Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-07
SICKLES MAD.
He Doesn't Like the Democratic
Pension Policy.
Had Courage to Stand Up and Tell
His Party So.
Was a boy in Blue" and Knows What Pen.
sions Are For.

WASHINGTON, March 6.-In the House
the pension bill was taken up with the
agreement that debste should be closed at 3
Z. M. tomorrow. Gen. Sickles (Dem.) Of
New York quoted from President Cleve-
lands letter of acceptance in 1892, bis dec
lsration on the subject of pensions. Upon
the strength of that declaration Gen. Sick
les said many thousand soldiers voted for the
nominees of the Chicago convention. liz
that declaration had heen lived up to in the
pension bureau, he believed most of the
complaints and friction that had arisen over
the administration of the bureau would
have been avoided.
In organizing the pension bureau, Con-
gress, 18th q tender desire for the welfare
of the soldiers, made the usual provision
| that the flee should be administered un-
der regulations approved by the President
himself. The pension laws, Sickles sail
have been voted for by all parties. The
present bill is approved on all sides. 1t
appropriated larger sum than was ever
voted for pensions by any government.
| He could not agree with the commissioner
of pensions in respect to his Interpretation
of the law of 1898. In his letter to Con-
gress, in answer to n resolution of
inquiry. the commissioner said the law
was ''inexact" and inappropriate.
Before that letter was sent to
Congress, his superior should have returned
| it to the commissioner, with direction to
treat Congress and its legislation with more
respect. THE commissioner is as faulty
in law as in manners. lie need only have
consulted law dictionary to determine the
meaning of the words right and vested
right"
Gen. Sickles said the declaration of right
contained in the act of December FL, 1898,
was accepted by the pension Office itself
long before the act was passed. The whole
pension policy of the government was based
upon the rights of the pensioners. The
country frowned when it saw the maxims
of common justice violated in the
interior department and in consideration
of the claims of the wards of the
nation, the law of 1893 was passed pursu-
ant to that sentiment and it would stand.
In conclusion, Gen. Sickles said: Be
fore the pension laws were passed, the
people of this country decided, from
time to time, as an expression of their
grateful appreciation of the services
of the defenders of the Union, that
ample sums of money should be appropri-
ated as an expression of the nations graft
tude, and that decree is as good today in
the hearts of the American people as il was
when made. That decree will never be
modified, rescinded or revoked, so long as
one surviving soldier Of the war lives.
Applause
Milliken (Rep), of Msine, said all he
wanted in the pension bureau was such an
administration as would give the soldier, his
widow or orphan or dependent relative what
a grateful people decreed he or they should
have. lie had no criticism to make upon
the administration of the bureau simply be-
cause it was Democratic, but stood in his
place to denounce the slanders uttered up
on the old soldiers.
Grosvenor (Rep), OF Ohio, said that not
a single pension appropriation bill, with the
single exception of the Mexican veteran
bill, which, he claimed was The source Of
the greatest abuse ever known in the PEN
ity of the Democrats in Congress and not
single Republican vote was recorded
against any of them. He said:
"If the President had gone to Illinois,
down near St. Louis, and taken soldier
who had lain all night wounded and uncon-
scous on the battlefield Of Fort Henry.
and who has now an upclosed bullet wound
through him, for secretary of the interior,
there would have been none Of this trouble.
II was because such men as VIM. X. MOrri-
son. who wss a Democrat before the pres
ent President knew the difference between
Democracy and humbug, were excluded
from his counsels, because he chose men
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