The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-18

delivered on the bill. and was as follow
"MR- CHAIRMAN:-The people of my
district are deeply interested in the bill
under consideration, as we'll as the amend
ments proposed thereto. They are a
loyal. patriotic people, who believe in
pensions, not only in pensions. but in lib
eral pensions, to the old soldier of the
late war, their widows and orphans, and
there IS no divided sentiment on that sub
ject.
There does not seem to be any objec-
ton on the part of any gentleman on this
floor to the bill now under consideration.
There is, however some objection to the
provisos in the bill as we'll as to some of
the amendments proposed. Now, am
inclined to believe that these provisos
were inserted with the idea that. like the
revenue bill passed the other day, it was
to operate only temporarily; in other
words, until the Democratic party ceases
to control the nation. The committee l
apprehend, did not suppose for moment
that by inserting this proviso they could
compel the bureau of pensions to correct
the wrongs inflicted upon the old sol =
diers of this country, and l regret that
the committee felt the necessity of ad-
ding these provisos. The language OF
these provisos is as follows, to wit
During the fiscal year 1897. in expelding this
Appropriation, whenever ciann for pens ion
under the act of June 81, 1890, has been. or
shall hereafter be. rejected. suspended or dis
missed because of any defect or informality in
the application, and a new appH cation shall
a pension has been or shall hereafter be allow
ed in such claim, such pensl on shall date from
the time of filing the first application oyIded
iIy have existed or to exist. at the time Of fill
ing such first application anything in any law or
ruling of the department TO the contrary not
During the fiscal year of 1897. in expending
hp
a widow. IN establishing her claim to pension
under the provisions of the act of June a 1890.
to prove lhat she is without other means of
support than her daily labor: Provided. That
before she shall be entitled to pension under
the provision of said law she shall prove that
her net income does not exceed 500 per annum.
There is much reason for attaching
these provisos to this appropriation bill,
and l apprehend that we shall have little
difficulty in ascertaining what motive
prompted the committee in this report
The reason is manifesto the most casual
observer. 1t is the narrow and unpatri-
otic construction placed upon the pen
sion laws of this country by the pension
bureau 1t ia the extraordinary require
ments demanded of the pensioner that
induced the committee to relax some of
these technical and complex rules estab-
lished by the bureau.
81 want to invite attention for few
moments to some of the extraordinary
rules and presumptions now prevailing
in the pension bureau. l say 'extraordi-
nary because l apprehend that in no
other tribunal on the face of the
earth are such rules and pre-
sum mptions to be found. l shall ask at
tention first to some of the presumptions
indulged in by the bureau in passing
upon the question whether or not an APP
plicant is entitled to pension. First and
foremost, 1t is presumed by this bureau
that the man who enlisted in the service
of his country in the prime and vigor of
his youth. after having been examined
by a physician and surgeon appointed by
the government of the United States to
determine whether or not he was sound
and fit for service, and after his three
or four years of service. enduring all the
hardship incident to soldiers life, the
pension bureau presumes that that man,