The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-16

Morally they were higher than vested
rights. Pensions should be given in n
broad and humane spirit. The old yeter-
an should not be placed in the position
of a mendicant. The way in which the
pension laws were now being administer
ed was manifestly unfair to the soldiers:
He cited the case of soldier who had
lost an arm and n leg, who was unable
to earn $50 in year. The pension bu-
reau had ruled if widows income ex-
coed $96 year she was not entitled to
n pension. A soldiers widow should not
be obliged to stand starving at the door
of pension Offices in order to obtain pen
sion, and the pension committee, there
fore, had reported an amendment to the
law requiring that as Il condition prece-
dent to receiving pension she should
prove that her net income did not exceed
$500.
Mr.. Hemingway (Rep) Of Indiana ia
vored the adoption Of the Graft amend
ment prohibiting the suspension of pen
sions until fraud had been proven in Il
United States court. He predicted that
in November next the people would elect
"A Republican president who would APP
point loyal man from the North for sec
rotary of the interior to administer the
pension laws with justice and fairness to
the old soldier.
Mr.. Arnold 0ep.J of Pennsylvania, in
criticising the pension Office, denounced
particularly the practice Of calling on
Democratic postmastcrs to furnish in
formation as to alleged fraudulent pen
sions.
Mr. Gibson Rep.) Of Tennessee, who
was pension agent mt Nashville in 1881,
devoted much time to the exploitation of
particular cases, which he claimed proved
the hostility of the pension Office.
A speech by Mr.. Walker lRep.) OF
Virginia, attracted more than usual at
iention. Mr. Walker was n general in
the Confederate army on the stan OF
General Jubal A. Early. He replied par
iicularly 10 the remarks of Mr.. Hcming-
way to the effect that when Republican
lgain took his place in the White House
no man from the South would preside
over the pension Office.
General Walker declared that there
was misapprchcnsion of the feeling
of the Southern soldier towards pensions
for men who fought for the Union.
There was no sentiment against the pen
sion policy of the government in the
South, and he assured his Republican
friends of the North that the fortunes
and pensions of the Union soldiers would
be safe in the hands Of the men of the
South. His remarks ELECTED applause
from both sides of the hall.
Mr.. Wood 0tep) of Illinois, Mr. Fitz-
patrick 0tep) of Kansas and MIR. Poole
(Rep.) of New York followed, and then
Mr. Cummings Dcm.) of New York ere
ated the sensation of the day by short
but bitter arraignment of the pension
Office and an eloquent reputation of the
sentiments expressed by his colleague,
Mr.. Bartlett, yesterday. He declared
that it was time some radical action was
taken to call a halt on the pension office.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cummings
speech the committee rose and the speak
er announced the appointment of the
Chickamaugua Park commissioners as
follows:
Mcssrs Grosvenor. Ohio; Kciffer, Min
nesota; Strong, Ohio, Avery, Michigan;
Bowers, California, Republicans; Wheel
er, Alabama, Cox, Tennessee; Maddox
and Crisp, Georgia. Democrats.
He also announced the appointment OF
Delegate Flynn of Oklahoma to the COM
mittec on agriculture. and Murphy of
Arizona on coinage, weights and meas
ures and mines and mining.
The house then, at 4:25, adjourned I'M
ill tomorrow,