The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-04
DISCUSSING PENSIONS.
IBIE SPEECHES ON BOTH SIDES OF
TBk QUESTION.
Sir. Black. OF Illinois. Defends the Admin
isiration in It's Policy OF economy
picker and Waugh for Other side.

WASHlNbION, MaIch al
private pension bills were passed by
unanimous consent. and then the House,
al 1885. went into Committee Of the
whole on the pension appropriation bill.
and SIR Outhwaite (Ohio) took the chair.
Nr pickler Rep., S. ID spoke at
icac,h in eulogy Of the soldiers Of the
Union army. and OF their great achieve
m.nts and described the magnanimity
with which the South was treated by the
commanders and leaders OF the victorious
forces. In concluding. he said Il submit
chat the Union soldIery. whose sentiment
las been the handspring OF the mag
nl.lmlus action OF this Government
toward the people who had opposed them
in battle. are entitled TO generous treat
ment, al least. just treatment from TINS
whole nation And never until justice ~
conceded him. and his reports freely ana
duly recognized, viii there be that era
Of good feeling and good fellowship among
tho peopIe 0f this nation which ought 10
prevail. 10 is but justice that the Union
soldiers shall be as well treated as the
soldiers of the Revolutionary. Mexican,
or Indian wars. The bondholder was not
promised gold in payment of bonds, but
"A great people. Jealous OF their credit.
U future legislation, made the bonds
ravahie i'm gold ON the other hand, the
fo.i.eTs were promised payment in money
.a4 gC0d as gold al any bank ana Gov
srlmeut offices throughout the United
siates.' Not the enthusiastic promise OF
tle recruiting officer not the promise OF
fne governors Of the States calling for
troops. but from the highest authority
u the Government came this solemn
promise on the Sd day Of September
le. that "all future payments Of the
u0nps should be in money as good as
eol." Mr.. Picklor read copy Of that
order. now thirty-twO years old, "a copy
growing yellow with age which ne pro-
cured a few days ago al the War Depart
mel..
The fourth section Of the Fourteenth
amendment of the Constitution OF the
United States declared that. THE valid
tI OF the public debt of the United
states authorized by law. including debts
i.s payment Of pensions and bounties
l9r services I'm suppressing insurrection
or rebellion, shall not be questioned. %
There can be no fair Interpretation OF
fhIs promise Of tho Constitution other
flan the debt for pensions, just pensions,
liberal pensions, should ever be a sacred
onr This promise does not warrant "A
narrow and mean construction Of tie
pension laws. 10 does not warrant "a
technical construction of the laws. rules.
and regulations against the pensioner. IL
does lN' mean arbitrary and unfair rul-
irrs and constructions which tend 10 a
disalIowance of the pension. 10 does i'm
ply an 0ren fair. and liberal cOnstruC-
non of The laws that will be an honor
fo tho soldier and an honor 10 the nation
he saved. The pension roll As a roll Of
survivors Of all the wars in which this
great nation has engaged il is roll
0f undying honor. and so il will ever
d.. and no class more than the soldier
themselves Will demand that IL be so |
kept
I'm Che course Of his remarks. while |
rotug John T. Fellows upon the man |
ner In which the people Of New York |
htd received the $1,000 Southerners, who |
had gone 10 that city since the war. Mr. |
Picker was interrupted by Mr. Boatner !
Dem. Lao, who said that many North |
trn men had come into his district and |
bad been received in the same spirit of |
friendiiness and courtesy Some Of the /
leading residents. the most influential Of |
h.s district. came there I'm blue uniforms |
after being mustered out Of the Union |
army. applause by Republicans)
Mr. Hlack Reptile 20 Grout.
Representative j. G.. Black Dem. Ill). |
extension Commissioner. was the next |
speaker. He said that If he had at the |
tained any bitterness of feeling IL would |
have entirely disappeared under the in |
hlence OF the lofty sentiments expressed |
Dor him, and he congratulated the speaker |
upon the excellent temper in which the |
speech was conceived and delivered He |
Intended. however, Mr. Black said. TO
address himself TO the three points made /
in the speech of Mr.. Grout yesterday |
These were. O) that the present admin |
IT.
iy 90 The soldiers; 90 that the policy pur-
sued In the bureau is inimical to the
i-Ats OF the soldier, ana CD that the |
ID mocrauc party is opposed 10 pensions. |
The law Of 1890. said Mr. Black, required |
mat the establishment of three things |
must be- clearly made out by every claim
ant before pension can be legally al
lowed under IT,
An officer who did not require these
three things TO be established before issu-
ins "a certificate did not faithfully OBJ
serve the law. In lS9l-q2. continued the |
speaker there was tremendous pressure
brought 90 bear upon the bureau for the
issue OF certificates. Under this pressure
il that year in 300 working days. 81 900 |
certificates were issued. over 1000 a day |
some examiners passed as many RS 100
claims "a day. ana one made a record |
of = i0o a month. and after doing this was
twice promoted for efficiency. This was
lt the rate Of case in less than every
four minutes. The actual work he had |
'o DO in each case. said Mr.. Black, was |
'1 read the face brief. sign the face slip,
make face Slip. sign his name. and make
o. illFment There had been examiners
made a record OF 300 cases day.
adel such "a practice, lac said ii would
ne miraculous If great errors did not
occur.
Illustrating this point, Alr. Black said
llt the records of the Pension Bureau.
according 10 a statement made by the
commissioner. showed that "A regiment re-
ra.ted in a northwestern State near the
lose Of the war. serving one hundred
ifff. contributed Ga names 10 the pension
ie. With two companies not accounted
volley OF questions was fred at the
noakcr by Messrs Grosvener Rep,
lhol. Lacey Rep.. lowa) and Raw (Rep..
rs. N). % which ne replied that the
esmont was Hendersons iowa; that
.e did not know part OF the members
'I the regiment were veterans who re
Nsiei ana were pensoned FOR injuries
e.vei in that prior service that on the
..er hand. the claim for pensions were
upon the experiences Of the one
nlfed days
a.r Ray VIII the gentleman name the
.e.mc1t2
Nr Black: I have expressly declined
' ol go. The statement is made up on
.e authority Of the commissioner Of Dcn-
'.f afi The gentleman from New York
''ess can learn there what he wants
1 know
"i l,ay' Let me suggest IN all kind J
ihai the charge Is a serious one
.inet the soldiers. {
'f Back. IL Is not charge against {
soldier. and The gentleman shall