Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-03-16
THE PENSION BILL.
Discussion Over the Appropriation Meas
ure In the House.

In the House.
On the 5th Mr. Hepburn rep, la in his
argument declared that the late confed erato
states contributed not one dollar TO the pay
ment OF pensions. or the sl50,00o,0o0 internal
revenue taxes the south pays less thans 9,0O)-
OOO: OF the sl77, 900 customs receipts the
south pays $4,000. 900; OF the miscellaneous re-
ceipts less than S200O,0O 80 that {" said he,
addressing the southern members. 'you con-
tribute less than SIS 000, 900 TO the revenue Of
the government How do you get that back'
Nine millions return as sugar bounty, -, 0oD.00)
In pensions and s5O0000o deficit
OF postal receipts You, therefore, receive
back a., 10000 more than you contribute You
contribute not "A cent 10 northern pensions
What difference does IL make TO you what we
do with our own money!" He denied that there
was any great number Of fraudulent PEN
sions.
Mr. Enloe (dem Tenn said there is always
one great difficulty in discussing the pension
question A large amount OF money is in
volved, a large number OF votes are involved,
consequently there IS strong temptation for tho
demagogue 10 exercise his calling Because the
democratic admins tration sought 10 strike
from the pension rolls those who are en-
titled neither to the governments gratitude
nor its bounty the republicans assai the
president, secretary OF the interior and Com
missioner Lochren. AS an evidence OF the ex
istence of fraud Mr.. Enloe said there have been
l70 convictions OF pension claim agents for
manufacturing testimony In pension cases
Mr. Enloe had read q letter from Commissioner
Lochren under date OF March 5, 1891. saying
that there were between 5000 and 1000 pen
sion cases at present under investigation where
there a strong presumptive evidence OF
fraud.
on the 9th Mr.. Sickles dem, n ~ read an
extract from Mr.. Cleveland's letter OF accept
ance OF the presidential nomination, saying
hat ha h.1At a tha Aafe of fhn tstnfn
should be ungrudgingly discharged Upon
that pledge 10 the soldiers the demo
cratic party stood and won the polit
zeal victory The pension system COM
manded the approval OF all parties and all
sections. Justice TO the union soldier was the
one thing upon which all were united He was
not able to agree with the commissioner OF PEN
sions either in his Interpretation OF the law or
his manner OF treating the legislation OF con-
gress The commissioner has characterized
the act OF December % 1893, in which congress
declared a pension to be vested right" as
inaccurate and inappropriate That was
not decorous way of treating an act
OF congress, and his superior officer should
have returned II 10 him with the admonition
10 treat congress with more respect Besides,
he continued, Commissioner Lochren was as
defective IN his law as in his manner He only
had to go to his law dictionary 10 find what was
a right and what a vested right A right was
q well founded claim, vested right right 10
present enjoyment The pension was u vested
right conferred by law. Yet an army OF l2,0))
men had been deprived OF that enjoyment by
Ill on :ial OF the government
Mr., MilliSin rep. Me- made brief speech
in favor OF liberality in PENSIONS and was fol-
lowed by MI Grosvenor rep, o..
The charge that there was Wholesale fraud In
the pension rolls Mr.. Grosyenor stamped as
false and malicious II the president had
gone TO Illinois and had selected The hero Of
Fort Henry, democrat of education and
training before Mr.. Cleveland knew the differ
ence between democracy and humbug, as secre-
tary OF the interior, no such trouble as con-
fronted he democracy would have occurred
There was more fraud in the custom house in
New York in single year than in all the pen
sion cases that have ever come before the pen
sion bureau; there were more Illegal moon
shine stills. ten 10 one In the United States
than dishonest soldiers on the pension roll.
Mr.. Coombs dem, y Y took the republic
10 task for the constant attempts TO make
political capital out OF the pension business
and the unjust charges OF hostility to the sys-
TEN upon the part OF the southern representa-
tives. The southern members, he said, had
quietly acquiesced in the demands for PEN
sions. They did not even reply 10 the taunts
OF the other side.
MIR Blair rep. y. H said that the cry tina,
the pension roll was roll OF dishonor tainted
with fraud had long been heard in the land AS
lent pensions, the entire roll was published II
was examined in every community, and, as far
as he knew, not single solitary case OF fraud
was developed
Mr.. Mahon rep, Pa declared that he did
not believe the commissioner OF pensions (Mr.
Lochren), who was a brave soldier would have
pursued his policy toward the veterans had he
n been forced TO do so at the dictation OF tho
president
On the eth Mr.. Springer dem, Ill, took the
floor in defense OF the policy of the pension bill
He wanted 10 know why Illinois, having more
population than Ohio, had but $4,000 pension
ers, receiving sll.0l9,000, while Ohio had 1922 sl
pensioners receiving si732s 600 In Indiana
1900, 900 was distributed 10 the congressional
district, IN Ohio ss55,0O0, while in Illinois but
$4,000 vas distributed 10 the district He at
tri buted this state OF AFFAIRS to the fact that
the pension ofiloe had been made political ma
chine by the republican party, Illinois
certain for the republican party, while Indiana
and Ohio were doubtful The pension cases
were settled In the doubtful states, while
those from the solid states were pigeon -holed.
Mr.. Marsh rep, ILL., explained this discrim.
ination by pointing out that in Kansas which
sent but fifteen regiments into the field, there
were 5000 pensioners The old soldiers from
Illinois had moved west to Kansas and other
states.
Mr.. O'Neil dem, Mass) warned the repub
licans that they were in a poor business when
they saw fit 10 dscreGit Gen. Black and Com
missioner Lochren in the eyes OF the old sol
diers Neither could they discredit the pres
dent with the American people. They had abb
solute faith in his honesty, his pluck and his
courage.
Mr. Henderson rep, la had been panied
beyond measure, he said, TO find that upon a
theme which ought TO inspire every patriotic
heart this house was az divided rs IL IL was a
war measure Gen. Black, who deserved every
generous word that had been srosen concern
iny him. had stood here with bouquet OF
rhetoric for the soldier in one hand and a
dagger 10 strike him 10 the soul in the other
"Oh, my country! He who wore stars upon
his shoulders in the cause OF the union can do
more harm to his comrades than all those who
fought under the confederate nag Mark the
contrast presented by that othe@ distinguished
soldier Gen Sickles. who. fearing not the
thunder OF the executive or the cruel heel OF
patronage, stands for the soldiers with whom
he fought Sears are honorable, but they must
not be used as a cloak from behind which TO
strike equally honorable men. This debate
shall not close without my crying shame
shame, at the soldier who soug-lt TO discredit
his comrades in arms
Mr. Grow rep, Pa offered an amendment
prOyidiuy that no pensfon on account of dis