Evening star., 1896-01-11


have had their pensions reduced under a
too narrow construction, and many have
been dropped from the rolls unjustly and
without proper cause, and the feeling is
widespread that more liberal construc-
ton should be giver. to the laws in the al
lowance of pensions, and applications for
increase should have more speedy consider
alton and broader treatment.
Some Complaints.
'Tt has also been contendcd that the law
should provide fixed ratings, as far as pos
sible, for disabilities; that proof of mar
riage should be made less difficult; that the
acceptance of a soldier or sailor at enlist
ment into the United States service should
be proof conclusive of his soundness at that
time; that there should be more liberal
statute as to the soldier being in line of duty
when disabled or injury incurred; that the
testimony of a comrade GhnUld have equal
weight with that of an officer; that all
papers of whatever kind filed in a pension
case should be open to inspection of the
claimant or his attorney: that the rulings
of the present commissioner in regard to
ratings, under the laws of June 81, 1890. by
which many pensions have been reduced
and many claims have failed Of allowance
is unjust; that a pension should be treated
as vested right, and, when once allowed
should have the force and effect Of judg-
ment In court of record. and should not be
disturbed, reduced or suspended, except for
fraud; that numoer of the ratings under
the law for the more serious injuries and
disabilities should be extended to pension
ers under act of June 81. $780, although the
disabilities are not of serious origin The
committee will be called upon to act on these
propositions.
Bills Already Introduced.
ALREADY many bills have been introduced
and referred to the committee, seeking to
remedy the most of the evils, which, 1t is
contended, exist, as we'll as others not
enumerated above. Bills to increase pen
sions for certain disabilities, to put widows
of pensioners under act of June p, $780,
on an equality with those under the general
law. and to make more definite the amount
of increase which shall debar widow from
pension, and service pension bills of differ
ent character and provisions will come be-
fore the committee for consideration.
Il believe the veterans will receive liberal
treatment as far as the administration of
the law can be reached, and otherwise the
most liberal that the conditions of the rev
enues and treasury will admit
Construction of the Committee.
The committee on invalid pensions of
this Congress consists Of John A. Pickler
chairman; Henry F. Thomas, Benson Wood
Cyrus A. Sulloway. Theodore L. Poole, s. s.
Kirkpatrick. Winfield 8. Kerr, w. c. Ander-
son, William r. Andrews. George c. Crow
ther, Constantine J. Erdman, Fernando c.
Layton, George B. Mcclellan, Joshua W.
Miles. and William Baker Mr. L. H. Bailey
is the clerk, and Mr.. H. W. Blanchard has
been detailed from the pension bureau to
assist In the multiplying duties of the clerk
The reports of the committee on invalid
pensions, upon what is known as private
pension bills, often contain reading as ro-
mantle as a war novel. They are full Of
incident and adventure, relating the ex-
periences of the benefcaries of the bill.
In former Congresses it was the custom to
set aside one night in the week for the con-
sideration In the House Of bills for the re-
lief Of pensioners reported from this COM
mittee. At one time it was favorte sport
for certain men to be on hand at these ses-
sions, and bring their names into notoriety
and public print by interposing more or
less facetious debate and objections into
the consideration of bills to pension some
poor old wrecks OF coldiers. In course Of
time, however, this species Of humor grad
ually palled upon the country, and men
who indulged in it were quietly but ef-
fectually, suppressed.
The Present Chairman,
The present chairman of the committee
has, during his entire service in the House.
been friend of private pension bills. He
Is Of a very earnest nature, and his sense
of humor has. never been cultivated to the
point of appreciation of these jokes on the
veteran applicants. A proposition to Lets
productive of incident If put into opera ton
by badgering him on a private pension bill.
He was up in arms in a moment, and as
he was never very chary of either invec-
tive or gesture on such occasions, he got
the mama of 1.-The South Dakota Cyclone"