Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-14

constituencies. If the bill must pass then
implore representatives to defer It's
passage at least until those upon whose
bonded shoulders It's burdens must rest
are better prepared to bear the additional
load which II will inevitably impose.
The revenues OF the government have
for many months fallen short Of the de.
mands created by It's fixed obligations.
me Mckinley tarin bill and the dependent
pension act both products OF the Fifty
flre, Congress. have-the former by de-
crossing revenues. and the latter by in
crcagng expenditures, whilst both have
contributed immensely to the burdens OF
the tax-paycr-sO embarrassed the public
Treasury and impoverished the toilnG
masses that we may well hesitate before
incrrring additional obligations, even
where It IS clearly right and proper that
these obligations should lie assumed.
Economy and retrenchment are watch
words Of the Democratic party, and |
call upon my Democratic associates upon
this Moor to defeat this bill
Mir Chairman, there are some OF us here
who have been. without reason or justice,
criticised for our action in opposing GER
tain classes OF private pension-hills ]
have never hcsitaicd 90 oppose sucn as
believed contained no single meritorious
or exceptional feature. / am utterly OPP
pos q Go granting. through special lcgisla-
ton. exceptionally large pensions TO the
widows of officers and am also opposed
T. all Increase O.; the pensions granted
such widows of officers under the general
laws. unless their circumstances are such
"a q render the Increase absolutely ne
Ccssary. such bills are constantly before
this House. having been favorably re-
ported 10y the committees having Jurisdic-
ton over them. and those who have the
ieTeri,y 80 question their justice or 70
oppose their passage are frequently de-
nouncol as unfricndiy 70 the Union SOL
der.
WIDOW HITCHCOCK.
n the country could understand the
exact nature Of many Of these bills. their
utter lack Of merit and their absolutely
Outrageous ana inicfensible character !
have Sufficient faith in the honesty ana
virtue of the people 10 believe that those
who falsely accuse southern representa-
tIvcs OF cnmity toward the Union solder
would soon become the objects OF their
riahtoous Indignation and their unquaii-
f,l executions. on. Of the bills that has
PASSED the senate and been favorably re-
rortod upon by the Committee on Pen
p,usion NJ 50 per month to Martha *
Hitchcock. widow Of General Ethan Allen
Hitchcock. The evidence adduced before
tic committee showed that she did not
marry tile soldier until after the close
of the war. ana after his service had ter
minated by his honorable discharge from
rhe army. ana not until about two and
one hair years prior To his death.
r. was also admitted that Mrs. Hitch
cock had no children and that there was
uo one who had any legal claim upon
her. that she was the owner Of planta-
ton OF ~ acres in the State Of Georgia;
t.at size had s. 500 loaned ont at per
cent interest and. i'm addition thereto.
owned real estate IN the city OF Washing
ton worth at least 5000. She was also
entitled O. draw a pension of s. per month
ON account of tho service Of her deceased
husband ir one 81 the Indian wars. There
WAS never any question about these facts.
Mr. Chairman. ana yet the Committee on
Pensions thought that Congress ought I"
pass % special bin 90 pension this widow
al the rate of 81 per month. when there
are thousands and tens 81 thousands oil
widows 81 private soldiers whose entire
means OF subsistence consists Of tbs
monthly stipend of 81 which they draw
from the government
II il true that this bll was defeated
vD.n IT came up for consideration; hu1
its defeat Was not accomplished until II
had been str.ruouely advocated by some
Of those who pose here as the special
friends and champions Of the Union sol
dir. and as streuuously opposed by those
who are charged with entertaining unpa-
trlotlc sentiments toward the old soldiers,
and denounced as ob structionists, because
they ale not IN sympathy with this kind
Of pension legislation and not wiling To
accept burdly the findings of any commit
tee. however much respect they may have
for it's individual members.
j. may Dee well enough 10 remark, TOO
that this bill was defeated by very
close vote. and that the Republicans gene
rally. 81 not 10 d man, voted for It's
passage.
There are other bills Of just such char
actor. now upon the calendar awaiting
consideration. and to all Of them l am I'M
altcrably opposed.
The Committee on Pensions have
also reported favoraby "a BIZ TO
largely increase the pension OF the
widow Of AN officer who IS now receiving
"A pension rated at SO per month and VINO
fra addition 80 this pension, is receiving
ST. per month from rented property, ana
cnioving Il salary Of so per month as a
clerk IN the Treasury Department. Her
children are about grown, and one OF
th,m is an officer I'm the regular army.
Surely. il would seem that the willow
Of an officer might maintain herself IN
some degree of comfort upon s. .10 year
# the widow OF 1t common soldier can
exist upon $40,
These. Mr.. Chairman. are fair speci-
mems # the character Of bills that We
oup1ec. and on account of which We nav"
been denounced as obstructlOnists.
There are number Of exceedingly
broad and liberal laws upon the Fedora.
statute books. relieving from the charge
az dts,rtion those soldiers who LEFT their
commands under almost every circum-
stance that could De regarded as cNtenu-
ating We have had under consideration
% ll- TO remove the charge Of deser'l'il
standing against soldiers who deserted
after the actual cessation of hosiiities.
aul Who. for that reason alone. il has
been urged. ought TO be given an honorA-
bic DISCHARGE IN order that their dis
Grace may not attach to their uostert ~.
G> an act Of Congress passed aS early
as july 49, 1851. il was provided that no
soldier or sailor should be taken or held
o. be "a deserter from the army or navy
who faithfully served the cause OF the
Union until the 18th day Of April. 1'to,
and who. without authority OF leave qul,
lis command or refused to serve AFTER
that date. 10 was. however. wisely !
think. provided i'm that act that nothing
contained therein should operate as a
remission Of any forfeiture Incurred b5
any such soldier or sailor of his pension.
u is very apparent. therefore, that those
who came here after tho lapse OF nearly
thirty years. and who deserted after the
18Th or Aprl. 1868. and who now ask TO
be honoIabIy discharged when the WIZ
nesscs TO their shame are in all proha-
llity dead. are not SO much concerned as
L. how they may be- regarded 10y posterity
a. they are To secure a pension from the
government whose cause they wiiuiS
deserted
II the pension roll IS to be regarded as
a roll OF honor. IL were well mat the
Union veterans upon this floor see to II
tnst IL be not increased by the passage
Of bills to remove the charge Oh dt'e',i"I''
tie only conceivable purpose OF when -
to give the deserter a pens on.
WILL BE REMOVED.
There is not member Of this House
who AGREES with me upon IN : proposi"oh
who la not wiling that the odious charge
of .,,s,rtion shall bee removed when me
facts are clear that an injustice has DC II
t... .t. caller I,ut whenever a bill is