The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-12
FIERY TALK OVER PENSIONS.
IN attempt TO Wave The Bloody Shirt
in The H0uSe.


Gen. john A. MeCIernand Prompts
Representative Springer to Take His
Southern Colleagues to Task-A Re-
publican Member From Indiana Then
Istimates That Gen. McClernand's
War Record is Under a Cloud-The
Generals Record Ardently Defended
by a Republican From Illinois.
Washington Jan. 11-There was an un-
usually large attendance tonight upon the
night session Of the House. which was de-
voted to the consideration of private PEN
sion bills. There was also an unusual de-
bate even for Friday night session,
when The controversy over the granting
OF pensions usually RACES with more or
less intensity and force.
AIR. Springer, dem, Of Illinois. asked
favorable action upon the Senate bill to
grant pension Of 500 a month TO Mai.
zen. John a. McCleruand, which he had
unsuccessfully endcavored TO have passed
yesterday and to-day in the House. There
was not a quorum present and upon the
vote, Mr.. Jones, dem. Of Virginia, made
the point OF no quorum.
This aroused Mr.. Springer's Indignation,
and he criticised with severity the course
Of those of his southern colleagues who
persisted i'm maintaining an attitude of
hostility towards the pensonins of union
soldiers. He pointed out the fact that but
l3 democrats had been returned to the
l'ifty-fourth congress from the northern
states ANA said that If this course was not
changed there would be no northern
democrats in the succeeding congress.
MIR. Pence, pop, OF Colorado, appealed
to Mr.. Jones to withdraw his point of no
quorum, referring to the gallant conduct
and high reputation for patriotism of the
beneficiary of the bill as a sufficient rea-
son for the request.
An unexpected iuterlection occurred
here, which created something of a sem
Faticn.
Mr. Waugh, rep. of Indiana, asked if
this Gen. McClernand was the same Gen.
John A. McClernand who was removed
from his command in front of Nicks-
burg by Gen. Grant for uEsolqierly con-
duc., and of whom Gen. HallecN wrote to
Gen Sherman in 1854, that it would be
murder to give him a command.
Mr. Marsh rep, OF Illinois, replied most
vigorously to this question lie declared
with passionate earncstness that Gen.
McClernand had never been guilty of un-
soloierly conduct and that the history of
the Nicksburg campaign shows that he
had moi been removed by Gen. Grant for
that reason.
What were the reasons2" was asked
by Waugh
Il do not care to enter into discus
sion of them here replied Mr.. Marsh
but ] assure YOU, without fear of sue
cessful contradiction, that Gen. McCler-
nand was as far as any man in the union
army of being guilty of unsol1ierly con-
duct and / know what i am talking
about And I say this of q man who has
always been opposed to the political
party with whlcn 1 have always affiliated.
loud aplause)."
Did not Gen. Grant remove him for
causes which he deemed proper?' con-
tinued Mr Waugh.
Il do not desire to reflect upon Gen.
Grant" said Mr.. Marsh but 1 say that
while he acted for reasons that seemed
proper at that time his action was "a
mistake"
Mr.. Jones took the floor and attacked
the policy of picking out a soldier here
and there for big pension, or the widow
OF one, who is able to gather influence
enough TO get a bill through congress.
He aroused hiss by alluding to the
widow of Gen. Logan, in receipt Of pen
sion Of $1,000 living in luxury and spend
ing lavishly for flowers for her social
functions.
In regard to his own course of antag-
onizing these pension bills, which he said
was for the reason that it had not been
the policy of congress to make selection
Of soldiers or soldiers widows for spe-
cial pensions, he declared chat many
members had come to him and com
mended him for it, and excused their own
action on the ground that they could
not afford to antagOnize the granting Of
pensions.
The matter Of his own military record
having been brought into the discussion,
Mr.. Jones said that he was boy when
the war broke out, Notwithstanding which
he served more days and nights in the
trenches in the line of duty than thou
sands Of men now drawing pensions from
the government
"On which sideg' several members
asked.
Drawing himself up. Mr.. Jones replied:
"On the side of the Confederate States of
America, of whose cause, although it
went down in defeat, ! am as proud now
as then, when I defended it, an enthus-
iast.c boy"
Mr.. Clark. dem. of Missouri said that
having been defeated for congress he
proposed not to express his opinion For
the gentleman from Virginia, personally,
he had much regard, but he wanted to
say that in the late election there were
fifteen, twenty-five or fifty democratic
candidates in the north who went down,
down to Their political death because Of
the speeches he had made.
Mr.. Jones-I hope the gentleman from
Missouri was not one?
Mr. Clark-Yes / did, and because Of the
pension speeches you made here. We are
tired and sick OF having these southern
members come UP ard stab US in the back
Continuing Mr.. Clark said that he be-
Heved that every old soldier who was in
need deserved and should have a pension.
.sNhen Ben Butler was here" he said,
''he suggested pensioning the soldiers OF
both armies. I don't know but that was
a wise and patriotic scheme. 1t certainly
would meet with less opposition than the
Dresent plan" Laughter),
Having favorable acted uopn four bills,
the committee. at 1890 o'clock, rose and
the House adjourned
Naval Constructor Dead.
San Francisco, Jan. u.-Assistant Ma