The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-25
some Of the Reasons why a Pension
When Once Granted by Uncle Sam,
should he q Vested Right.
DEBATE ON PICKLER'S BILL
DEsERTERs FROM THE CoNFEDER-
ATE ARMY SCORED SEVERELY.
sundry Civil Bill Discussed I'm the
Senate-Pener's bond Resolution-
Treasury Controller Criticised.
Special to the Indlanapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. April 2i.-Representative
Overstreet made his maiden speech in the
House to-day. choosing for his topic very
appropriately the Picker pension bill.
which includes in It's provisions the first
important bill which Mr.. Overstreet intro
duced in his congressional career. namely,
the bill to make a pension. when once
granted, vested right. Mr. Overstreet IL
need hardly be said 10 those who have
heard him at home. spoke fuentiy and
forcibly. His voice soon adapted itself TO
the conditions. and he was heard easily
throughout the forty-five minutes he spoke.
His audience was notably large. a compli-
ment to the speaker and not to the subject,
for pension speeches are threadbare In the
House from incessant ueration. and Mr..
Overstreet's predecessors spoke to empty
benches or drowsy listeners. But the young
member from Indiana has become extreme
iy popular, and many OF his colleagues
came from the cloak rooms and the lob
bies to give him audience and TO afford
him that stimulating incentive which Q
crowded house always supplies 20 a maiden
speaker. They were well rewarded In
stead of attempting TO discuss every one
of the twenty or more features OF the ON.
Mr. Oyerstreet confined himself closely 10
| two contentious, namely. that after vet
| eran had satisfied the government that ne
had a right to a pension that pension was
rightfully his until the government proved
| otherwise, and. secondly. that when the
| government, by suspendng his pension
| after II had been once granted. practically
thereby placed him in the prisoners dock,
| ne had the right 10 be confronted by his
| accusers.
| Mr.. Overstreet showed In his speech how
completely ne has mastered the intricate
| workings Of the Pension Bureau. and even
| those who have no personal interest IN
| pension legislation will find X well worth
their time to read Mr. Overstreets detailed
description of the thorny path which every
| claimant for a pension must travel before
| his pension Is allowed him. Mr.. Over
street furthermore was fully equipped with
| the statistics bearing on his resolution IL
| viii surprise every one. doubtless, to read
| that in eighteen months the Pension Bureau
| has suspended Is, ,406 pensions "for causes
| other than DEATH" ETC.; in other words. has
| simply held up so many cases for alleged
| fraud The speaker made q direct appeal
| for a manly course in these cases. There
| f. nowhere a desire to shield fraud. but he
| held that when the government threw an
| the burden of the proof on the veteran be-
| fore granting him his pension 1t should. in
simple Justice and IN fair play. assume the
| burden of proof when 1t undertook 10 de-
prive the pensioner Of the pension which
| IL had itself granted after the most in
| quisitoriai examination. and. furthermore
when seeking thus TO undo It's Own work
| 1t should afford the pensioner the right ac-
| corded to every prisoner in the dock. name-
| ly, to face his accusers. hear their test.-
mony and to testify in rebuftai.
| Mr.. Overstreet closed with an eloquent
| tribute from the new generation to the old
| soldier. wfrose deeds and sacrifices are only
known as history. At the close OF his re-
marks he was presented with great bunch
of roses and carnations from some friends
| in the gallery, and members crowded about
| him eager to congratulate
Other Features Of the Debate.
| Associated Press Dispatch
| WASHINGTON. April 24--Although this
was private bill day under the rules. the
| House decided 10 proceed with the Picker
| pension BILL and the Whole day vas con-
| sumed In the discussion Of that measure.
The debate was devoid OF interest The fea-
| ture was the opposition OF Mr. Connolly 10
the section OF the bill which granted pensions
to Confederate soldiers who deserted
| and Joined the Union ranks ninety days be-
| fore Lees surrender II is not probable that
| q vote will be reached before Monday.
| By unanimous consent at the opening OF
| the session, bills were passed empowering
the city OF Tucson. A T.. TO issue bonds 10
| the amount OF $l0o,00o for the construction Of
| a water and sewer system. and to authorize
the return free of duty Of articles exported
for exhibition purposes
Mr.. Jones presented the report on the con-
tested election case Of Cornette ys. Swanson.
| from the Fifth Virginia district. In favor q
! the Democratic sitting member.
The pension bills favorably acted upon at
| the session last Friday night were passed.
| Among them was one to pension the widow
of the late Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Wander
vier at the rate OF so per month.
| The House proceeded then with the debate
| on the pension bill Mr.. Layton criticised
some features OF that measure. and ex-
pressed the hope that opportunity would be
afforded for amendment. but said IL COM
| pelied to vote on the bill Il stood he would
support II. he especially criticised the sec
tion OF the bill which gives pensions TO de-
serters. He replied at length 10 some OF the
remarks made yesterday charging the Demo-
| cratic party with hostility toward the Union
soldiers.
Mr. Tracey Endorsed the BILL
Mr.. Connolly supported the bill In the
main, but criticised the provision which
would grant pensions tc deserters from the
| Confederate ranks. 'T declare" said ne.
| that a man who cast his fortunes with the
| found the cause falling and then deserted 10
| Join the Union army was at least q coward
1Applause) Procesding. he said he had no
| Criticism 10 offer against the thousands of
men especially IN Tennessee and Keatucky.
| who were Union IN sympathy, but VINO were
| conscripfed and forced into the Confederate
| service They took the FIRST opportunity 30
| escape 10 the Union lines The section OF the
| bill TO which he took exception would give
| a pension 20 every Confederate who deserted
l. fromsthe Confederate army ninety days BE-
! fore Lees surrender. Most q them who -