The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-01-15
SENATE ENCITED.

NiNOW-SehhloE ~
Month Too High-Generals and Privates
Ought to be Pensioned Alike-Senators
Hawley and Hoar Join In the Debate
Thu,ston Makes His Maiden Speech-Bnl
Passed as Reported.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA private PEN
sion bill granting $75 month to the
widow of Brigader General William
Cogswou of Massachusetts,, of the Vol
unteer army, gave rise to some discus
sion, Mr. Hill, dem, of New York, in
curing as to the usual rate of pension
allowed in such cases and being inform
ed by Mr.. Gallnger, rep, Of New Hamp-
shire, who had reported the bill, that
there was no rate established by law,
but under special acts pensions were
allowed all the way from $50 to $500
SIS being about the average rate; and
Mr.. Allen. pop, of Nebraska, protesting
against higher pensions being given to
the widows of officers than We're given
to the widows of private soldiers. He
thought that the discrimination was a
piece Of namby-pambyism and turnkey
ism.
HAWLEY REPLIES.
Mr.. Allen was replied to by Mr.. Haw-
ley, rep, of Connecticut, who said he
would not characterize Mr.. Aliens re-
marks as he would like to, but he in
formed him that the uniformity he adj
vocated was absolutely impossible.
There were grades of rank which the
world recognized, whether the senator
from Nebraska did or not.
Mr.. Hoar, rep, of Massachusetts,, also
argued against Mr.. Aliens views and
eulogized the e.General Cogswell, who
served all through the war; took part in
the most famous battles; came out with
the rank Of brigadier general, and died
as a representative i'm congress- He
asked Mr.. Allen whether he would vote
for an amendment to the army appro-
priation bill to make General Miles
compensation $13 a month, or to raise
the pay of private soldiers to $4,000 a
year. "Probably," Mr.. Allen retorted,
1913 a month would cover the value of
generals services in some instances"
Mr.. Hoar repealed the suggestion with
some exhibition Of feeling, and remind
ed Mr.. Allen that he pocketed $1,000 a
year for his services as senator, while
some humble neighbor of his got only
70 cents day. Naughter)
THURSToN'S FIRST.
After some further discussion Mr..
Thurston, rep, Of Nebraska, made his
maiden speech in the senate. In a very
impressive tone he said: my father
fought and died, a private soldier, for
his country. My mother was left as
needy and destitute as any widow of
that great conflict For thirty years,
and down to extreme old age, she drew
from the government a pittance of SIS a
month. | stand here to-day, on this
floor, the son of that father and of that
mother deeply sensible of the scant and
pitiful justice done by this country to
the survivors of the late war and to
their widows and orphans.
NO REDUCTION.
"And I will never seek to reduce a
pension reported by the pension COM
mittee for the widow OF any man who
fought for his country. I would gladly
use the figure in this bill as an argu-
ment why the pensions of every other
soldiers widow in the country should
be increased Rising here for the first
time in my place in the senate OF my
country, I go on record as being in ia
vor of the republic, and as being OPP
posed to any reduction of pension
which a committee of this body sees fit
to recommend
ALIENS MOTION.
The discussion was continued ana
gradually became more excited. A mo.
ton to reduce the pension from SIS to
$50 a month was made by Mr.. Allen,
who spoke, in support Of that motion,
as did also Mr. Faulkner, dem, Of West
Virginia, and Mr.. Villas, dem, of Wis
consin. 1t was opposed by Mr.. Lodge,
sep, of Massachusetts, who spoke of
General Cogswell as a man who had a
very brill ant reoord-the youngest brig
adler of the American army-who was
in the service from the beginning of
the war to the end, who was always In
the field, had been badly wounded, had
served his country in civil life and who
died with clean hands and without a
dollar.
BILL PASSED.
The consideration of the bill had oc-
cupied an inour and quarter when the
senate proceeded to vote on Mr.. Aliens
amendment to reduce the pension from
S75 to $50 month. The amendment
was rejected-yeas 90, nays 36. All the
republican senators voted in the mega
tive; and the democrats in the affirm
alive, with the exception of Senators
| Call of Florida, Hill of New York, Mitch
ell of Wisconsin, Palmer of Illinois,
Roach of North Dakota and VOORHEES,
of Indiana. The bill was then passed
the rate Of $75 a month being retained
in it.