The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-01-24

and child in this country ought to stand upon
an equal footing before the laws OF the land
Applause. Ny Democracy means that you
shall not single out rich, powerful. and infn-
entail people and give to them pensions OF 800
q month. when not a single one OF you who
profess so much love,for the soldier has ever
dared to raise your voice here asking for pen.
sion Of 800 monthfor n private soldier, or
the widow of private soldier.
j say to gentlemen here that they may
| question my Democracy rs much as they choose,
they may make these remarks as often as
they please, but they. will never drive me
from the position that Il is unjust inequitable.
and repreach upou tile Government of tho
| United States to constantly pension officers and
! the widows of officers at the rate OF 500 n
month, when you pretended friends of the SOL
der dare not even ask for pension Tor the
| widow of private soldier, matter in what
| destitute circumstances that widow may be, at
| that exceptionally large rate.
So much for that proposition. am tired oil
this thing of having TO defend my action here.
/ say now once for all to the gentleman, that
l propose to object to the passage Of bills which
believe to be wrong. | propose to see, so Tar
as one humble ind ividusl can, that a handful OF
men gathered here in this Hall shall not under
take, in the absence of nine-tonths of the MEM
bers of the body, to perpetuate what l believe
to be wrong upon the privato.sodier and the
HiuOW VI tHO pIifdto hOIhibi VIZ
payers Of the country by constantly passing
these unnecessarily, exceptionally, and exorbi-
family large pensions.
MI. Chairman, do not propose to submit to
be lecturcd by the gentleman from Indiana, or
anybody else, simply because / want to have 1t
explained why a lady who is In the State asy lum
OF Pennsylvania should be pensOned by Con-
gress.
Mr. Simpson-Wil the gentleman allow me
question?
Mr.. Jones-Certainly.
Mr.. Simpson-You stated that you were OPP
posed to pens0ning the widows of Generals
aud other officers at 500 month. Now, what
u your objection to this pension, which is only
$l2 month"; unless you are opposed to all PEN
sions7
Mr.. Jones-I will say to the gentleman from
Kansas that have not stated any such oblec-
tion to this claim. The gentleman. if be has
heard what said knows very well that have
not raised any such objection to this claim.
The gentleman from Indiana did not confine
his attack upon me to my position in this par
ticular case; but he said had stood here (if he
did not say so In so many words he used Ian
guage to that eject and attacked ladies. That
is absolutely not true.
MI. Simpson-It is very apparent that at
these evening sessions you have blocked all the
pension cases that you could. The gentleman
from Indiana need not have made that state
ment; we all knew it.
Mr. Jones' That may be the view Of the gen.
tleman from Kansas; but he ought to know,
whether he docs know IL or not, that several
bills have been put through here tonight TO
which have not raised any objection. That
Is sufficient answer 10 his statement.
Mr.. Simpson-Yes; some pension bills from
the State of Virginia did pass. i noticed that.
lLaughtcr.]
Mr. Jonos--1 will say to the gentleman from
Kansas that the bill to which he refers from
the State of Virginia was not the only bill that
has been passed here tonight, and that that
bill was for n pension of $l2 month, and that
/ voted against it, aud he knows 1t.
blr. Simpson-Tbat was to keep up your
record.
Mr.. Jones-Yes; il was to be consistent, and if
the gentleman from Kansas nd mires consistency
think that he should have joined me in try
ing to contue special pensi on legislation TO such
cases as are really needy and not to increasing
the pensions Of those who have already been
literally treated.
Mr.. mpson-Certainly; l do not object to
that policy, but what want to understand is
why tho gentleman objects to all classes OF PEN
sions under the law7 There none of them
that have ever heard him favor.
L Mr. Cooper lind. mir. Chairman, the gen.
tleman from Virginia nresponse to what / said
he may call it a lecture if he likes; this is a
forum of free speeeh-but the gentleman said
he was not in favor OF this bill because he
favored equality.
The purport Of my remarks was this: That
If this lady had been volunteer soldier in the
service she would have been entitled under the