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

The vote was then taken on the Cockrell
amendment declaring the policy of the Gov
eminent against sectarian education, but allow
| ing until 1898 for the entire change from Sec
| tartan to Government schools. 1t resulted as
| follows:
| as.-Republicsus-Carter Chandler, Flkins,
| lIansbrough Hawley, Mcmillan, Mantle. Nelson
| Pettigrew, Sewell Sherman-l1. Democrats-Ba-
con, Bnie, Blackburn, Brice, Gallery, Chiffon,
Coclsrel. Daniel. Faulkner Gibson. Gordon Gray.
| JIuI Jones ark, Martin, Mills Mitchell (wis.).
Palmer, Roach. Smith, Turpie, Vest Villas, Wal
thall, aud Whte-25. Populists-Allen and Kyle
observation-disclosures Allison. Brown, Burrows.
Cannon, Clark Cullom, Davis Dubois Frye, Gal
linger Gear Lodge, Mcbride. Mitchell tore), Per,
kins. Plat. shoup. Squire. Teller. Warren; and
| Wolcoti-2l. acknowledgement Populists-
| PETER and Stewart. Total, "a
! In the House. the adoption Of the resolution
seoting Mr.. Goodwin in place of Mr. Cobb was
the pending question when the House met
! to-day. The resolution was agreed to, and Mr..
! Goodwin came forward and took the oath as a
member amid Republican applause.
Mr.. Pickler, Chairman of the Committee on
| Invalid Pensions, then called up his general
| Pension bill, which amends the existing laws
| in several very important respects. 1t makes
presumption of death of an enlisted man exist
if no tidings have been heard from HIM Tor
seven years: it provides that desertion or dis
HODOrSDle discharge Snalt Htb NC ID Val w
pension under the act of 1890 if the enlisted
man had served 80 days subsequent TO such
discharge and that pension allowed shall date
from bis first application; 1T fixes the maxi
mum income of a widow entitled 10 pension
under the act of 1890 at $500 per annum; 1T
provides that no pension shall be reduced or
discontinued except for fraud or recovery from
disability, and that discontinued pensions
when reconsidered and reallowed, shall date
from their djScontinuauce.
Mr. Picker: To the bill under consideration,
entitled "A bill relating to pensions, the Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions invite your atten-
ton today. 1t is bill in the interests OF SOL
diers Of that war.
There has grown ND all over this country a
feeling of unrest, disquet, aud dissatisfaction
concerning the administration of the pension
laws during the last few years; claimants Tor
pension and increase have long been delayed IN
the adjudication of their claims; constructions
have been severely technical: pensions nave
been discontinued aud reduced; and much
complaint is heard among pensioners, claimants,
and their friends throughout the land.
No community is free from these complaints.
and thousands of neighborhoods have their
well.known cases Of injustice TO pensioners and
applicants for pension; and this injustice mas,
in a great number of instances, ripencd into
disgust aud indignation
There is a widespread feeling among the
sO!GlefS ann bnelF lFleluS IDaI iHtE
10 more liberal treatment in the adjustment
and allowance of pensions than they are re-
ceiyng. The Committee, after very careful
consideration OF this bill ia detail, present 1T to
the House, believing that every section will be
found important in the future administration OF
pension laws, and that this bill, ii il shall be-
come law. will greatly facilitate the allow
ance OF pensions aud ailay the fear of the PEN
sioDer as TO the reduction or discontinuance of
his pepsion after its allowance
The Committee has. in the abuses it seeks to
correct, confiIed itself TO no particular time or
administration, but. regardless of the time of
the initiation OF such abuses, seeks TO remedy
the same and aid the claimant in allowing aud
preserving his rights under the law.
Ii does not add a single new class Of pension
ers to the pension rolls, but seeks TO establish
q more liberal construction of existing laws
it viii, If il becomes a law, answer large
numb of questions aud inquiries that come TO
mem bers OF this House.
The first section of the bill provides
That no person otherwise entitled a pension
by virtue Of any law OF The United States shall be
disqualified from receiving the same by reason OF
any prior service ia the Confederate army navy
during the war Of the rebellion. shall the
widow. children, dependent relatives Of such
person he deprived of right TO pension by reason
OF such service: PrOuided. That pension shall be
granted by virtue at tins section for disability
tracted or incurred while aiding or abetting the
late rebellion against the authority OF the United
States.
The inhibition sought to be removed by this
seciisn of the proposed bill is contained in Sec
ton 47l6 of the Revised Statutes, and is
follows:
Sec 47l6. No money account of pension shall
be paid TO any person, TO the widow, children,
or heiis OF any deceased person. who ia my man
ner voluntarily engaged in al nided or nbelted the
late rebellion against the authority Of the United
States.
On March 3, 1877. the disqualification was
removed rs to soldiers who afterwards valun-
tarily enlisted in the army of the United States
and incurred or contracted disability while in
line of duty, and their widows, children, or
heirs.
On March 9, 1878, the inhibition was removed
as 10 survivors and widows of the war OF 1872
On Jan. %, 1857. it was removed as to sur
vivors and widows OF the Mexican war.
July u, 1892. IL was removed as 10 survivors
and widows OF the Indian wars.
And on Aug. ], 1892, the act of March B. 1877,
removing the bar as TO soldiers, was made APP
plicable 10 sailors as well.
1t is worthy Of special attention that the sec
ton under consideration seeks only to remove
the disquaii fcatOn of prior service in tho
Confederate army or navy, whereas three of
the statutes above mentioned refer to and
necessarily condone q similar service subse-
qnent 10 the one by virtue Of which the PEN
sioner draws pension.
In the case of Geo. W. Corey "a p D., 2s5),
Dec. JIG, 1890 Assistant Secretary Bussey de-
cIded that the fact that the claimant served in
the Confederate army prior to his enlistment
and service in the army Of the United States
did not impair his peusionable status under
tic Jaw Of june q, 1880, or any other act.
Again, ln the case Of Daniel B. Garrison rs
j. ID, 2s9), decided March IL, 1888, Assistant
Secretary Bussey says that the Department
:" has universally held this view Of the law"
But with the incoming Administration came
change Of policy, aud Assistant Secretary
Reynolds. in the cases OF Bernstiue Il f. d..
229) and Ozborn i'd, 3l7). decided May 10 and
Sept g. 1894 expressly oyerrnles the cases of Cof-
fey Hayman, Garrison, and all other like cases.
thus refusing 10 allow pensions to those who
had all the qualifications required by the act of
Jane q, 1890, but who had previously served
IN the Confederacy, and thereby overturninp
tho rulings made by his predecessor The
present Administration, however, has not
stopped with applying this rule to claims az
such, but has dropped from the rolls the names
OF pensioners who were granted pensions under
the former decisions.
1t seems that this section should become a
law. IL is not only act of justice to these
men who were in the Con Moderate service and
afterwards served in the Union army from
which they were bonorably discharged, 10 give
them pensionable status, but is AN act Of
magnanlmlty on the part Of Congress toward
these men who fought against it, now that 30
years have elapsed since the close of the war
that the Government will not longer regard
their hostility to their detrmeut.
Aud as the asperties OF war have been soft