The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-15
CUMMINGSON PENSIONS
His Speech on This Subject Was the Sensa-
tiOn of the Day in the House.
ATTACKS THE PENSION BUREAU METHODS
Bnreau Unjust TO Oxd Soidiers-So-
pliistry Good, Whom Applied to
Pacific Railroads Instead of TO
Ecnsioncrs-Soldic and Soldiers
widows in Daily apprehension.

Washington, Jan. 14.-QIouse.)-Th
House proceeded at once, in Committee
of the Whole, Mr.. Perkins in the chair
to further consider the general pension
appropriation bill. Mr.. Northway. of
Ohio, was the first speaker, answering
the criticisms made by Mr.. Bartlett,
Of New York.
For four hours to-day the debate on
the general pension appropriation bill
ran along in the House without espe-
cial incident. the only spice of variety
even being the caSiOnal efforts of MIR.
Bartlett Qoem.) OF New York to defend
the position he had taken in his speech
yesterday in which. he supported the
administration by the Pension Bureau
of the laws entrusted to II for execution.
Then Mr.. Cummings UDem0 OF New
York occupied five minutes In Il most
vigorous attack upon the policy of the
Pension Bureau, which he declared
caused Union soldiers and their widows
to sliver with apprehension that they
would be stabbed in the back by Il bu-
reau where they should receive only en-
coniums and support. He repudiated
the speech of MIR. Bartlett IN the name
OF the Democracy of New York, which
he asserted had always been loyal to
the Union and the friend OF the soldier
OF the Union. He was surrounded dur
ing the delivery of his impassioned
philippe by Republican members who
applauded nearly every sentence.
there had been Il partial defense of the
Pension bureau by Mr.. Poole u1ep) of
New York, and his attack was all the
more noticeable because Of the contrast
thus afforded.
During the debate Mr.. Gibson (Rep)
OF Tennessee said that the Pension Of
flee was n great court-the great test that
the world had ever known; yet there
was no principle of law prescribing the
course OF procedure before it. The res
suit was that Ii was an arbitrary court,
Il court that was tyrannical and un-
just. He spoke OF the great difficulty
in furnishing the evidence required by
the pension office. and said that II
the Secretary of the Interior were To
become II private citizen to-day he did
not believe he could get q pension claim
through.
Mr.. Walker (Rcp) OF Virginia, who
commanded the famous ''Stonewall'
brigade, said he rose as q representa-
tive of the South, as a Confederate q
soldier who followed the fortunes of
his comrades from Manassas to Apo
matioX, to say that the gentleman from
Indiana tMr Hcmenway) totally misap-
pretended the sentiment OF his people
and the Confederate soldiers. There
were none of them. he said. with posi-
bly, very few EXCEPTIONS who did not
sanction and approve the payment of
pensions to Federal soldiers which
would Keep them from suffering or dis
tress tAppausc.)
MIR. Cummings made the closing
speech of the day and it was the seusa-
ton of the day. Coming Immediately
after a Republican partial defense Of
the Pension Bureau. ii attracted about
him the members. who crowded the pit
In front of the desk.
Mr.. Cummings said: 1T shall heartily
support the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois Nlr Graft
(Applause) shall raise no objection TO
1t nor call up a point Of order on It. 1t
Is time something radical should be
done with the pension Office. There is
not soldiers widow, there is not Il
veteran soldier to-day drawing a pen
sion who Is not standing daily and
hourly under the apprehension that
something cowardly might strike him
from the pension roll.
Now l make no charges against the
pension department, but l do saw this /.
That repeatedly instances have come to
my attention where boards OF eXamfn-
ers have steadily declared that the SOL
dier was entitled TO pension, and vet
it mas been rejected in the Office here
In Washington
Mr.. Stewart Rep) of New Jersey: as
1T not true that for the last two and
q half years the Pension Bureau has
been cmphatically hostile to the pen-
sion claims of old soldiers?"
Mr. Cummings: II cannot say that
them. (Applause.) Now, sir, thn
speech heard from my colleague (A1r,
BarretD on this floor yesterday is moi
calculated to remove the apprehension
from the minds of the soldiers and their
widows. Cold sophistry may be good
but you had better apply 1t to the
Pacific railroads than to the pensioners
Cloud applause) repudiate that
speech on behalf of the constituents
which I represent, Republicans as well
as Democrats. I repudiate the speech
on behalf of the veterans of New York
repudiate that speech on behalf Of
the Grand Army of the Republic most
and the widows who are drawing pen-
sfons in the city of New York. I repu-
diate the speech on behalf of the Dem
ooracy OF New York city-on behalf of
Iammany Hall Democracy of New
YORK. daughter and applause)
Sir, have not forgotten, and You
VIII not forget which ever side OF the
iouse you stand on: that Tammany
Hall organized, equipped and sent to
the front one of the finest regiments
that ever appeared In the Army Of the
Potomac. Their bravery and their GAL
lantry at Balls Bluff and at Gettysburg
challenged the admlation of the world.
II repudinte on behalf OF the Tam
many society, who equipped and sent
that regiment to the front, the speech
that was uttered on this floor ycster-
day by man claiming to represent
that Democracy. tApplause.) Tam