Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-04

bill.
Mr.. Picker South Dakota) took the
floor and made vigorous speech in be-
half OF a liberal pension policy. The
old soldier, his widow, his children and
his grandchildren should have pensions,
he said. General Black, Of Illinois,
ex-Commissioner of Pensions, followed
Mr.. Pickler, whose kindly speech, be
said, might almost be adopted as dec
laratlon of principles by the House.
While il was true that there was no
praise Of the Union soldier that would
not find an echo on the Democratic
side. the assault of Mr.. Grout, speak
ing for the Republican minority, could
not be overlooked.
Mr.. Grout Mr.. Black said, had laid
down three propositions: First, that the
Pension Office was untriendy to the
soldiers; second, that it was inimical to
their rights, and third, that the Demo.
cratic party was hostile to the Union
soldiers.
To these, propositions he desired to
address himself. In 1s91-92 three hun
dred and eleven thousand claims were
allowed, an average OF 1000 pension
certificates issued day. In the final
adjudication one clerk passed on 2,400
cases in a month, or one every four min
utes.
AFTER HE MADE THIS RECORD
be was promoted. Thousands OF cases
were adjudicated on three papers, first
the pension application, second the date
OF entering and leaving the army, with
out stating whether he was honorably
or dishonorablv discharged; third, the
medical examination. There was an
entire neglect of the great requisite OF
the law-that the condition Of the appli-
cant should be shown not 10 have been
the result of his own vicious habits. 1t
was this sort of skeleton work which
produced such enormous results. He
did not say this Ia criticism, only 10
show the methods that obtained. 1t
was imDOSsi bic, except by the iAterpOS-
tion Of miracle, TO avoid grosSs and
extensive errors with such methods.
Mr.. Black went on to cite the case OF
a Northwestern regiment which went
South for one hundred days and never
saw the smoke of battle nor heard
musket crack. Six hundred and four
teen men in that regiment were on the
pension roll under the act of 1890, with
- ~ unanonnnfnn for Woo
that making the pension roll roll OF
honor? Democratic Applause.
This statement of General Blacks
caused great interest. Mr.. Ray, Of
New York, wanted to know If General
Black was not aware that those men
had been pensioned for gallant and
meritorious service in other commands.
General Black replied that he knew
nothing of the kind. Mr.. Lacey in
sisted on knowing the name OF the regi-
ment and Mr.. Black declined TO give it,
saying he was not playing
THE PART OF THE DETECTIVE.
With reference to the charge that the
Democratic party was hostile to the SOL
diers, he pointed out that since 1861,
the House, which originated all pension
appropriation bills, had been eighteen
wears under the control OF tho Republi-
can party, and during that time it had
appropriated S676, 600, 600, while during
the sixteen years of Democratic rule
the House had sent 10 the Senate bills
appropriating 1851, 100000.
(Which party originated the pension
legislation" asked Mr.. Grout'
Both parties" replied Mr. Black.
HAS a pension law ever been origi-
mated by the Democratic party" in
Quired Mr.. Grout
'There are many Of them. The ar
rearage of pension is one of them" re-
piled Mr. Black.
In replying to the charge that Com
missioner Lochren was dominated by
Secretary Smith, an eX-Confederate SOL
dier, he paid a glowing and eloquent
tribute 10 the formers war record.
With vivid words that held the House
spellbouud, be drew the picture Of the
second days battle at Gettysburg; how
after Sickles' corps had been turned
back by the flame and fire OF the gray
coated avalanche, Hancock, the superb,
had ordered the First regiment OF Min
nesota, with Lieutenant
LoCHREN IN THE CENTRE,
to check that charge. Their task, said
General Black, was as hopeless as that
OF the Greeks at Thermopyl9. But
they did their duty, with loss Of PSI
killed and wounded, and the tide of bat
tie was turned back. Only forty-seven
came of the field unscatched. To at
tack the friendship Of such a soldier for
his comrades, concluded General Black,
was to stamp the whole vast tissue Of
SANDER as unworthy even Of the calum-
niators-
Cheer after cheer from the gallery
and foor followed the brilliant perora-
tion and his colleagues crowded around
and congratulated the speaker.
Mr.. Waugh rep, Indisna) declared
that no pension bill, general or private,
had ever been rejected by = Republican
vote.
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Waugh's
speech the committee rose. On motion
Of Mr.. Cogswell, OF Massachusetts,. the
bill to pension Hannah Lisle was passed
and then al S.S5 the House adjourned.
bdaRsHAL1, TEXAS, March 3.-The Hdpe
- .Na.a.