The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-28


ments to the old soldiers - the gentleman
from Missouri and the other gentlemen Ii
charge Of this bill indicate, then say on
Reproduction Of such con1nctish BE- empha
sized by resolution of this House denouncini
him for the false statements he is making Il
the old soldiers; but on the contrary, II tn.
Commissioner of Pensions is correct, If In order
to provide for these claims and do justice ts
the old soldier he should have an appropriation
of $4,000 instead of 100000, that it is the
duty of this House to increase this appropria
tion from $500, 900 to $500. 600.
| And repeat that If the gentleman in charge
of this bill will make it 100000 for that service
| OF the Republicans of this House that there
will not be a Republican vote against that in
creased appropriation.
Mr.. Hopkins Qll.). Why, Mr.. Chairman,
| look at this matter q moment; while the Com
mittee on Appropriations of this House and
the Commissioner are quarreling over the
amount of appropriations what is the condi-
| tion of the soldier?
Mr.. Picker. He is dying.
Mr.. Hopkins lll.) Yes, he is dying, as my
colleague from South Dakota says. in want and
poverty, because he cannot get what is justly
due him from the Governments. His claim is
pending here, and this Commissioner says he
considered; that IL cannot be reached even for
consideration until after 1895. Now, you should
take some action one way or the other
Mr.. Enloe / understood from the speech
OF the gentleman from Illinois Mr.. Hopkins
that there was perhaps paragraph in the
bill appropriating 100000 for the purpose of
permitting the Special Examiners to investi-
gate these claims, and that he wanted the
gentleman in charge of the bill to increase that
amount to $50O000
But when | come to the examination of the
Dill do not find any such proposition in it.
This whole debate is entirely irrelevant, and if
it has any connection whatever with the pend
ing bill it Is simply proposition to instruct
the Commissioner of Pensions as to the per-
formance of his duty.
The gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr..
CogswelI introduced letters here from the
Pension Office to claimant stating that unless
congress shall appropriate more money the
claim will not probably be reached until 1895.
Mr.. Cogswell. That it will not be reached
for consideration until 1885, but it will be
1896 before it is determined
Mr. Enloe. / take it to be the duty of the
Commissioner of Pensions to go forward now
and expend the money that has been appro-
priated In the proper investigation of. the
claims, and look to Congress at the next ses-
sion for any deficiency that may arise.
Mr.. ONeil (Mass.). And he will do it,
Mr.. Enloe. / have no doubt that he will.
Mr.. Hopkins (Ill.). How does the gentleman
from Massachusetts know that?
Mr.. Cogswell. Will my colleague from
Massachusetts vouch for that statement?
Mr.. O'Neil (Mass.) Yes, sir.
Mr.. Cogswell. That the Commissioner of
Pensions will 90 ahead, and if the appropria-
ton inadequate to take care of ali these cases.
nevertheless he will proceed with them and
look to Congress in the future and that there
fore his letter to the claimants is false and mis-
leading?
Mr.. ONeil (Mass.). Not at ALL
Mr.. Cogswell. Then / would like to know
how the gentleman can make the statement he
has made in view of that letter.
Mr.. Enloe. / wish toasay to the gentleman
from Massachusetts, thatsI have the utmost con-
fdence in the integrity of the Commissioner of
Pensions, but do not concnr with him in all
things about the administration of his Office
If l had the administration of it would adj
minister it somewhat differently from what he
does.
Mr.. Miliken. How would the pensioners
come out If you had the management of the
office?
Mr.. Enloe. ] can tell the gentleman that the
honest pensioners would get their money, and
the frauds would get none if could possibly
prevent it,
Mr. Milliken. How many efforts would the
gentleman make to find any honest pensioners
in the country Does the gentleman think that
he would find any?
Mr. Enloe. Yes; very large number If
them, and very large number of fraudulent
ones, too.
. Mr.. Miliiken. 1 think the gentleman would |
look much sharper for the dishonest ones than
for the honest ones
:. Mr., Enloe. That is entirely gratuitous in.
ference on the part Of the gentleman.
Mr.. Milliken. Well, do not ask the gentle.
man anything for the information.
Debate on the pending amendment here
closed. The proceedings were finished at |.
o'clock.