The Portland daily press., 1897-12-10
TALKED ABOUT PENSIONS.


| piayou ms SonIoQerate sololer, IN pro-
ducing the pension roll. He estimated
that he had protracted the war two years
by his own personal yalor. But, he said,
he had forgiven the North and ventured
the opinion that the President bad him
particularly in mind when he spoke in
his message of the growing feeling of
fraternal regard between the sections.
MIR. Allen then seriously criticized some
OF the classes Of pensions granted. In
conclusion he spoke Of the hsrdships this
great tax burden placed on the South,
which, was, he said, being relent-
lessly burdened by the gold standard and
four and one-half cent cotton.
| Mr.. Dearmond, Democrat Of Missouri,
criticized some of the classes ON the PEN
sion rolls
Mr.. Allen again got the floor and dis
claimed any Intention of attacking the
Federal soldiers or the pension rolls. But
| he said he could not but marvel at the
| fact that $40, 900 names were now on the
rolls and that there were 600, 600 applica-
tions in the pension office. There had
! been but 1900, 900 in the Federal army
and he was reminded Of a netting be-
tween an ex-Confsderate and an ex-Fed
eral at a blue and gray reunion they were
felicitating themselves OIL the disappear
ance of all hostility.
eff there should be another war;" said
the ex- Federal, stwe win be standing
SllOQ4QSE ~ bAOuiNCl QuOCI OuO Lax
I'VE will, but you WON'T" retorted the
ex-Confederate.
What do you meant asked the ex-
Federal.
Legally you are disabled" (Laugh-
ter.)
Mr. Allen gave notice that he would
offer amendments to prohibit the grant
Ing of g. pension to widow whose appli-
cation was not filed during the widow
hood, to prohibit the pension of widows
who had not married prior to the passage
of this act and to strike from the rolls al
permanently insane or helpless children
who had reached their majority.
MIR. McRae. Democrat of Arkansas, ad-
vocated as the first step the transfer of
where it should be out of politics.
Mr.. W. A. Smith, Republican of
Michigan said he would make the PEN
sion a YES ed right if he had the power.
Mr.. Norton, Democratic of Ohio, de-
| oIared that it was not the Democratic
side of the house which was assaulting
the pension roll. He charged that Com
missioner Evans had advocated law
that would hereafter cut off the widow
and the orphans. He protested his friend
ship for the old soldier. Bring on your
pension BILL" he cried, addressing the
Republican side. "Raise it as high AS
you dare and it will have the vote of
every NOFGnefn 06IuocfaI Oh bnls slue,
Messrs. Meyer, Democrat of Indiana,
and Campbell, Democrat of Illinois,, fav-
ored liberal pensions. MIR. Hepburn,
Republican of Iowa, replied to some of
the criticisms of the pension roll which
came from the other side. He was espec-
tally severe in his condemn alton of q
remark made by MIR. Norton, which he
ment as that the regulations of the pen
sion office compelled most soldiers to
stand on the rejected list or commit
moral and legal perjury to reach these
rolls
Mr.. Norton disclaimed having used the
word most. With . change of
that word, to many, he said, he stood by
quired testimony which was not in exist
ence. He stood readr, he said, to aid in
sweeping galway these senseless regulations.
"While your party had the presidency
and the Senate and the House" asked
Mr.. Stone, Republican of Pennsylvania,
why did you not remedy some of these
evils"
when God or the country had the mis-
| fortune to give us the only Democratic
President we have had since the war, :"
replied Mr.. Norton, eve found it too
late. He belonged to you and you owned
him." democrat applause
Remedies don't begin with the Presi-
DENT said 5Mr. Stone, "but with Con-
gress. Why did Democratic Congress
do nothing but reduce the pension roll.
1t does not lie in your mouths to COM
plain" (Republican applause.)
'sIf we have committed a wrong, why
should you sit by supinely and not seek
to correct it?" Democratic applause
and Republican leers.
Mr.. Hepburn denied that he had put
any words in Mr.. Norton's mouth. He
insisted that he had heard the words
most that he was corroborated by all
members about him and by the official
reporters notes. The gentleman from
Ohio, he said, with all his boasted cour-
age was trying TO run away from the
foul SANDER he had uttered.
At this point the committee arose and
the House adjourned.