The herald., 1896-01-15
in THE HOUSE
The Day Spent in Discussing the Pension
Ritt

The Day Spent in Discussing the Pension
Bill
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-The house spent
today in further debate upon the pension
appropriation bill. The speakers, with a
single exception. were all Republicans and
all favored a liberal administration of the
pension laws and the adoption of the
changes III the existing law proposed by
Gen. John A. Walker, who served with
distinction in the confederate army. He
Is the only Republican representative from
Virginia. Ills assurance of the good feel
ing that existed in the south toward The
union soldier and the lack of hostility
toward the pension system was warmly
received on both sides of the house.
Mr.. Cummings, Democrat, New York,
created mild sensation by a severe ar
ralgnment OF the pension office for hos
tlhty to the old soldier and strong repu-
diatlon OF the speech made yesterday by
Mr. Bartlett who is also one of the Tam
many congressman from New York.
1t seems probable now that the general
debate on the pension bill will continue for
several days.
The house took up the pension appro-
priation bill Immediately on convenng.
Northway, Republican of Ohio, replied to
the criticisms offered by Bartlett, Demo-
not to him whether the pensions were legal
gratuities or constituted vested rights.
Morally they were higher than vested
rights could be. The pensions should be
given in a broad. catholic, humane spirit.
Veterans should not be placed in the posi-
ton OF mendicanfs. The spirit in which
the pension laws were being administered
was manifestly unfriendly to the soldiers.
In proof of this, he cited the case of SOL
der who lost one arm and one leg who
was deprived of his pension under the total
disability act of i $50 because he was able
to earn $50 a month as guard at a railroad
crossing.
The pension bureau had ruled that under
the act of 1890, if a Widows income ex-
ceeded $96 year. she was not entitled to
a pension. A soldiers widow should not
be obliged to stand shivering and starving
at the door of the pension office in order to
obtain pension, and the pensions COM
mlttee therefore had reported an amend
ment to the present law requiring that as a
condition precedent to receiving pension
she should prove that her income did not
exceed $500.
Mr. Heminway, Republican of Indiana,
favored the adoption of the Graft amend
ment, prohibiting the suspension of pen
| slons until fraud had been proven in a
| United States court. He predicted that in
| November next the people would elect a
| Republican president who would appoint
loyal man from the north secretary of the
interior to administer the pension laws
with justice and fairness to the old soldier
Mr.. Arnold. Republican, of Pennsyl.
yania, in criticizing the pension office, de-
nounced particularly the practice of call
ing on Democratic postnasters to furnish
information as to alleged fraudulent pen
sions.
Mr.. Gibson, Republican, of Tennessee,
who was pension agent at Nashville in
tod -
ton OF particular cases which he claimed
proved the hostility of the pension office.
speech by MIR. Walker, Republican, of
Virginia attracted more than usual a,ten-
ton. He was general in the confederate
army on the staff of General Jubal Early.
be replied particularly to the remark of
MIR. Heminway, to the effect that when a
Republican president again took his place
pin the White House, no man from the south
would preside over the pension Office
General Walker declared there was mis-
apprehension of feeling and the sentiment
OF the southern people and the southern
soldiers toward pensions for the men who
fought for the union. There was no senti-
ment against the pension 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
soldiers OF the south. His remarks elected
Mr.. Wood, Republican, of Illinois, Mr..
Fitzpatrick, Republican of Kansas, and
Mr.. Poole, Republican of New York, fol.
lowed, end then MIR. Cummings, Democrat
OF New York, created the sensation of the
day by short arraignmeut of the pension
Office and an eloquent repudiation of the
sentiment expressed yesterday by his col
league. Mr.. Bartlett. He declared it was
time some radical action was taken to call
halt on the pension office.
Az the conclusion of Mr.. Cummings
speech the committee rose, and the speaker
announced the appointment of the Chicka-
Inauga park commission, as follows:
Messrs. Grosvenor of Ohio, Kelfer of Min
nesota, Strong of Ohio. Avery of Michigan,
Bowers OF California, Republicans; Wheel
er of Alabama, Cox OF Tennessee, Maddox
and Crisp OF Georgia. democrats.
he also announced the appointment of
Delegate Flynn of Oklahoma to the COM
! mittee on agriculture and Murphy of
Arizona on coinage, weights and measures,
and mines and mining.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-In the house.
Mr. Shafroth of Colorado introduced Pa.
cific railroad bill. 1t contemplates fore
closure sale of the Union and Central Pa
CHIC railroad properties and in lhe event
that The titles were vested in the govern
ment there shall be organized govern
ment railroad company. The company is
to be managed by board of directors an
pointed by the president and as soon as Or
ganized and properly vested in the United
States by the foreclosure sale, is to be con-
yeyed to it. The company is then 10
deliver to the United States fifty-
| year, 3 per cent bonds to the
amount of the total indebtedness of the
railroad to the government, secured by
mortgage on all the property, subject only
to the bonds secured by first mortgage
upon the property in the event the United
States has not purchased or paid the same.
The stock of the new company is 10 be
sold at public auction, and the amount re-
alized applied to the Indebtedness of the
government, and when the latter is fully
paid tine stockholders are to organize a
new corporation. The government rail-
road company is then to convey the rail.
roads and properties to it upon the surren-
der and cancellation of the stock of the
old company.
The house committee on military affairs
unanimously reported favorably the bill
which recently passed the senate repeating
the law that prohibits ex-confederates who
held commissions in the United States