New-York tribune., 1896-01-15
PENSION BUREAU ATTACKED
ITS MANAGEMENT VEHEMENTLY DE-
NOUNCED IN THE HOUSE.
MIR. CUMMINGS CAUSES \ SENSATION BY HIS AT
TACK on THE OFFICE, WHICH HE De
CLAREs. KEEPS EVERY PENsIoNER
IN FEAR OF BEING STABBED

TACK on THE OFFICE, WHICH, HE DE-
cLAREs. KEEPS EVERY PENsIoNER
IN FEAR OF BEING STABBED
IN THE BACK.
Washington. Jan. li-For four hours to-day the
| debate the General Pension Appropriation bill
ran along in the House without especial incident.
the only spice of variety even being the occasional
efforts of Mr.. Bartlett Dem.. y. " to defend the
/ position he lad taken IN his speech yesterday In
/ which he supported the administration by the Pen
sion Bureau of the laws intrusted TO II Tor execu-
ton. Then Mr. Cummings (Dem., y. " occupied
five minutes IN a vigorous attack on the policy OF
| the Pension Bureau. which he declared caused
/ Union soldiers and their widows TO shiver with
apprehension that they would be stabbed IN the
back by "A bureau where they should receive only
cncomiums and support He repudlated the speech
Of Mr. Bartlett in the name of the Democracy of
New York the Tammany Hall Democracy. which,
he asserted. had always been loyal TO the tnon
and the friend OF the soldier OF the Union. He was
surrounded during the delivery OF his impassioned
philippe by Republican members who appauded
nearly every sentence.
Just before Mr. Cummings spoke there had been
partial defence of the Pension Bureau by Mr..
Poole (Rep.. ~ ". and his attack was all the
more noticeable because of the contrast thus af-
tOried
The debate on the Pension bill VIII probably con-
tlnue two or three days longer.
Before the House adjourned. Mr.. Curtis H|ep..
y " reported the Military Academy Appropria-
tion bill. and 1t placed on the calendar
Mr. Hemenway (Rep. IndD spoke in favor OF
the amendment proposed TO be offered by Mr. Gran
Rep.. IllD which forbids the dropping or decrease
OF any pension except on proof Of fraud on the
part of tho pensoner. established in any United
states Court II was narrow. ne said. It should
provide that the trial might be had In any court
o; record. TO compel the pensioner to appear IN
the Federal cour, only would impose unnecessary
fgrT haG GalI
did not believe in the pension law OF 1880. and was
trying In every way possible TO defeat the execu-
ton OF IT. Republicans in the last Congress had
protested against the administration or the PENSION
Bureau. and had been met by the inquiry w nat
are you going do about it, In the hrst place,
| Mr. Hemcnway said. at the election In November.
this year the Republican party was going to elect
a Republican President. and thus 10 TO the root OF
the matter He would appoint Secretary Of the
Interior who would administer the pension laws
fairly and justly As they should be administered
Mr. Walker Hiep. NaD. who commanded the
famous "StoneWalr brigade. said he ros" as repre-
sentative OF the South and as Confederate soldier
who followed the fortunes of his comrades from
Manassas 10 Appomattox TO say that the gente-
man from Indiana Nlr Hemenway) totally misap-
pretended the sentiment Of his people and the Con-
fodcrate soldiers There were none of them ne
said with possibly few exceptions. who did not
sanction and approve the payment Of pensions to
Fedora soldiers which would keep them from suf-
scrng or distress. ,ApplausoJ
MIR CUMMINGs's SPEECH.
M Cummings dem. Y. y made the closing
speech and it was the sensation OF the day. Mr.
Cummings said.
shall heartily support the amendment offered by
M. gentleman from .ino.s ,Alr Granl. Npplausel
| shall. raise objection To IL nor ctli a point o
Order upon H. II BE- time ihA, ,ome'hins radical
should l, done with the Pension once. There Is not
q soldiers widow. there s rot veteran soldier 70
DAY driving PENSION VINO - not 5,t"s7 It,,s
ffN dor
coWardiy may strike him from the pension r%o.s. %
fo,, '"n .x,mintng boari has sat upon his case
a.I hc has received his pension. suddenly. without
wsrrrg it is Withdrawn from him. no charge IS
made against him. and no opportunity oneiei nm
io rer~l any charge n made and AZ the resolution
~ thr gentleman from Inols strikes AZ the root OF
fho trouble viii take that II cannot get anything
,i-. to as .rrtala why II is that the Union veterans
sh.h they should receive encomums. encourage
mont and justice. tProlongei applause,
rirtmsn bui DO say ms na crc rerc"5se5 5sa r, i@ 9
.Namiuers have steadily declared that the soldier
was entitled to pension. and yet It has been re-
cricd I'm rhe Office here In Washington.
Mr. Stewart ,lop y JD-Is II not true that for
,t. l,ff two and a half years the Pension Bureau
ha. h,en ~mrha,lra.,y hostile 10 the pension claims
~ OH soll4ers'
Mr. Cummings cannot say that. bu. 1t has been
.rnuhat~allv uufis, 10 them. ,ApplauscD Now. sir.
,he speech / heard from my colleague Mr. HartetD
ou this floor Yesterday 10 not calculated to remove
the ,pprehcrs!ous from the minds Of the soldiers
and their Widows. Cold sophisiry may he good but
y.u bad better Apply &, To the Pacific railroads thin
20 tle pensioners. loud appiausoD ] repudat"
fnlt speech on behalf Of the constituents which
represent. Republicans AZ well as pemocrats. re- re-
plI.aie ih. speech or behalf ~ the veterans o'
New York r'pudiht' the speech on behalf or the M
pension. in 'he CITY ~ New-York | rerHiiaic ne
-prf01 ou hehil; o; the Democracy "f New OH
/ Cits ou behalf of Tammanv Han Democracy ~
not forsn,icn. and sou vii not forget. whichever
H
Han oiednized and 'giplr' thi Stnl a." ..' a.,
of tine finest regiments that ever appeared IN
- lnutfN Al Balls iNIu ana az ''iFSnutE ''t.-
..u-rd tho admiration of the world. repnliate on
hana.f ~ the Tamnany S9ci'ty who eani'pRet pR @ r,u
sent That regiment - fho front thr Spr''n Nii va
/ uttered this moor Yesterday by a man ciam.nE
many Han has always been loyal TO- thg mon
Tammany Hall has always been loyal to ih" V"i'r.
ans of the war | cha1iene" any man To point out
" l. stone oRcp. Penn can YOU not so a .l'tie
further and repltiaie ne strecn OF re Ern,ir%,a %
VINO sail that every u'ighhorhooi was honeycomped
WITH pension frauds throughout this country?
Air cummings II were Commissioner ot rem
sion- ml-ht Dee able to do so knowingly CAP
rlanscl Xow. Mr. Chairman. speak on behalf Of
every veteran. on hchali of every WIDOW On ,4 nean
of every orphan who draws a pension In ne nlted
States They are all included In this work at the
Pension Once here. one fraud ought not TO punish
forty Innocent people ana nelISNe ina, n' Z rH,lD
would reach one to a thousand helicye tor eNery
the -t or suspended, at least thousana VINO we're wers
receiving only their just dues from the .iovefnment
ha been ,s6 sha ncl xGlc Or with h' pesie
and n II fails Il Will have one good erect II VIII
ea the aGm,ion b OF pns thS of th co9nty are
ing him. and that In process OF time we snail nave
do imstice TO the men who fought I'm the Union
armies in the great rebellion Applause
The committee rose at the end or MT cummings
speech and Mr. curtis daep.. n y presented The
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