New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-04
DISCUSSING THE PENSION BILL.
SPEECH BIZ EXCoMMSsIoNER BLACK IN
DEFENCE OF THE BUREAU-REPUB-
LICAN REMARKS

A SPEECH BIZ EX-COMMIssIONER BLACK IN
DEFENCE OF THE BUREAU-REPUB
LICAN REMARKS.
Washington. March 3-The House at 1926 went
into Committee of the Whole the Pension APP
preparation bill, and Mr. Cultivate (Dem.. Ohio
took the chair
Mr. Pcltler rep, 5. D. spoke at length in
euogy Of the soldiers Of the Union Army. and sub
mitted that they were entitled generous treat
| ment at least just treatment. from this whole Ma
ton Ii was but Justice that he Union soldiers
should be az we'll treated as the soldiers Of the
Revolutionary. Mexican or Indian wars. lie as
serted that every soldier. matter OF justice. IN
recognition of his services and not as charity.
was entitled to a pension. For this great Govern
ment TO treat the soldier pauper and his pen
sion as a charity was a damnabe insult to every
man who followed the flag.
In the OF his remarks. while quoting John
r. Fellows upon the manner in which the people
OF New York had received the 5000 Southerners
who had gone that city since the war, Mr.. Pick
Ter was interrupted by Mr.. Boatner Dem La.
who said that many Northern men had come into
his district and been received In the spirit of
friendliness and courtesy. Some Of the leading
residents the most influential OF his district. came
there in blue uniforms after being mustered out of
the Union Army. applause by Republicans
Representative Black dem. I'D. extension
Commissioner who was the next speaker. said
speech. entertained any bitterness of feeling. II
would have entirely disappeared under the inhn-
/ ence OF the lofty sentiments expressed by him ana
he congratulated the speaker upon the excellent
temper IN which the speech was conceived ana de-
llvered. He intended however to address himself
to the three points made in the speech OF Mr.
I Gr0ut yesterday.
These were % that the present administration
Of the Pension Bureau unfriendly TO the soldier;
~ that the policy pursued in the bureau was IN
imcal the rights Of the soldier; and CD that the
Democratic party opposed to pensions In
1899 there was tremendous pressure brought to
bear upon the bureau for the issue OF certificates
Under this pressure IN that year. In COS working
days 3ll.CO certificates we're issued-over l"V
day. Under such practice 1t would be miraculous
II great did not occur. Illustrating this point
Mr. Black said the records OF the Pension Bureau
showed that IA regiment recruited in a Northwestern
state near the close OF the war serving 100 days
contributed Ga names 10 the pension list, with TWO
companies not accounted for.
In the course OF his further detailed reply 70 Mr.
Grouts charges. Mr. Black referred to the mistaken
belief that Commissioner Iochren hostile 10
the soldiers because. 1t alleged. he was DOM
mated by a Confederate soldier. The present Sec
rotary 81 the Interior he said was not In inc var
~ was young 10 serv" In the Confederate army
Mr. Black paid long ana eloquent trinu,e 60 10
Commissioner fOchren's record. closing tnus;
For three years the tap Of the drum ana me voSsS
t. tell to-day. because he observes the laws OF
that man. paying out everything that he can ana
reserving only what ne must is unfriendy 10 the
Federal sodicry. stamps the whole vast procession
OF ISLANDERS with the character which they deserve
A. the con ru sion OF Mr. Blacks speech he was
surrounded by his political associate on the moor
and warmly congratulated. amid vigorous applause
the demonstration preventing for time the resump-
zion of business 49,,
order bong restored. Mr. Waugh Nep.. lnd)
All Tres scl The committee He asked why II was that
the bill carried $J.nror less than the bl OF lS5-'i
Neither the force nor the expense OF the Office had
been reduced. these not the reasons. zen
era Raum had said in his last report that " the
Office continued as II was then being cohducteI
nonsiou expendltures would reach high-water mark
in 1895 Why Mr. Chairman" said Mr.. Waugh.
'.it struck h-h-wa mark Immediately upon the
accession TO power OF a Democratic AIministraiion
on March t. 1899 He believed the reduction OF the
amour. appropriated by the pending bill was iue
to the antagonism the pension po icy by the pres
en-, Administration lie rldicule1 the assertion that
ne pension rot ras honey combed with fraud.
Al 20 O'Clock the committee rose and shortly az
terwarI the House adjourned until Monday al l.
o'cl0ck