the
face of the earth.
Mir Patton Ind d. thought the faults of
the general pension law are the results of tardy
action under its provisions and not Of the law
itself.
As to the amendments to the pending bill,
have only to say they should not have been Of
fered, and will not be enacted into law.
In my judgment, the worst feature In these
amendm ents is the proposition to transfer the
Bureau of Pensions to the War Department,
and there place it under man who though not
named, is well recognized as no friend to the
volunteer soldier any soldier who helped to
fight the battles Of his country but failed to
procure rank and social standing.
Should this measure pass the House, the pro-
vision which authorizes the President to detail
all Army officer with the rank of Colonel to
preside over this Department will, when it goes
to the Senate. be changed so as to make the
rank that Of Brigader- General. 1t would
then go into conference and result as all such
conferences do with the Senate.
There is influence based upon ambition
that is patent in this matter, yet subtle in its
action.
trust the day will never come when the old
veterans in their declining years shall be
thrown on the mercy of this influence.
MAI. HULL GOES FOR TARsNEY.
| Mr.. Hull Iowa, L. said that he in part rep.
| resented State which makes it a crime for an
ex-Uuion soldier 10 be sent TO the poorhouse or
| buried in the potter's field The people of Iowa
/ still cherish the memory Of the great service of
| our citizen soldiery. In justice to the patriotic
| people OF Iowa / must enter my protest not
only against the proposed amendments, but
! against the line of argument which deals only
| in hypothetical cases and holds the Grand
| Army as an organization n subject for ridicule.
The gentleman from Missouri Mr.. TARsSEYl
| in his advocacy of the proposed changes in the