The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-21

len was entirely too cranky upon his
hobby of an equal distribution or pen
slonS between the surviving officers
and privates of the civil war He.
claimed that every pension bill which
mas peen faVorably reported by the
committee on pensions has received
consideration by the full committee.
and that no one senator is competent
10 crluclSe the work of the committee
on pensions either publicly or private
ly.
In presenting his resolution 10 the
senate Senator Allen gave formal
notice that he would, in the near
future, call up the resolution and ad-
uress the senate in favor Of its adop-
tlon. He said that he would under
take to demonstrate to the senate that
When the regiments Of the army and
squadrons OF the navy were mustered
out OF service, the officers and enlisted
men became citizens Of this country.
all OF them upon an equality before the
law; upon an equality not only before
the laws that then existed, but upon
equality before all laws which might
IN the future be made for the citizens
Of this republic. He requested that
the resolution might temporarily he
permitted to lie on the table from
whence it might be called up at any
time.
Following is the full text of the reso-
luton introduced by Senator Allen:
ReSolVed, That the distinction heretofore
made in granting pensions by special act of
congress between the equally meritorious
WIDOWS of officers of the volunteer army and
navy and those of enlisted men, sailors
and marines, is unjust and un-American and
should be abandoned and that hereafter al
such persons should be pensioned equally.
resolved, That differences in rank between
citizens OF the United States when serving
as officers and enlisted men, sailors and
marines in the military and naval forces.
cease by the laws Of this country when
such person returns to private life and take
their respective stations in society, and thai
hereafter 10 distinction in rank can or does
exist.
Senator GaIlinger. chairman Of the
committee on pensions, referring to the
Allen resolution, said: II think II
would be we'll for the general public TO
understand that the committee on pen-
slons does business in an orderly man
ner and in accordance with rllps
which have been in operation for MANY
years. We have as the clerk of our
committee, man exceptionally well
informed in pension matters. and be-
sides, we have the aid of an expert
from the pension Office during the
greater part of every session Of con-
gress.
Every committee in congress is or
ganlZed by the selection of chair
man, and clerk, and also by the adop-
uon OF set of rules for regular pro
cedure. These rules are strictly ad
hered to. The committee on pensions
OF the United States senate IS gov
erned by the following rules:
J. Consideration will not be given to anv
Dill which has not first been presented 10
the pension bureau, and by said bureau re-
jected within one year unless conclusive
evidence is presented that the claimant has
no pensionable status before the bureau
:. Bills proposing to increase pensions by
special act IN cases where the existing pen
sion was so granted, unless at least one
congress has intervened since the former
grant. will not be considered.
3. Bills providing for the payment of ar
rears cannot be fayorably considered Pen
sions by special act in all cases date from
the approval of the bill by the president
T. Bills proposing TO pension the children
OF soldiers CT the late cannot be enter
tanned, except in cases where the child has
been idiotic. deformed or otherwise mental
~ or physically lncapacitated from birth or
early childhood, and then only in cases of
destitution.
5. Bills for increasing pensions granted
at maximum rate under the act of June
27 1880, will not have consideration unless
in cases of utmost deStitutfon and suffering.
These pensions being allowed without refer
ence to disease disability incurred in the
service the utmost caution should be OBJ
served by congress in dealing with the mat
ter of increase The same rule will apply to
increase under the general law of the pen
sions of widows whether of priyates or
ofiicers) in cases where the soldier died from
other than pensionabe disabilities.
o' DlllS kIOpOSIHS u pension men VINO were
not mustered into service. excepting cases
where actual military duty was performed
in emergencies, or unless some special and
extraordinary service was rendered. are not
admissible.
Z. AS a rule bills for original pensions
will be given consideration in preference to
those for incredSe.
s. Bills will be promptly referred to a
subcommittee upon request of any senator.
but all bills referred to subcommittee must
be reported back to the fun committee for
action before being rpDOrted n ba
g. An authorized statement by member Of
the committee or by the senator introducing
the bills, AS to circumstances of the claim
ant, will be required when proof does not
appear among the papers accompanying the
bills.
10. Descendants and other relatives of SOL
diers and sailors, except minor children are
not pensionable under any law of the United
States, and bills of that character will not
be favorably reported by this committee. In
cases possessing unusual features, if any
such should be presented, the committee may
by majority vote, report such bill without
recommendation.