The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-30

main, but criticised the provision which would
grant pensions to descrters from the CoHfed-
crate ranks.
"I declare" said no "that = man who cast
his fortunes with tho Confedeyacy and remain
ed there until he found the cause failing. and
then deserted to join tho Union army was, az
least, coward" Proceeding he said he bad no
criticism to offer against the thousands OF men,
especially in Tennessee and Kentucky, who
were Union in sympathy, but who were con-
scripted and forced into the Confederate serv-
ice. They took the first opportunity to escape
to tho Union lines. Tho section of the bill 20
which he took exception would give pension
to every Confederate who deserted from the
Confederate army 90 days before Lees sur
render. Most of them who deserted at the last
moment. he said, were either towards or in
search of rations.
Mr.. Burton (Mo). The survivors OF the
army and navy of the Union do not demand
extravaganza in pension legislation, nor DO they
demand looseuess in the construction thereon.
but they do insist that all pension legislation
shall be construed, administered and enforced
in the spirit which prompted its enactment, TO
the end that not one of them living shall, either
by disease misfortune, be compelled TO live
beneath the roof OF the almshouse. or, dying, be
laid at rest within the unconseCrated limits OF
the pOtter's field
The first section of the bill directly permits
anyone to obtain n pension, although he may
have rendered service in the Confederate army.
do not believe that every man who served in
the Union army. although he may have received
therefrom an honorable discharge, should re-
ceive pension; and / refer particularly TO a
number of regiments that some five or SIX
months before the close of the war were enlisted
and mustered out Of tho prisons at Indianapolis
and Chicago; of men who preferred, rather
than remain in the prison in Chicago or Indl-
napolis, to accept service under the Union nag
out upon the plains. l say not single man OF
that kind or character ought to be permitted to
draw pension under this bill or any other law
upon the statute books
The 18Th section Mr.. Chairman, Is objection
able in this, that a fair construction will permit
deserters aud bounty jumpers TO obtain pes
sion. We all know that in the earlier days OF
the war there was either no bounty or very
small bounty. We also know that in the latter
days OF the war, when the draft was on, that
large and liberal bounties were offered, and 1t
is notorious fact that there was a large num-
Der of men who deserted from existing OrganIza-
tions and enlisted in other organizations,
prompted by the fact that by doing so they
would obtain the enormous bounties that were
then being offered for recruits. believe that
every such man ought to be shut out.
Mr.. Overstreet. The report that introduced
this measure to the House states that the bill
adds no new class of pensioners as such to the
pension-roll-" In view of this fact, there can
certainly be no objection TO its consideration
from tho stand point of tho need for some legis-
lation in aid of the administration Of the pen
sion laws.
Mr.. Overstreet went into legal discussion
of sections . aud A. He said in part:
The enactment of this law will, in my judg-
ment establish absolute title 10 all pensions
already adjudicated aud that may be hereafter
favorably determined. It has been common
to speak of the title of pension as a vested
right; but no matter what it is called. the title
is, after all, the thing to be desired. 1 am in
formed that in some instances Examiners have
given assurance that if charge should be laid
against pensioner that his disability does not
warrant the rating that he has been given that
the Department will see that the claimants
pension is reduced. / have been informed that
pensions have been suspended upon hereSay
statements of a Special Examiner in the face of
overwhelming evidence against the charges.
have been informed that after notices have
been sent for a claimant to state why his PEN
sion should not tic reduced that tho reduction
has followed notwithstanding the fact that evil
dence was furnished by the pensioner showing
that he is still disabled to sufficient degree to
justify the rating that had been made. Now, I
submit that when these pensions have been
finally determined and allowed that no change
whatever should of right be made unless the
pensioner had obtained It originally by fraudu-
lent practice"
Mr.. Brown also Endorsed the bill. He, how
ever, offered an amendment to the first section
thus:
Provided, That pensioners who have been
dropped from the rolls since March A. 1893 solely
on account or because of previous Confederate
service shall be at once restored without formal
application, and their pensions shall commence
from the time their names were dropped from the
rolls.